The Renault Zoe and Electric Cars- What You should Know

If you're an individual who is passionate about caring for the environment, there's a good chance that at one point or another you've considered purchasing an electric car. And why wouldn't you? For obvious reasons, electric cars have many advantages over those that rely on petrol or diesel. When it comes to buying this type of car, though, there are some things you need to know.

Charge Points and Electric Cars

One of the biggest disadvantages of purchasing an electric car is that you have to have an electric charge point to plug it in and charge it. At home, this can be a 13 amp power supply, but when you're out and about, finding a place to plug it in can be a bit harder. Luckily, those that buy the Renault Zoe don't have this problem.

Each buyer of the Renault Zoe is eligible for a charging station at home that is supplied and installed at home for free by British Gas. Because, according to Renault, 90% of charging is domestic, there isn't as big of a need for public places to charge your new electric car. That doesn't mean Renault doesn't want electric charge points readily available to you elsewhere when needed, though. This car company has joined forced with the government to help provide the funding necessary to create facilities that will allow electric cars like the Zoe to be charged in public. As a result, the government has provided 75% of the funding costs for these charge points (£37m) to local authorities.

Soon you could be seeing charge points throughout your local area, making the decision to purchase an electric vehicle like the Renault Zoe or the BMW i3 even easier.

Buying an Electric Car

Trying to decide if an electric car is the best option for you? Let's take a look at what you need to know before you hand over your money.

• Safety- It used to be that if you purchased an electric car, you were compromising safety for lower emissions. That isn't the case any more. The latest models, like the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan LEAF have proven that they can be just as safe to own and operate as their diesel and petrol counterparts, thanks to their five star Euro NCAP ratings.

• Practicality- New electric car models show off their practicality with style, offering plenty of space for five passengers, ranges that most often satisfy the average commuter travelling distance, and spacious boots.

• Charging- As stated above, 90% of your charging will be done at home, and when you purchase the Renault Zoe, a free charge point will be installed for you. If you choose another vehicle, you can use a domestic 13 amp power supply to charge the vehicle at home. The amount of time it will take to fully charge the battery will greatly depend on how large the car is and how large the battery is. The smaller the battery, the less charge needed. When using a standard wall socket at home, you can expect your car to charge in about six to eight hours. However, newer electric vehicles may be able to use rapid charge points, which can charge their batteries to 80% in only half an hour.

• Range- For the most part, electric vehicles made these days can travel about 100 miles before they need charged again. While this may not sound like much, the average driver in the UK only travels 25 miles a day and the average European only travels 63 miles a day. At full charge, your new electric vehicle could easily get you where you want to go and back home again.

• Costs- When you first shop for an electric car, you might be a little shocked at the sticker price; these vehicles are more expensive to purchase than their petrol or diesel counterparts. This is do to their different car parts, to be more specific, the battery. The high tech batteries that are used are expensive themselves, which drives up the cost of the car. Don't be fooled into thinking that you shouldn't buy this type of vehicle because of the sticker price, though. While they may be costly upfront, they are much cheaper to own and operate. Charging the car is very inexpensive compared to petrol and diesel prices.

• Environment- Many people believe that when a car is electric, it has zero emissions, but that's not true. They do have zero tailpipe emissions. There are still emissions that are created when electricity is generated. For a mid-size electric car in the UK, there's an average CO2 rating of 80g/km. While this may seem like a lot, it's not that bad when you consider a car of the same size with a combustion engine can have a CO2 rating of 147g/km or higher. So, while electric cars aren't completely without a carbon footprint, they are much greener than their counterparts.

• Incentives- Who doesn't like to save money? When you buy an electric car in the UK, you can, thanks to incentives provided by the government. The Plug-in Car Grant gives car buyers the opportunity to receive up to £5,000 toward the cost of an approved car. In addition, buying an electric car may allow you to become exempt from Fuel Duty, company car tax, and Vehicle Excise Duty. Live in London? With an electric vehicle, you can avoid paying the congestion charge and park in a pay and display space without paying a pound.

• Maintenance- Electric cars are different from petrol ones, especially when it comes to car parts. When you buy a Renault Zoe, you aren't going to have to worry about too many Renault parts breaking down. Out of all the car parts beneath the bonnet, the most expensive one you'll have to consider at some point is the battery. This will need to be replaced at some point. While there are always problems that can occur, there are no spark plugs or oil that needs to be changed, so routine maintenance is relatively simple.

• Weather- Because it's electrical, many first-time owners may be scared to take their car out when it's raining or snowing. The truth is, though, you aren't going to hurt anything. The car parts on electric vehicles are designed to work well in any kind of weather, rain or shine.

Looking for a car that really has it all? Consider the Renault Zoe or another electric vehicle. You won't have to worry about emissions, routinely maintaining Renault parts, or paying too much for fuel. With an electric car, you get the best without all the hassle and worry.