What are electric cars, how do they work and when does the petrol ban come in?

Is it worth making the switch? Here's everything you need to know

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Driving an electric car rather than a fossil fuel-powered version may result in the vehicle producing half the amount of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime, a new report has found.

The research suggests that switching to an electric vehicle (EV) could have a significant impact when it comes to protecting the planet.

But what exactly are EVs, and is it worth getting one? And what is the petrol ban?

Here’s everything you need to know about electric cars.

What are EVs and how do they work?

EVs are plug-in automobiles that are propelled by an electric motor. They are typically powered by rechargeable batteries.

To recharge the batteries, you plug the car into a charging station. Most people install one at their homes when they buy an EV, however it’s expected that charging stations will soon be available in various public places such as shopping centres, cinemas and stations.

In Kensington and Chelsea, London, for example, the council has set up charging sockets in certain street-lamps.

Most electric cars can run for 100 to 150 miles before the battery runs out, but engineers predict that batteries will be able to last for 400 miles in a decade.

How many people drive them?

As of 2017, there were over three million electric and plug-in hybrid cars in use across the globe.

Electric cars are increasing in popularity in the UK, with more and more people turning to the rechargeable vehicles - last month sales of the cars rose by 23 per cent compared to the same period in 2017, however electric cars still only make up a small proportion of all car sales in the UK.

How much do they cost to run?

Electric cars are thought to be less expensive to run than traditional cars because they’re cheaper to repair and cheaper to fuel - driving 100 miles in an electric car will cost about £3 to £4, compared to about £15 in a petrol car.

What’s more, the UK government has introduced new regulations that mean EVs are exempt from certain taxes and levies. And in London, motorists who drive electric cars skip the congestion charge.

Having said that, electric cars cost more to buy in the first place on average.

The most popular electric car is the Nissan Leaf (from £25,190), 300,000 of which had been sold globally by January 2018.

The second most popular is the Tesla Model S (from about £73,000), with 213,000 sold by December 2017.

How fast can they go?

EVs have a reputation for losing their 'oomph' when travelling at high speed, and this isn't entirely false. However engineers and manufacturers have made significant steps in reducing this effect over the past year or so.

Electric cars accelerate a lot quicker than petrol vehicles too. This is because "an electric motor can generate maximum torque (the rotational force that is transmitted from the motor to turn the wheels. Torque measures an engine’s ability to handle loads and accelerate) at pretty much any RPM," software engineer Niruhan Viswarupan explains.

Do you need to install a charger at home?

Just because you have an electric car doesn't necessarily mean you need to invest in your own charging station - you can just use public ones, some of which are free.

However most EV drivers, particularly those with off-road parking, do choose to install their own charging point, allowing them to plug their car in overnight much as you would your phone.

Are electric cars really better for the environment?

Electric cars are considered more environmentally friendly than petrol cars because they have no exhaust emissions and emit no pollutants.

Given emissions from regular cars are thought to be responsible for the deaths of about 40,000 people in the UK every year, electric cars’ eco credentials are seen as a big draw for many.

What is the petrol ban?

Under the UK's first 'electric streets' scheme, which started on September 3, petrol and diesel cars have been banned from certain streets in East London.

Any motorist caught driving one such vehicle down any of the nine designated streets around Old Street and Shoreditch during peak hours (7am-10am and 4pm-7pm on weekdays) will face a fine of £130.

Only ultra-low emissions vehicles - which emit less than 75/kg of CO2 - will be permitted.

The affected roads are Blackall Street, Cowper Street, Paul Street, Tabernacle Street, Ravey Street, Singer Street, Willow Street, Charlotte Road and Rivington Street.

London Assembly member Caroline Russell said: “Islington and Hackney have seized the opportunity to give people a really strong message about taking pollution seriously and to show the scale of London’s health emergency.”

Are electric cars safe?

Electric cars are as safe to use as petrol cars - they’re held to the same high standards of testing and have to meet the same safety requirements.