UK-based website Carbon Brief has analysed the sources of energy used in the UK in 2024 and found that just 29% came from fossil fuels whilst electricity from renewables reached a record-high of 45%. In the last decade carbon dioxide emissions per unit have fallen by more than two thirds! With the UK being the sixth largest producer of wind energy in the world, renewable energy is expected to make up half of the UK’s energy supply in 2025.
In 2016 EV Experts founders, Martin and Estelle, made a New Year’s Resolution to reduce their carbon footprint. Switching to an electric car was part of that story, although as a car geek, Martin was motivated by their performance and handling as much as by green credentials.
Switching to an electric car was only half the story back then with the National Grid generating electricity from coal-fired power stations. Fast-forward to 2024 when the last coal-fired facility was closed, UK’s electricity is the cleanest it has ever been. This means that no matter where you plug-in you will be making a difference.
The reasons to switch now are compelling – electric cars are better for the environment, they are cheaper to run and maintain and they offer a superb driving experience. In the secondhand market EVs have reached price parity with their petrol/diesel equivalents (some are cheaper!) and there’s something for nearly every lifestyle. From compact fortwo to chunky 7-seaters, bootspace for a Maltese or a Mastiff, tow hitches for bike racks or horse boxes, a budget of £10k to £100k.
It now takes less than two years (or 11k miles) for a typical EV to pay off the “carbon debt” from battery manufacture. Over the full lifecycle of an electric car, CO2 emissions are around three times lower than an average petrol car. Particulates from brake discs are also significantly less and this really helps local air quality which has been a problem in urban areas across the UK.
Switching to electric makes most sense if you can charge near your home or work. For adventures outside of normal range, there are a lot of public chargepoints – nearly 74,000 at 37,011 locations. For comparison there are just 8,353 petrol stations in the UK!
If you would like to stop burning stuff and switch to a fantastic driving experience, come and talk to EV Experts today about what you need your electric car to be and we will find the perfect model for your lifestyle.