There’s a lot of false information about electric vehicles out there – so what’s the truth? We discuss some common misconceptions about owning, running and driving EVs.
Do you need specialist car insurance?
No, this isn’t always the case! While some car insurers offer a specialist product, often standard car insurance will protect EVs.
For instance, Admiral’s Electric Car Insurance is just our ‘standard’ car insurance, which includes extra benefits that are tailored to EV owners, depending on the level of cover you have.
Our comprehensive electric car insurance includes:
- charging cables cover
- battery cover
- out of charge recovery*
- wallbox cover*
We used our customer’s feedback to see what was important to them when it comes to driving and protecting their EV.
That means we designed these extra benefits to make sure they were giving our customers exactly what they need.
Policy limits and exclusions apply, so always read your policy book carefully to see what is and isn’t covered. Find out more about Admiral’s Electric Car Insurance.
*These benefits don’t apply to hybrid cars.
Are electric cars more expensive?
While the upfront costs of buying electric cars are typically higher, their running and maintenance costs are usually cheaper.
Electric cars don’t need oil, need less regular servicing, and are less prone to general wear and tear when it comes to your brakes. Plus, there’s fewer moving parts to worry about.
EVs are also currently exempt from the London Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges too, meaning you could save money if you need your ride for inner-city travelling.
Is there enough power in the grid to charge every EV?
Simply put, yes!
Obviously as we see more electric cars being sold, there’s going to be an increase in demand.
But the UK is already expecting higher demand as households start to switch to more electricity-based appliances, like induction hobs. This means there are already plans in place to cope with the extra strain.
Plus, if you charge your EV in off-peak times, the energy tariffs are lower, which means it’s cheaper to charge.
Some smart-charging EVs also feed some power back into the grid, making them more efficient – but this is a relatively new technology that hasn’t been rolled out widely just yet.
Do EVs use more energy when it’s cold?
No, but they can take longer to heat up.
As EV batteries are chemical devices, they can be slower in cold weather – but this doesn’t mean they’re using more energy.
Petrol or diesel cars do heat up faster, but they’re still less efficient overall.
Do EVs lose charge if you don’t use them?
This is technically true, but only a tiny amount.
You’ll need to give it some thought if you buy a used EV, so make sure you check the high-voltage battery capacity. This is the battery that powers your car’s motor – not the 12volt battery that powers your electrical components like your lights and radio!
If it falls below 70%, it’s probably best to look for another car.
To keep your battery in good shape, you should remember to put it in hibernation mode when it’s not in use and charge it to between 50 and 80%.
Can EVs tow trailers and caravans?
Not all EVs are tested for towing as it can reduce their range by quite a bit. Plus, there is the risk that the extra weight could put strain on the regenerative braking system.
But some EVs are and in that case, yes! You just need to double check what the maximum towing capacity is, so you don’t risk damaging your vehicle.
Is it safe to drive an EV in the rain or through a car wash?
This is a relatively common misconception about EVs, but there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.
The inner workings of an EV – their battery and other electrical components – are completely sealed up and protected from the elements!
How long do electric car batteries take to charge?
It depends on the type of charger you have, and how big your high-voltage battery is.
The bigger your battery and the slower the charger, the longer it’ll take.
Rapid chargers can get you to 80% in around 30 minutes, while some at-home chargers could take over eight hours to reach full charge.
Plus, EV manufacturers are continuously working on things like battery capacity and the speed of charging, so you’re likely to see improvements on this in the future.
Do electric cars need MOTs?
Yes – just like any other car, electric cars need MOTs.
Three years after your EV is first registered, you’ll need to start taking it for an MOT every year.
They’ll check on pretty much the same things, including your brakes, tyres, suspension, and lights.
Plus, it should cost the same as an MOT for a petrol or diesel car.
Do electric cars pay road tax?
They used to be exempt but since the 1st of April 2025, they need to pay road tax.
All new EVs that are registered will have to pay £10 tax in the first year, and then £195 from the second year onwards.
EVs registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025 will pay £195 per year from the first year.
But if your EV was registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017, you’ll be in the new ‘Band B’ rate, which is currently £20 a year.
Is it true EVs have a worse impact on the environment because of how they are manufactured?
No, that’s not true. In 2020 in the UK, the greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of a typical petrol vehicle were nearly three times higher than a typical EV. That includes the manufacturing and disposal of vehicles.
It’s true that manufacturing an EV can have a higher environmental impact than manufacturing a petrol or diesel car, mainly because of the EV’s battery. Raw materials for batteries, like lithium, are expensive to mine. The industry is still developing a good way to recycle batteries.
But even without battery recycling, EVs have a significantly lower carbon footprint than cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs), because driving one doesn’t directly burn fossil fuels. And if you charge your EV with renewable energy like wind or solar power, that’s even better!
Plus, much of the energy grid in the UK is renewable, meaning EVs produce zero emissions when charged and run. But even if you charge an EV with a grid powered by gas, EVs are still significantly more efficient because:
- they waste less energy in heat and friction
- they generate energy from braking
As battery technology improves, recycling develops, and the UK’s energy grid continues to become more renewable, the environmental impact of EVs will continue to improve too.
Buying an electric car
In short, there’s a lot of misconceptions about what it takes to run an EV out there.
EVs are efficient, sustainable, and with new models coming out every year there’s plenty of cutting-edge cars to choose from!
When buying a new or used EV, the most important thing is to do lots of research and make sure the car is right for you, your needs and your budget.
A note about sustainability
Admiral is committed to having a positive impact on the environment, and we’re aiming to achieve Net Zero by the year 2040. As part of our environmental approach, we want to support our customers to make sustainable decisions, if they choose to. To learn more about net zero at Admiral, please see our Net Zero Transition Plan.
About the author
Tegan Oldfield is the Content Editor at Admiral and has been with the company since the start of 2023 writing content on all things insurance. Before then, she worked in the publishing industry, as a content marketer in the world of tech recruitment, and has been published in fiction anthologies.
