From (BYD) ATTO 3 to (Renault) ZOE, the choice of electric cars has never been better.
Now’s the time to take advantage of zero emissions, lower running costs, the latest tech and a new refined driving experience.
At cinch, you can get quality used EVs as well as the latest new electric cars.
If you’re new to EVs – and all the potential crammed into those two simple letters – here’s everything you need to know.
Benefits of an electric car
Lower emissions
= eco smugness
Cheaper tax
= lower running costs
Quiet and refined
= a modern drive
Charging at home
= ultimate convenience
Futuristic tech
= cutting-edge motoring
Charging an electric car
How do I charge an electric car?
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It's easier than you might think.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
In most cases, charging an electric car is cheaper than a tank of petrol.
The cheapest way to charge is usually to do so at home overnight on a dedicated electric car energy tariff.
Using a public charger will be much faster, but you do have to pay a bit more for that convenience.
Find out more about the costs of electric car charging.
Electric car range
Electric car ranges have come on leaps and bounds since the first mainstream models launched.
A number of the latest models will do over 450 miles on a single charge. The sweet spot for many EVs – especially city cars – is around 150-250 miles, which saves on the cost and weight of bigger batteries.
So, range anxiety might be a thing of the past, but it's still worth keeping an eye on your driving style if you want to go further between charges.
Just like in a petrol or diesel car, being gentle on the accelerator and not running the air-con at full blast is more efficient, saving you fuel (or, in this case, electricity).
Did you know?
EV tech is older than you think – it dates back to the 1800s, and around 1/3 of cars in the US were electric at the turn of the 20th century.
Frequently asked questions
Jargon busters
So many EV acronyms and new terms… what do they mean?
EV
An electric vehicle (EV) uses a battery to store energy and electric motor(s) to drive the car.
BEV
A battery electric vehicle (BEV) is the same as an EV, and uses a combination of rechargeable batteries and electric motor(s) to power and drive the car.
HEV
A hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) doesn't need plugging in – the battery is charged by the engine. These are sometimes called 'self-charging hybrids'.
PHEV
Plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEV) have internal combustion engines (ICE), usually petrol, and electric motor(s) powered by rechargeable batteries.
The engine needs fuel, and the batteries need to be charged, but they can often drive on electric-only power for short distances.
Kilowatt-hours (kWh)
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) for an electric car is typically a measure of the energy stored in its batteries.
Range
Range is the number of miles an electric car can travel on a full charge.
'WLTP' range is the number of miles an electric car can travel on a full charge according to the industry standard testing procedures.
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion is the type of battery used to power an EV, as well as other cool stuff like your smartphone.
ICE
An internal combustion engine (ICE) is the traditional engine found in a petrol or diesel car.
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