A pure EV (battery electric vehicle) has no petrol or diesel engine and is charged from the mains or a public charger. A full hybrid, often called self-charging, has a petrol engine and a small battery that is topped up by the engine and braking; you never plug it in. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has a larger battery you charge from a socket, giving an official electric-only range that is typically 30 to 90 miles, plus a petrol engine for longer trips.

Not in the strict sense. A full hybrid can move short distances on electricity at low speed, but it is mainly petrol-powered and cannot be plugged in. Only a pure EV runs entirely on electricity. A plug-in hybrid sits in between: electric for shorter journeys, petrol when the battery is empty.

A mild hybrid uses a small electric motor to assist the petrol engine and recover braking energy, but it cannot drive the car on electricity alone. It can improve economy slightly, but it is not a substitute for a full hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or an EV. Be EV Wise covers full hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure EVs.

Usually not. A plug-in hybrid only delivers its low running costs if you plug it in regularly. Once the battery is flat you are carrying the weight of a larger battery, and many are less efficient than a full hybrid in that state. If you cannot charge at home or at work, a full hybrid is normally the better choice.

A range-extender car is driven by an electric motor at all times; a small petrol engine acts as a generator to recharge the battery when needed. Some behave much like a plug-in hybrid. Check the electric-only range, battery size and charging speed of the specific model before you compare it with a PHEV or an EV.

It depends on how often you drive far and where you can charge. A pure EV with fast DC charging suits regular long trips if you plan stops. A full hybrid is simplest if you cannot charge. A plug-in hybrid suits mixed use if you can charge at both ends of your commute. Use our Find my EV questions to see options that fit.

Government policy is to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030, with some hybrids allowed for longer. The detail has changed in recent years, so check GOV.UK for the current rules before you rely on it. Existing cars can continue to be used and sold second-hand.

Most new EVs use lithium-ion batteries in two main chemistries. LFP (lithium iron phosphate) is cheaper and durable but stores less energy per kilo. NMC and NCA (nickel-based) store more energy and suit long-range and premium cars. Sodium-ion and solid-state batteries are emerging but were not mainstream in new UK cars at the time of writing.

Neither is better for everyone. LFP batteries are generally cheaper, safer and longer-lasting, but they lose more range in cold weather and pack less energy per kilo. NMC batteries offer higher energy density, which suits long-range cars, but cost more. Choose LFP for durability and value, NMC for maximum range.

Any lithium-ion battery can, rarely, suffer thermal runaway if it is damaged or faulty. Published fire-service and insurer data suggests fires are less common per vehicle in EVs than in petrol and diesel cars, but EV fires can be harder to put out and may reignite. Evidence is still developing. Follow the manufacturer's charging guidance and use a qualified installer for home charging.

LFP cells are more thermally stable, which makes them less prone to overheating than nickel-based cells. That is a genuine advantage, but no battery type is risk-free, and pack design, cooling and crash protection matter too. Many manufacturers do not publish the chemistry for each trim, so ask the seller in writing.

Batteries typically degrade slowly. Most manufacturers warrant them for at least eight years or 100,000 miles, usually to a minimum capacity of around 70 percent. Warrantywise reports that drive-battery problems do not feature among the five most common EV repair requests in its data, though that data covers used cars only.

Typically eight years or 100,000 miles, covering loss of capacity below a stated level, often 70 percent. It usually does not cover damage, and servicing conditions may apply. Read the terms: the battery warranty is separate from the vehicle warranty and from your legal rights when buying.

Follow the manufacturer's advice for your car. Many nickel-based batteries are best kept between roughly 20 and 80 percent for daily use, with 100 percent for long trips. Many LFP batteries are designed to be charged to 100 percent regularly. Your handbook or app will say which applies.

Yes. Cold weather reduces range, and the effect is generally larger with LFP batteries. Motorway speeds, heating and short trips add to it. A heat pump, preconditioning while plugged in and sensible allowances for winter range all help. Our Find my EV questions build in a winter margin.

Sodium-ion is an emerging technology that avoids lithium and can tolerate cold, but it stores less energy for its weight today. Some manufacturers have begun to use it in some markets. We have not confirmed any mainstream new car with a sodium-ion battery on sale in the UK, so Be EV Wise does not list one.

At home, a 7 kW wallbox adds roughly 25 to 30 miles of range per hour, so most cars fill overnight. At a public rapid charger, a car that can accept 100 kW or more often adds 10 to 80 percent in 20 to 40 minutes; slower-charging cars take longer. Our charge-time calculator gives an estimate for your battery and charger.

Not strictly, but it is the cheapest and most convenient way to charge. You can use a three-pin socket slowly as a stop-gap. For a wallbox, use a qualified installer. Grants may be available for flat owners and renters, so check GOV.UK for current schemes.

Yes, but plan carefully. Options include public on-street chargers, workplace charging, local rapid chargers and, in some areas, kerbside or lamp-post chargers. Charging away from home costs more. If you cannot charge regularly, a full hybrid may suit you better than an EV or plug-in hybrid.

It varies by tariff and where you charge. Overnight charging at home on an EV or time-of-use tariff is usually far cheaper than a standard tariff, and public rapid charging is typically several times the cost of overnight home charging. Use our running-cost calculator with your own prices.

Modern EVs sold in the UK use a Type 2 socket for AC charging and CCS for DC rapid charging. A few older cars, such as early Nissan Leaf models, use CHAdeMO for rapid charging. Charging cables are supplied or available for the connector your car needs.

Regulations for public chargepoints in Great Britain require contactless payment on most new and larger chargers and set reliability targets for rapid networks. In practice reliability still varies by network, so use a charging map app and have a back-up. Check Ofgem and GOV.UK for the current rules.

V2L (vehicle-to-load) lets you power devices from the car. V2H (vehicle-to-home) can supply your house, and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) can send power back to the grid. They need compatible cars and chargers, and support in the UK is still developing.

Yes. The Electric Car Grant takes up to £3,750 off eligible new electric cars priced at £37,000 or less (or up to £42,000 for higher trims of a qualifying car), applied by the seller as a discount, so you do not apply yourself. Band 1 cars can get £3,750 and Band 2 cars £1,500, depending on sustainability criteria. The eligible list changes, so check GOV.UK and confirm with the dealer before you order.

The official list is of electric cars, not hybrids or plug-in hybrids. Grant eligibility also depends on the specific model and its price, so always check the current GOV.UK list.

New electric cars pay £10 for the first year, then the standard rate of £200 a year (2026/27). Cars with a list price over £50,000 also pay the expensive car supplement of £440 a year for five years from their second year. Check GOV.UK for your car's registration date.

Company car tax on fully electric cars is 4 percent of the list price in 2026/27, rising to 5 percent in 2027/28 and 7 percent in 2028/29. Plug-in hybrids are taxed based on emissions and electric range.

Often, if you charge at home. Electricity per mile is usually much less than petrol, and servicing can be cheaper. Purchase prices, depreciation, insurance and public-charging costs can offset some of the savings, so compare total cost for your own mileage using our calculator.

It can be, because the car is paid from pre-tax salary and company car tax on EVs is low. Savings depend on your tax band, the scheme and the contract terms. Some providers claim employees typically save 20 to 50 percent compared with a personal lease, but check the actual figures and what happens if you leave your employer.

Yes. From 1 April 2028, Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) will charge 3p a mile for fully electric cars and 1.5p a mile for plug-in hybrids, on top of road tax. The government confirmed the plan in July 2026.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods from a trader must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. You generally have a short-term right to reject within 30 days. Faults appearing in the first six months are presumed to have been there at delivery. After that you may be entitled to repair or replacement, then a price reduction or final right to reject. This is general information, not legal advice.

For most online or phone purchases from a trader, you have 14 days to cancel from delivery. There are exceptions, such as goods made to your specification, which can include a car built to order. Check the terms before paying a deposit and keep written confirmation of what was promised.

No. A manufacturer or battery warranty is an extra benefit and does not remove your statutory rights against the seller. The battery warranty typically has its own limits, such as mileage, years and a capacity threshold.

With PCP you pay lower monthly amounts and can hand the car back, buy it with a final payment, or trade it in. Hire purchase spreads the whole cost so you own the car at the end. Leasing is rental with no ownership. Motor finance is regulated, so check the total amount payable and the terms.

Paying part of the price on a credit card can give extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, where the item costs between £100 and £30,000 and other conditions are met. Ask the dealer and your card provider how it applies to you.

Confirm the on-the-road price, whether the Electric Car Grant is included and who claims it, the delivery date and what happens if it is delayed, the battery and vehicle warranty terms, the charging cable included, and how the price is protected if list prices change. Get it in writing.

It is a score out of 100 published by Warrantywise, a used-car warranty provider, based on repair-request data. The 2026 index uses vehicles aged three to fifteen years and requires at least 250 vehicles per model. A higher score indicates lower repair risk relative to other vehicles. Each car in Be EV Wise links to the Index.

Because the Warrantywise data comes from used vehicles three to fifteen years old with a minimum number on plan per model, brand-new models have not built up enough history to be scored. Absence of a score does not mean a car is good or bad.

It depends on the model. EVs remove many combustion-engine parts but add high-voltage and electronic systems. Warrantywise notes that reliability patterns differ by model and that software, sensors and diagnostics are important repair areas. Look at model-specific evidence rather than the fuel type alone.

Often, because there is no engine oil and fewer moving parts, and regenerative braking can reduce brake wear. You still need tyres, brake fluid, cabin filters, coolant and checks on the high-voltage system, and heavy EVs can wear tyres faster. Ask for service pricing before you buy.

Some can, and ratings vary from 350 kg to 2,500 kg. Towing cuts range significantly, so allow much more margin. Where our listing says no towing rating is listed, assume the car should not be used for towing until the manufacturer confirms.

Batteries can be repaired, reused for stationary energy storage, or recycled to recover materials. Rules on battery collection and recycling apply to manufacturers. Ask the seller about battery replacement costs and warranty terms if you plan to keep the car a long time.

We do not sell cars or take commission on recommendations. Figures are compiled from published UK sources and are approximate: prices change often, real-world range varies, and some prices may already include the Electric Car Grant. Always confirm with the seller.