Electric vehicles have become more popular recently as drivers become more conscious of carbon emissions. Rising fuel prices have also contributed to many people switching to or considering electric vehicles, especially in the current climate.

Research shows that vehicles contribute about 14 percent of the world’s total carbon emissions. Cars constitute approximately 72 percent of these emissions, while planes contribute roughly 10 percent.

Studies show that while electric vehicles aren’t emissions-free, they still produce significantly lower emissions than traditional automobiles. Growing awareness about climate change concerns has prompted many to switch to electric vehicles. According to the International Energy Agency, there were over ten million electric cars on the world’s roads in 2020. The IEA also notes that electric car registrations increased by over 41 percent in 2020, outperforming traditional vehicles significantly. Demand for traditional vehicles declined by over 16 percent during this period.

Many experts and analysts believe global demand for electric vehicles will skyrocket in the following years, especially if governments accelerate efforts to reach climate sustainability goals.

How Do Electric Cars Work?

Electric cars are significantly different from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. While the latter run on gas, petrol, or diesel, electric vehicles use electrical energy stored in their battery packs. The car is propelled by electric motors which draw power from the battery. Electric vehicles generally have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engine vehicles, meaning they require less maintenance.

How Do Batteries Work in Electric Vehicles?

Every electric vehicle comes equipped with a battery pack. These battery packs comprise several groups of lithium-ion cells. They’re essential for supporting the vehicle by providing power for moving, air conditioning, and virtually every other function. People also refer to these as traction batteries. They’re generally located at the bottom of the vehicle.

People often get confused by electric car batteries. Hence, it’s better to consider them similar to smartphone batteries, except for bigger ones. As a result, they also charge like smartphone batteries. You can connect your electric vehicle’s battery pack to the electrical grid through an outlet or charging station. The battery pack will draw energy until it’s fully charged.

Electric vehicles often have different-sized batteries, meaning capacity will vary. Their capacity is generally measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).  

It’s worth noting that battery technology and manufacturing techniques are constantly evolving. While most cars today have batteries offering ranges between 80 to 200 miles, this number will likely increase significantly in the next few years. Battery improvements will also cause electric vehicles to have shorter recharge times, popularising them with the masses.

Another interesting thing to note is that electric vehicle batteries deliver direct current (DC) power, unlike electricity delivered from a typical power outlet. This distinction has a significant effect because it means power must be converted to alternating current to generate rotational force. As a result, electric vehicles have specially designed motors.

Electric Vehicle Motor

An EV’s motor doesn’t have to ignite gasoline to move the vehicle. The motor has electromagnets inside, which are powered by the battery to create rotational force.

Electric vehicle motors generally feature two sets of magnets. The first one is attached to the car’s shafts, helping spin the wheels. Meanwhile, the other is installed within the housing around the shaft. These magnets are also charged to ensure their polarity is similar, causing them to repel each other.

Maintaining this repulsion is crucial. As a result, the magnets change polarity regularly to ensure the shaft turns. If the magnets didn’t change polarity, they would rotate back to a position where they would attract each other instead of repelling, causing them to lock into place.

AC power usually does this automatically, ensuring alteration between the negative and positive polarities. However, electric vehicles generate DC currents, necessitating an inverter to ensure magnets continuously flip their polarity.

Inverters within electric vehicles flip polarity frequently, typically around 60 times per second, helping generate rotational force. Electric vehicles also feature a separate DC converter. This convertor is used to redirect power to other vehicle systems that don’t need an alternating current – heating, lighting, etc.  

How Much Range Do Most Electric Vehicles Provide on a Single Charge?

Range anxiety is common for most electric vehicle owners. After all, you don’t want your vehicle to halt during a long road trip. It’s no secret that electric vehicles have a limited range and recharge times can be long, meaning drivers need to account for recharge stops before journeying. According to the Electric Vehicle Database, the current average electric vehicle range is approximately 200 to 250 miles. However, it’s worth noting that the upper and lower ends of the range vary.

An electric vehicle’s battery size will usually affect range. However, other factors can also drain an electric vehicle’s range quickly, including continuous highway driving, overusing fast charging, natural deterioration over time, quick accelerations, etc.

The biggest challenge to electric vehicle adoption isn’t the limited range of these vehicles. Instead, it’s the lack of infrastructure to make electric vehicles more viable. For instance, you’ll likely see fuel stations for internal combustion vehicles on nearly every turn in a busy city. Unfortunately, the same isn’t the case for electric vehicles.

Charging an Electric Vehicle

Charging an electric vehicle can take some time. However, this is dependent on the vehicle’s battery size. In addition, how many miles you’ve driven between charges, charging behaviour, and the charger’s power rating will also affect charging speed.

Generally, there are three types of electric charges used. They include:

• Slow: Slow chargers generally have a power rating of 3kw. They’re primarily used for charging vehicles overnight at home or the workplace. It’ll take your electric vehicle around eight to ten hours to charge fully using a slow charger.
• Fast: Fast chargers can typically be found in car parks, supermarkets, leisure centres, and other similar places. They have a power rating of 7kw or 22kw, meaning your car will need approximately three to four hours to charge fully.
• Rapid: Rapid chargers typically carry a power rating of 43kw. You’ll usually find these rapid chargers at motorway service stations, supermarkets, and petrol stations. They’ll charge your electric vehicle quickly, usually between thirty to sixty minutes. However, it’s important to note that they’re only compatible with electric vehicles that support rapid charging.

What Are The Benefits of Owning an Electric Vehicle?

There are numerous benefits to owning an electric vehicle, including but not limited to the following:

Save on Fuel Costs

Fuel costs have skyrocketed in the past year because of numerous geopolitical factors, including the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. For instance, statistics show that fuel prices reached all-time highs in the UK in 2022. The average price of petrol reached 191.53 pence-per-litre while diesel hit 199.05 pence-per-litre in July. While fuel prices have decreased slightly, they remain relatively high. According to the RAC, the average fuel price in September 2022 was 167.22 pence per litre for petrol and 182.49 pence per litre for diesel.

Research shows that drivers who opt for all-electric vehicles can save nearly 4,000 Pounds Sterling over seven years after factoring in electric charging and petrol prices. It’s also important to note that this study only accounts for drivers driving an average of 8,000 miles a year, which is substantially lower than what most PCO drivers cover.  

Sustainability

It’s no secret that electric vehicles produce significantly fewer emissions than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. According to the World Health Organisation, approximately seven million people die annually from air pollution. Electric vehicles are the most effective way to reach carbon neutrality.

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) also incentivises drivers to use electric vehicles. This scheme provides drivers a 350 Pounds Sterling reduction for installing a single charging point in their home. In addition, it also provides a 75 percent reduction in the cost of a charging point.

Maintenance Costs

Research shows that electric vehicle drivers can save over 50 percent on maintenance compared to drivers of internal combustion engine vehicles. Electric vehicles have fewer components than traditional vehicles, meaning they require less maintenance and repairs.

No Vehicle Excise Duty

The UK government announced that vehicle excise duty (VED) for 100 percent electric vehicles would be zero until at least 2025. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles also have lowered VED rates, but their payable VED depends on emissions.

No ULEZ and Congestion Charge Fees

Another benefit of owning electric vehicles is that drivers don’t have to pay the congestion charge and ULEZ fees in London, which helps them save up to 150 Pounds Sterling per week.

However, it’s important to note that hybrid cars are not exempt from the congestion charge. Therefore, ensure your vehicle is fully electric if you want to avoid congestion charges and ULEZ fees.

Electric Vehicles for PCO Drivers to Consider

Here are some electric vehicles for PCO drivers to consider. They include:

Kia E-Niro

The Kia E-Niro is a fully electric, automatic SUV with a 64kw battery that allows it to cover over 200 miles on a single charge.

Volkswagen ID 3

The Volkswagen ID 3 features a 58kw battery and is a five-door, five-seat hatchback and the first model of the ID series. Volkswagen introduced the vehicle in September 2019 at the Frankfurt Motor Show before beginning deliveries in September 2020. The ID3 has a range of approximately 260 miles, making it an exceptional purchase for PCO drivers in London.

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is the Japanese manufacturer’s flagship electric vehicle. It’s a five-door hatchback with a front-motor, front-wheel drive. It comes equipped with a 62kw battery, which can cover approximately 226 miles on a single charge. It also utilises the Propilo Assist – a lane-centering system and one-pedal braking.

MG 5 Exclusive

The MG 5 Exclusive is a fully-electric, five-seater car. It’s a no-nonsense family estate with decent practicality that features an exceptional range, and drivers can cover nearly 250 miles with a single charge. It’s also equipped with MG’s Pilot Advanced Driver Assistance System, featuring traffic jam assist, intelligent speed limit assist, adaptive cruise control, and active emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection. It also features a 52kw battery.

Toyota Prius Plus

The Toyota Prius Plus is a seven-seater, versatile family car with multiple uses. It evokes the design features of the standard Prius to offer a distinct driving experience. It’s also equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense, a comprehensive system comprising radar and camera sensors that can prevent potential collisions.

Get Started with G&M Direct Hire

While many PCO drivers often use their own vehicles, we generally recommend they opt for EVs. They’re exempt from Congestion Charges and ULEZ until 2025, which can be the most significant cost for most drivers.

As most cars are out of reach for people due to sky-high prices, it’s becoming more reliable to use a PCO car rental company instead. Make sure you opt for an option that offers the best performance for PCO with manageable operational costs while having all the necessary features you’d want for your service.

Make the most of the PCO business by opting for a premium PCO car for rent. G&M Direct Hire will be happy to help you get started in the industry. Choose from a curated list of PCO cars to rent that focus heavily on optimal value, enabling you to focus on earning instead of other aspects. Our collection comprises EVs and hybrids, considering they’re the most sought-after options in the industry for various aspects. Get yourself a PCO-licensed car hire in London in Barnet, Leyton, Barking, Whitechapel, Chelsea, Ealing, and others.