Electric and Hybrid FAQs
EVs, MHEVs and PHEVs – What’s the Difference Between Them?
We understand there’s a lot of jargon and acronyms when it comes to electric and hybrid vehicles, so let us break them down!
Electric vehicles encompass any vehicle that is powered by some form of electricity, they come in various kinds to suit different needs and requirements.
BEV (also known as full EV, 100% electric)
Electric vehicles are operated by a battery and have no internal combustion engine (ICE). These vehicles produce zero emissions and are great for the environment. They are purely powered by batteries, which owners recharge either at home through an at-home charging point or at public charging points. Interestingly, these cars have no exhausts and run silently.
HEV (Also known as hybrid, self-charging hybrid or full hybrid)
A hybrid vehicle is a combination of a Petrol or Diesel engine with an electric motor and a battery. The vehicle will switch between using the electric motor and the Petrol or Diesel engine, depending on your journey and driving style. With self-charging hybrids, the battery is charged by the engine so there is no need to plug them in.
PHEV (Also known as Plug-in Hybrid)
As the name suggests, you will need to plug these vehicles in to charge them, as the battery is much larger than in a self-charging hybrid. Apart from this, PHEVs work on the same principle as HEVs – a petrol engine that works in conjunction with an electric motor and a battery.
MHEV (Also known as mild hybrid)
You may think a MHEV is more similar to a HEV but it’s actually closer to an ICE vehicle. The battery cannot propel the car on its own, it simply assists the efficient running of the engine during certain functions such as the start/stop system.
We hope the information above will help you decide which type of EV suits you best. The best thing to do is to think about your lifestyle – for example, electric cars are perfect for city commuters, hybrids are best if you’re likely to be doing longer journeys a few times a week, and mild hybrids are perfect for those who want to dip their toe into the electric powertrains.
How Much do Electric and Hybrid Cars Cost to Run?
Although a new electric vehicle can initially appear to be more expensive to buy than its Petrol or Diesel counterpart, the good news is they are cheaper to run and will save you money in the long run.
Electricity is cheaper than filling a whole Petrol or Diesel tank, which will instantly make a difference on your wallet. In addition, electric cars require less maintenance potentially resulting in greater savings over time. The batteries do wear out over time, but most car manufacturers provide generous warranties for these.
What is more, zero emissions vehicles are exempt from road tax (unless the car has a retail price of more than £40,000) and circulate free in Clean Air Zones and London’s Congestion Zone.
How Long Does it Take to Charge an EV?
Charging times will depend on your vehicle’s battery size as well as the power of the charging point you’re using. As a rule of thumb though, the larger the battery, the more it will take to charge your car.
Using a fast or rapid charging point will recharge your car much quicker than using a 7kW home charger for instance.
Whereas with a 7kW charger you may need to leave your car charging quite a few hours, with a fast charger (often found on the motorway or in shopping centres) you may get to 80% in around 30 min, the time of a coffee break.
Do Electric Cars Need an MOT?
Yes they do. If the vehicle is new, the first MOT will need to be done once the car is three years old and every year after that.
The only difference as regards to MOT for electric and hybrid cars is the lack of emissions and noise test, which is instead an essential component for an ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle. The rest of the MOT is very similar to an ICE where wheels, tyres, brakes, interiors & exteriors, bonnet and underside are going to be inspected.
Here at Perrys we offer MOT test for £49 which also include a comprehensive Vehicle Health Check as well as a free re-test should your car fail its MOT.
Is an Electric Car Maintenance Different from a Petrol or Diesel Car?
Electric cars have few parts when compared to an ICE (internal combustion engine) car, this makes their service and maintenance cost up to 30% cheaper when compared to a petrol or diesel car.
Check your user manual for suggested servicing time as it varies depending on cars and manufacturers. As a rule of thumb though, when it comes to batteries, these will need to be replaced every 10 to 12 years.
Differently from petrol or diesel cars, electric cars will not need oil, water pumps and cambelt to be changed or filters to be renewed. However, they still require checks with diagnostics to identify any faults. In addition, they will need to have checks with regards to their cooling system, tyre wear and tear and heating and ventilation system.
Rightcharge Partnership
Don’t forget that Perrys is partnering with Rightcharge, a home charger point installation and EV energy tariff comparison service who mission is to give all current and future electric car owners the chance to compare chargers and tariffs and purchase the perfect one to suit your needs.
Alongside offering these comparison services, Rightcharge also provides a service for businesses to help find a vetted, local, and knowledgeable installer to help them go green and install chargers for their staff to use.