What types of electric cars are there?

There are a few different types of electric vehicle (EV). Some run purely on electricity, these are called pure electric vehicles. And some can also be run on petrol or diesel, these are called hybrid electric vehicles. - Plug-in electric - This means the car runs purely on electricity and get all their power when they're plugged in to charge. They don't need petrol or diesel to run so don't produce any emissions like traditional cars. - Plug-in hybrid - These mainly run on electricity but also have a traditional fuel engine so you can use petrol or diesel too. If you run out of charge, the car will switch to using fuel. When it's running on fuel, these cars will produce emissions but when they're running on electricity, they won't. Plug-in hybrids can be plugged in to an electricity source to recharge their battery. - Hybrid-electric - These run mainly on fuel like petrol or diesel but also have an electric battery too, which is recharged through regenerative breaking. These let you switch between using your fuel engine and using 'EV' mode at the touch of a button. These cars cannot be plugged in to an electricity source and rely on petrol or diesel for energy.

You can charge an electric vehicle either by plugging it into a socket or by plugging into a charging unit. There are plenty of charging stations around the UK to stay fully charged while you're out and about. There are three types of chargers: - Three pin plug - a standard three-pin plug that you can connect to any 13 amp socket. - Socketed - a charge point where you can connect either a Type 1 or Type 2 cable. - Tethered - a charge point with a cable attached with either a Type 1 or Type 2 connector.

How long does it take to charge and electric car?

There are also three EV charging speeds: - Slow - typically rated up to 3kW. Often used to charge overnight or at the workplace. Charging time: 8-10 hours. - Fast - typically rated at either 7Kw or 22kW. Tend to be installed in car parks, supermarkets, leisure centres and houses with off-street parking. Charging time: 3-4 hours. - Rapid - typically rated from 43 kW. Only compatible with EVs that have rapid charging capability. Charging time: 30-60 minutes.

How far can you travel on one full charge?

An EVs range is dependent on the battery size (kWh). The higher the EV battery kWh, more power, the further you travel. Here are examples of how far some electric cars charge will go: - Volkswagen e-Golf - range: 125 miles - equivalent to a journey from Bristol to Snowdonia National Park. - Hyundai Kona Electric - range: 250 miles - equivalent to a journey from London to the Lake District. - Jaguar I-Pace - range: 220 miles - equivalent to a journey from Edinburgh to Birmingham

What are the inner parts of an EV?

Here's a breakdown of the parts that keep an EV moving: Electric Motor - Provides power to rotate the wheels. It can be DC/AC type, however, AC motors are more common. Inverter - Converts the electric current in the form of Direct Current (DC) into Alternating Current (AC) Drivetrain - EVs have a single-speed transmission which sends power from the motor to the wheels. Batteries - Store the electricity required to run an EV. The higher the kW of the battery, the higher the range. Charging - Plug into an outlet or EV charging point to charge your battery.

Electric cars with the longest range

By Marta Moses | Posted March 23, 2020

How far an electric car can go on a single charge differs from make and model. Most EVs now have a significant range to comfortably suit most people’s daily journeys. This means that they can be charged at home or at work without significantly impacting your routine.

If you make longer journeys more frequently and stopping to charge at a rapid charge point isn’t feasible, there are several longer-range electric cars to suit your needs. With ranges over an official 280 miles, we’ve ranked the ten electric cars with the longest range available in the UK.

Official electric car range vs the real-world: what's the difference?

The manufacturer’s official electric car ranges are calculated through testing in a controlled environment set by WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) rules.

WLTP is conducted in a lab, uses real-driving data gathered from all around the world and considers real-life temperatures, road types, gearshifts and all sorts of actions that occur during normal driving.

Although WLTP is more realistic than the old NEDC measure, it doesn't account for all possible variations, individual driving styles, traffic and weather conditions from country to country, so there will still be a difference between WLTP and real world. This is why we've included an approximate real-world range to give a better indication of an average driving range, helping you to plan better.

You can read more about how far you can travel on a full charge, the workings of an electric car, charging and much more. We've also teamed up with Turo, a car-sharing platform where you can hire an EV from its owner. A great way to test it out before buying! And if you're set on buying or leasing, be sure to read our handy electric car buying guide.

Top 10 electric cars by mileage

10. Kia e-Niro 64kWh

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 282
Approximate real-world miles: 235
Cost: From £32,995
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 10 hours and 30 minutes; rapid charge: 44 minutes

For the cost, this is also a great option for those wishing to make longer electric journeys. the e-Niro made it to the top spot of What Car? Car of the Year 2020, and because of this, demand has been high.

It’s very similar to its sister car, the Hyundai Kona. This is a compact SUV with quick acceleration, and the first edition comes with some great extras as standard, including radar cruise control and wireless phone charging. We are expecting some cheaper models to follow soon, although the ranges of those models have yet to be announced.

9. Jaguar I-Pace

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 292
Approximate real-world miles: 253
Cost: From £65,195
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 13 hours and 30 minutes; rapid charge: 44 minutes

The Jaguar I-Pace has picked up a whole host of awards this year. Most notably, the World Car of the Year 2019. This is down to its 90kWh battery, which Jaguar claims could get you as much as 290 miles on one charge (although this is very driver dependent). This is an excellent premium SUV with fantastic styling, technology and acceleration. One to rival some of the Tesla models providing a good electric car range.

8. BMW i4

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 372
Approximate real-world miles: 275
Cost: from £55,000
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 10 hours and 30 minutes; rapid charge: 44 minutes

Due to entering production in 2021, the BMW i4 is the next BMW model to go into production after the popular i3 and more sporty i8 models. The i4 boasts an impressive range and will be equipped with fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology and an output of 390kW, equal to the current V8 engine.

We anticipate this superbly styled Concept i4 to be a real game-changer for BMW upon its release later this year.

7. Skoda ENYAQ IV

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 316
Approximate real-world miles: 275
Cost: From £33,450
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 13 hours and 15 minutes; rapid charge: 33 minutes

Skoda's first-ever fully electric SUV is available from Spring 2021 in a choice of 62kWh or 82kWh battery sizes. There's a range of customisable add ons, including an extended warranty of 5 years or 100,000 miles.

The Enyaq iV is also capable of rapid charging at up to 125kW, resulting in a 10-80% charge in as little as 38 minutes. However, the maximum rate is 50kW as standard, with 100kW and 125kW as optional depending on which battery size you choose.

6. Polestar 2

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 292
Approximate real-world miles: 245
Cost: From £46,900
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 12 hours, rapid charge: 38 minutes

Following the launch of their hybrid Polestar 1, comes the fully electric Polestar 2. Boasting an impressive range of nearly 300 miles from a 78kWh battery, this five-door, saloon-shaped hatchback is brought to the market by Volvo’s performance company and brand.

This highly anticipated rival to the Model 3 has been available since August 2020. It looks incredible, combining attractive looks with excellent performance.

5. Tesla Model S Dual Motor

Available from June 2023
Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 403 (estimated)
Approximate real-world miles: 355
Estimated price: From £90,000
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 11 hours 45 minutes, rapid charge: 22 minutes

Tesla is leading the charge when it comes to making electric cars with the longest range. There's also a performance model known as the Tesla Model S Plaid, which is due to be released shortly and offers even more acceleration but with a slightly reduced range.

For Tesla lovers, the brand also offers its Tesla Model X, which is the SUV of their estate. With approximate miles of around 285 miles, the car is also worth a mention on this list.

View our Tesla Model 3 leasing deals

4. Volkswagen ID.3 Tour

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 336
Approximate real-world miles: 295
Cost: £39,290
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 12 hours 15 minutes, rapid charge: 34 mins

Available since Autumn 2020, Volkswagen’s ID.3 models come with three different battery options. The long-range "Tour" version provides an impressive 295 miles of range on one charge. For the cost, this is the most affordable electric car with the longest range.

The first of the ID range to be released by VW, we can't wait to see what else is in store from VW in 2021.

View our VW ID.3 leasing deals

3. Tesla Model S Long Range

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 375
Approximate real-world miles: 325
Cost: £78,050
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 15 hours, rapid charge: 38 mins

Third on the list is another entry for Tesla. A slightly more affordable model in comparison to the Roadster. The Tesla Model S can travel around 325 miles on one charge giving it a great range. The Model S has been on sale for several years now, but it is still the leading luxury electric car with amazing specifications and technology.

There’s also a Performance model in the Tesla S range. This is slightly quicker but offers a slightly lower electric car range of 315 miles.

2. Mercedes EQS

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 453
Approximate real-world miles: 400
Cost: £105,610
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 15 hours rapid charge: 31 mins

Mercedes is famous for the S-Class, its ultimate luxury saloon that has traditionally sat at the top of its range. Similarly, the new EQS sits at the top of its luxury electric vehicle range, with the highest level of technology, performance and range. The EQS is rated at 487 miles of range on the WLTP cycle, with an estimated real world range of approximately 395 miles.

The futuristic design offers exceptional levels of comfort and the interior comes with an optional Hyperscreen infotainment system that offers three huge screens that allow the front seat occupants to control the many features of the car.

1. Tesla Roadster

Manufacturer’s official range in miles: 620
Approximate real-world miles: 600
Cost: £189,000
How long it takes to charge: full charge at home: 32 hours / Rapid charge: 44 mins

Available now to reserve, the Roadster is the quickest car in the world with top speeds of over 250mph and a 0-60 time of under two seconds. It is the longest-range electric car on the market with a whopping 620 miles, according to Tesla. This premium car also comes with a high price to match.

If 600 miles isn’t enough, Tesla has also invested heavily in their own Supercharge network. The network is constantly growing throughout the UK and can mainly be found on motorway service stations. These are suitable for all Tesla models.