Electric car drivers in the UK issued with cold weather warning

As the UK braces for colder weather, electric vehicle (EV) drivers are being urged to exercise caution. Ayvens issued a warning, stating: "Whether you're a seasoned EV driver or one of the thousands who made the switch this year, electric vehicle drivers need to take particular care as their vehicle will respond differently under these conditions to a petrol or diesel vehicle."

Notably, they highlighted: "It's widely known that EV batteries lose some of their range in the colder winter weather, as they tend to perform best between 20-30 degrees Celsius."

Additionally, Ayvens mentioned: "The low temperatures can also affect charging as the battery needs to warm up first before it can charge at faster speeds."

This could mean, they elaborated, "This can result in at-home charging taking an hour or longer, whilst rapid charging in public may also take an extra 15 minutes or so."

Amidst rising fuel costs, it has come to light that driving a petrol car could be ten times more expensive than running an EV, based on findings from Carwow, the car retail platform, reports Birmingham Live.

However, to reap maximum financial benefits, EV owners should invest in the appropriate home charger and electricity tariff for optimal savings on running costs. .

A typical UK driver clocking up 6,800 miles annually would spend around £1,105 on petrol, compared to £416.50 for home charging on a standard variable tariff, and just £119 for those using smart home charging solutions on an intelligent tariff. However, a survey of 1,000 motorists by Carwow found that one in five (20%) were hesitant to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) due to a lack of knowledge, while nearly a quarter (24%) were deterred by perceived high running costs.

Iain Reid, head of editorial at Carwow, commented: "EVs can be so cost-effective to run nowadays, that the savings in-life can more than offset the upfront cost over time - which also happens to be much lower than it once was. Fuel costs aside, the Vehicle Excise Duty changes announced by the Government in the Autumn Budget will also see owners of higher-polluting vehicles paying more than 10 times what EV owners pay to tax their vehicles from next April."