Frequently Asked Questions

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In a nutshell, we are an Electric Vehicle (EV) matchmaking service!  We help you choose the perfect EV to meet your needs.  We offer independent and impartial advice because we are not affiliated with any car brands or dealerships, and we are not trying to sell you a car!  We work closely with you to establish your specific needs before we shortlist three cars for you to test drive.  We will provide a detailed report on each vehicle to help you make an informed decision, enhancing your EV buying experience.

Next to your home, your car is typically your second most expensive purchase.  Our matchmaking service typically costs less than 0.5% of the purchase price of your EV.  It's not a case of can you afford to work with us, rather can you afford not to?

Although EVs are typically more expensive to buy than ICE cars, they can help you save money in the long term because they are significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel in overall running costs (i.e. ‘fuel’, servicing, Road Tax, etc ). 

According to Transport & Environment, EVs will have price parity with petrol and diesel vehicles by 2027 at the latest.  There are significant savings to be made on fuel costs if you can charge at home, despite the increased energy prices.  According to Nimblefins, it isn’t just about the purchase price or monthly repayment costs; servicing and maintenance are 23% lower for EVs over 60,000 miles on average.  This is because there are far fewer parts requiring regular servicing and replacement, e.g. EVs don’t have fuel, oil or air filters, and there are no large items such as cam belts, gaskets, water pumps, or clutches to replace or repair. 

Typically, an internal combustion engine has over 2,000 moving parts, whereas an EV motor has around 20 parts.  Other than a diagnostic check on the electric motor and battery packs, the only items needing regular replacement through normal wear and tear are brake discs, pads and tyres – a cost incurred with any vehicle.

Use this handy calculator to work out how much you could save!

Yes, they are exceptionally quiet, with only a whisper from the electric motor, with minimal tyre and wind noise audible.  They have automatic transmission and are very easy to drive.  All the torque of the electric motor is available as soon as you press the throttle, so driving them feels completely effortless and peaceful!  Even small, modest EVs are very responsive and have quick acceleration. 

In ideal conditions, Renault has suggested that the optimal lifespan of the motor is between 15-20 years.  Compared to a combustion engine, it has far fewer moving parts and therefore easier maintenance. 

Most EVs use lithium-ion batteries.  These degrade over hundreds of charges/use cycles, becoming less effective.

However, drivers can expect upwards of 10 years or 100,000 - 150,000 miles of use from an electric car, with reports of twice that distance.  As such, the lifespan of an EV is not dissimilar to a conventional petrol or diesel model.

Battery degradation won’t hugely affect the EV’s performance in terms of acceleration, refinement or cruising ability.  According to independent tests, it will lessen the range, but even an eight-year-old Nissan Leaf may only see losses of around 20% versus new. 

(Source RAC Oct 2021).

These vary between manufacturers over the prescribed warranty period.  Tesla states that a battery that holds less than 70% charge has reached the end of its lifespan, typically eight years of use with 100,000 to 150,000 miles driven.

Ensure the installer is a member of the Electric Vehicle Consumer Code for Home Chargepoints (EVCC).  These standards ensure consumers can be confident when making a purchasing decision, knowing that their chosen installer must comply fully with the Code, from how they advertise themselves to how they handle a complaint if things go wrong.  The Code applies to EV charge points installed in domestic properties throughout the UK.  To find an approved installer, click here.

At the end of July 2023, there were 45,737 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, across 26,805 charging locations.  An increase of 1999 connections from the previous month. These figures do not include the many charge points installed at home or workplace locations, estimated to be more than 400,000.  These charge points are available to the public via community or visitor charging.

Source Zap-Map https://www.zap-map.com/

We have purchased several EVs ourselves over the last few years, so we know what a time-consuming process this can be to make the right decision!  When choosing your first EV, until now, there has been no independent, one-stop shop where you could access detailed and impartial advice to ensure you select the perfect EV to meet your needs.  You can spend weeks tracking down consumer reports, watching car reviews and trawling the internet for technical specifications for each vehicle.  The information is presented in so many different formats that it is difficult to compare the details for each car easily.  When you test drive lots of EVs, you also have a lot of data to retain.

This car-buying experience is a typical scenario.  Your car is the second biggest financial commitment after your house purchase.  So it would help if you made the right choice - the first time.

Using our detailed and ever-expanding knowledge of the EV market, we tracked down our latest EV and took delivery within weeks on a car with a typical lead time of 12-15 months.  We used our network of contacts to track our car down with a higher specification for the same price and took delivery within a few weeks.  

We founded Purely-EV to support other people in switching to an EV and making a fully informed decision.  We establish your specific vehicle needs and then provide you with a very detailed technical and ergonomic report for three cars shortlisted for you to test drive.  When you have made your final selection, we can even help to source the vehicle for you more quickly.  Why not contact us to see how we can help you get behind the wheel of an EV?