Answering Your Questions: Electric Vehicles on the Motability Scheme
If you’re looking to go electric on the Motability Scheme, there are plenty of options to choose from. We understand that you may have questions about how an EV will fit your lifestyle, so we’ve created this blog to help you out.
Read on to find out more.
Which Electric Vehicles Can I Get on the Motability Scheme?
There are a number of electric and hybrid vehicle options on the Motability Scheme, and with so much choice, you’re bound to find something that suits your lifestyle. Whether you’re after a compact city car or a spacious SUV, take a look at five of our top electric vehicle picks on the Motability Scheme. You can also browse all available vehicles using our handy search tool, or contact your local dealership for more information.
Please note that Motability update the list of vehicles on offer and their pricing each quarter.
Will an Electric Vehicle Fit My Lifestyle?
This depends primarily on what you use your car for. Many people worry about range and charging infrastructure when they think of EVs, however, due to developments in technology and government investment in charging facilities, for most people this needn’t be a worry.
The average UK car journey is roughly 8.4 miles, and the average electric car range for EVs in the UK is 193 miles; therefore in theory an EV would be more than capable of meeting the needs of an average UK driver.
In addition, there are 42,000 charge point connectors across the UK, which equates to more public chargers than petrol stations. So, you should easily be able to find a public charge point whilst you’re out and about.
It does of course come down to personal choice and whether you feel an EV will provide you with what you need. Have a chat with a Motability Specialist at your local dealership if you’d like more information.
How Often Do I Need to Charge My EV?
If you’re don’t drive many miles each day, you won’t need to charge your vehicle every day. If you do tend to rack up the miles, it’s absolutely fine to charge your vehicle overnight when you get home each evening. Your EV will automatically switch off when it reaches full charge so you won’t have to worry that it will constantly be consuming electricity.
How Long Does an EV Take to Charge?
This depends on a number of factors, including the car battery size and the power of the charger you're using. A typical 60kWh battery-electric car, will take just under 8 hours to charge to full from empty using a 7kW charger. Most drivers will actually tend to top up their charge as they go, rather than waiting for their battery to drain fully before charging, so it won’t always take this long.
How do I Get a Charge Point Installed at Home?
If you’ve decided an electric vehicle is for you – congratulations, we hope you’re excited.
After you’ve chosen your vehicle, all you need to do is mention to your Motability Specialist that you’d like a home charge point installed, and we can take care of the rest. A charge point supplier will be in touch in the following days via phone or email - you may have to provide some additional information on your fuse box location, and where you would like the charger fitting. It’s also worth noting that the Motability Scheme will pay for the cost of the installation so long as it’s your first charge point.
If I Rent My Property, Can I Get a Charge Point Fitted?
If you live in a rented property, you can still have a charge point installed. You’ll just need permission in writing from your landlord to say that this is okay.
Where Should I Install My Home Charge Point?
A charge point can be installed on any exterior wall of your property, or inside a garage if you’d prefer. Before you choose where it’s going, make sure you’ve checked for any obstacles that will make accessing the charge point difficult.
What if I Can’t Fit a Charge Point at Home?
If you don’t have the room for a charge point to be installed at your address, you can still drive an electric vehicle! There are so many public charge points, and smartphone apps like Zap Map will show you each one across the country - so you can find your nearest, no matter where you’re travelling.
Can I Charge my Car in Bad Weather?
Yes! Electric chargers are fully waterproof and the electronics inside your vehicle are also waterproofed, so it’s safe to charge your car even in adverse weather conditions.
We hope this blog has helped to answer some of your questions around EV ownership on the Motability Scheme!
Keep an eye on our Newsroom for all your Motability updates, or follow the links below for more information.