Living car-free is one of the best ways you can reduce your carbon footprint but for those of you who can’t rely on people power or public transport, electric vehicles are the second best solution.

Car manufacturers are in a race to develop electric vehicles as the government brings the petrol and diesel car ban forward by 5 years, to 2035 (or even 2032 fingers-crossed). Last year, there were fewer than 100 EVs available, but by the end of 2020 that is expected to increase to 175. It’s then set to almost double by 2025, meaning there’s far more mid-range models making electric a financially comparable option to petrol cars.

Things to consider

The first thing to remember when starting your research into electric cars is the government is actively encouraging people to switch to electric, so there’s a £3,500 grant that you can knock off the original purchase price. The cheapest car we’ve found is £20,500, but used electric cars are available from dealerships like Drive-Green from £6,995 (at the time of writing). Think about what distances you’ll be driving too. Cars with a longer range will be more expensive than smaller cars with ranges under 200 miles.

One main benefit to switching to an electric vehicle is that you’ll save money in running costs. Pure electric cars are cheaper to tax and service, as you won’t pay any road tax on vehicles under £40,000 and beyond this it’s still £100 less for the year than a petrol car of the same price. If you drive in London you’ll also be exempt from congestion charges. Electric cars have significantly less parts than petrol and diesel vehicles so mechanically there is a lot less to go wrong – meaning your car will be cheaper and easier to service (Nissan estimates their popular Nissan Leaf costs just £11 per month to maintain). Teslas need so little after-care that often you’ll only need is a visit from their mobile mechanics. They’ll visit you at your property to replace the few parts that might be needed like a smashed wing mirror. Better still, electricity costs an average of 3.9p per mile compared to an average of 9.2p per mile for conventional fuel.

You’ll need to think about where to charge your car. There’s a few different options here, but there are currently (March 2020) just over 11,000 charging locations that offer 31049 connectors across the country which you can find easily using apps like Zap-Map. The government has plans to install many more in coming years as we gear up for the 2035 petrol car ban with an increase in infrastructure funding. If you’re worried that your nearest charging point is too far, charging at home is cost-effective and wall-mounted charging points are subsidised by a government grant. Some manufacturers will even install one when you buy one of their cars. Don’t have a driveway or much outdoor space? Then it could be worth considering a hybrid car rather than all-electric but these are due to phased out soon too.

We’ve rounded up a selection of electric cars you can buy this year to help you make the switch.

For the city driver

The Tesla may be a popular choice for seasoned electric motorists, but for those new to the EV market you could start with smaller city-cars. One of the most affordable vehicles on the market is currently the Skoda Citigo, the latest of which was released earlier this year. It costs about £20,500 but it’s worth running the numbers to see how much you’ll save on running costs. As with other electric city cars, the Citigo has a top speed of 81 mph so it’s spot on for driving short distances if you’re unlikely to end up on the motorway.

"Skoda Citigo" by al_volante is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The Seat Mii is modelled similarly to the Citigo, with a comparable range of 161 miles on one charge. It’s compact enough for zipping around town and squeezing into those tight parking spaces. Released in February, it’s worth checking out and comparing with similar models as it retails at £22,800, slightly more than the Citigo.

"Seat Mii Electric" by rvandermaar is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Fiat 500 is popular among fashion-conscious city drivers and first-time car owners, so its electric counterpart is bound to strike a cord with this audience too. The 500e has a small battery range of 124 miles, great for running errands around town. Its smaller range means it will be quick to charge even at home – an EVBox wallbox will charge the 500e fully in between 3h 45m and 6h 30m. The car is estimated to cost between £22,500 and £26,000 but details will be confirmed when it is released late 2020.

"Fiat 500e California" by JayUny is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

For families

The Nissan e-NV200 Combi fills a gap in the market for an affordable 7-seater electric car, but loses points in the style department. It’s practical though and this family van comes in at under £30,000 with a government grant. The battery range is between 124 and 187 miles.

The 2014 Nissan electric family car hasn’t changed much / "2014 Nissan e-NV200 Evalia" by harry_nl is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The Volkswagen ID-3 is expected to be released mid-2020, boasting interactive lighting features that greet and welcome you to your vehicle. This car would be great for smaller families as it’s spacious without being family-sized. You’ll be able to choose between different sizes of battery with fast charging batteries lasting up to 340 miles – an impressive range. It’s priced at £30,000.

Volkswagen ID.3 at IAA 2019 by Alexander Migi

The Vauxhall Corsa-e is a solid mid-range family car that comes with a Wallbox charger installed at your home free of charge. It will take 7.5 hours to charge fully through the Wallbox, but don’t forget there are rapid charge points dotted around the UK that can take under an hour. Vauxhall points out the saving you’ll make switching to electric with an average spend of ‘£3.90 per 100 miles’ making the £31,000 price tag seem somewhat manageable. The Corsa-e has a 209 mile range battery.

Opel (Vauxhall in UK) Corsa-e at IAA Frankfurt 2019 by Rutger van der Maar on Flickr

For long-distance drivers

The new Ford Mustang Mach-e won’t be released until late this year, but could be worth the wait. The Mustang will be capable of driving long distances with an estimated 370 mile range and fast charging capabilities. With heaps of luggage space, it’ll be great for those cross-country drives that allow you to take the family on a low-carbon holiday in Europe. It’s estimated to retail at just over £40,000.

2019 LA Auto Show by Automotive Rhythms on Flickr

For a luxurious SUV, the Jaguar I-PACE won World Car of the Year in 2019 and boasts bags of space with a healthy battery range of 292 miles. It won’t come cheap, at about £61,000, but is more affordable than some of the models in the Tesla range. You’ll also benefit from a £500 government grant if you decide to install an OLEV approved charging point at home. Remote climate control means you can heat up or cool down the car before you begin your journey if it’s plugged in, increasing battery range on colder days.

Tesla

You can’t really talk about EVs without mentioning Tesla. Their least expensive car is the Model 3 which costs from £43,045 for a standard battery range of 254 miles. If you want to cover more distance, long range models can give you 348 miles for a higher price tag . As with all of Tesla’s cars, you’ll have access to their network of rapid charging points which take just 30 minutes for 170 miles of charge.

The Tesla S retails from about £77,700 and has the option of making it a 7-seater (although the extra two are only comfortable for children). If you struggle to fit luggage in the boot it’s also roof rack compatible for long-distance getaways. The long range model has a healthy battery range of over 379 miles so you won’t need to spend holidays fretting about finding a charging point.

The Model X is Tesla’s most spacious family car, allowing room for 7 adults with easy access thanks to its iconic Falcon Wing doors. It has 5-star safety ratings which will give you peace of mind and a battery range of over 300 miles. Priced from £82,700, you’ll pay a premium for all that space, with a higher spec model available for £96,900.

"2016 Tesla Model X" by harry_nl is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Tesla’s latest model coming out late this year is the Roadster, set to have one of their best ranges yet. 620 miles on one charge doesn’t come cheap at £190,000, but will make for an impressive cross country driving experience.

"Tesla" by Lummi Photography is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Are you toying with making the switch? Let us know which car you have your eye on by mentioning us on Twitter @monkeywrenchmag. Join the conversation #monkeywrenchnews

Thumbnail image: "Fiat 500e California" by JayUny is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Switch to electric cars in 2020