Electric Cars - Frequently Asked Questions - Baylis Peugeot

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Petrol and diesel cars emit a lot of CO2, so banning their sale is essential in the effort to slow the damage to our environment. As of 2030, no new petrol or diesel vehicles will be sold in the UK.  ​

Hybrid vehicles are those which have both a combustion engine and an electric motor. There are several types of hybrid: mild hybrids (MHEV) and self-charging hybrids have a small battery that supports the engine, but there is little or no capability to travel on electric power alone. Plug-in hybrids have a larger battery and can travel up to around 40 miles on electric-only power. ​

An electric vehicle (EV) is one that has no combustion engine and is instead powered by a large battery back and electric motor. These vehicles produce no CO2 or NOx emissions, and are charged by being plugged into an electrical source. ​

Driving an electric vehicle is much like driving an automatic, as there are no gears. The ride is near-silent, and your experience is enhanced by a host of advanced technology. Book a test drive with us today to discover electric motoring for yourself.​

Electric cars appear to be some of the most reliable vehicles on the market. In the 2021 WhatCar? reliability survey, EVs achieved an average score of 92.9%. ​

Electric vehicles feature fewer moving parts and fewer components that are prone to wear and tear than their petrol and diesel counterparts. As such, they are generally cheaper to service and maintain. ​

The length of time it takes to charge an electric vehicle depends on several factors, such as: the make and model of your vehicle, whether it has a hybrid or electric powertrain, and what charging system you’re using. Charging with a DC rapid charger typically takes 30-120 minutes, while charging at home can take 7-12 hours. ​

It’s perfectly safe to drive your electric car in heavy rain or through a car wash. EVs are put through a ‘soak test’ by carmakers, which subjects them to near-flood levels of water to ensure they’re safe. The electrical components are sealed off, but as with petrol and diesel cars, water damage to the engine can be dangerous, so it’s not recommended to drive through flood water. ​

We hope some of your questions have been answered here, but should you want to chat further about electric and hybrid vehicles, our team is happy to help.   ​