Electric cars are an exciting choice for adventures away or daily commutes. They are easy to drive, great fun and produce zero local emissions which means their cleaner and better for our environment.

But there’s lots to consider, how do you charge an electric car? How long do the batteries last? And do you need to service an electric car? At FOW Car Supermarket, our electric vehicle experts are here to help answer these questions and so much more.

And then there’s the savings you can make, very real savings too. How many miles do you drive each day? What’s your annual mileage and do you cover most of your miles around town or on the Motorway?

At FOW, we’re here to help, not hinder. Friendly and approachable, we have no bias, only the knowledge so you can research and buy with confidence.

That’s why we’ve created a fun, quick fire quiz on everything you should consider when buying a new electric car. And, if you pass with flying colours, we have a fantastic prize up for grabs too - one that will help you get the most from your electric car.

We all know electric cars are powered by electricity, but did you know not all electricity is the same? Electricity is generated through various channels, traditionally this was using fossil fuels but today some of our electricity is generated sustainably through solar, wind or hydro. This is great news for electric car drivers, especially if you’re charging your electric car at home with a sustainable energy tariff.

What does all this mean though? If you can charge at home it’s often cheaper vs a public charger. To maximise savings you’ll need to install a home charger - we recommend the Optimus from Go Zero. You can manage your charger from your smartphone and even schedule charging when electricity is cheaper overnight. With 7kW charging speeds you’ll get a full charge with most electric cars in around 8 hours.

Charging speeds are vehicle and charger specific. With slow, fast, rapid and ultra rapid charging options, it can take as little to get an 80% top up in 10-30 minutes. Charging speeds are limited to your on-board charger and cable, for example a slow charge using a 3-pin plug will be limited to 2.5-3kW, while ultra rapid charging is rated all the way to 400kW for certain electric cars.

Did you know there are more public electric car charging points than petrol stations in the UK? While it’s more expensive way to charge, it’s convenient and quick, especially for longer journeys. With over 70,000 available in the UK alone (and growing) it’s a great solution for travelling longer distances. And with the average ‘daily mileage’ in the UK around 20 miles, an electric car is a great option for most.

Over a 10,000 mile distance you could save over £1,000. These savings are very real and based on real world driving conditions and charging at home using a cheaper, overnight energy tariff. If you don’t have a driveway, don’t worry, councils are rolling out charge point installations in lamp posts, billboards and pavement gullies. It’s easier than ever to charge your electric car.

And, charging can work both ways too. Electric cars equipped with Vehicle-to-load (V2L) transform your car into a power station, this is great if you get a power cut at home, travelling, away on holiday or camping. With a compatible discharge cable, you can power everything from a refrigerator, washing machine and dryer, to a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Charging at home? It’s easy, convenient and often cheaper, especially if you schedule your charging for the evening when energy is cheaper. With the Go Zero app you can measure your spend, access charger insights and schedule charging. You can also activate ‘Holiday Mode’ and add your charger to the public network. Simply set your tariff and earn money whilst you’re away from home.

With a beating heart, the Go Zero Optimus home charger is monitored every 60 seconds. If there’s a problem, Go Zero are informed so they can remotely fix or minimise the impact. With prices from £799, it’s great value too! We’ll also include a complimentary 5m tethered cable which means you can enjoy all the benefits right away. Installation is easy too - fixed price with no hidden costs and a free virtual home survey for only £399.

We’re all familiar with petrol and diesel cars, but with the growing popularity of electric cars, it’s important to know how they stack up compared to a petrol or diesel model.

Electric cars are driven by an electric motor and powered by a battery. The larger the battery, the more performance you’ll have, you’ll also be able to travel further between charges. These numbers will vary between different models and manufacturers, but it’s a good measure when researching electric cars. Some models will be equipped with two electric motors (dual motors) which typically places an electric motor on each axle to provide all-wheel-drive capability - a great addition in Winter or slippery conditions.

By contrast, petrol and diesel cars are equipped with an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), in addition to fuelling systems, cambelts, clutches and much more. Electric cars are far simpler by design, for example an electric motor only has one moving part and most electric cars have a single speed, fixed ratio gearbox. There are no turbochargers, AdBlue systems or engine components to worry about.

But, electric cars are still equipped with braking and suspension systems alongside tyres and anti roll bars. There’s also electric car specific components too, such as DC/AC convertors, wiring harnesses, onboard chargers, traction motor invertors and more. That’s why it’s important to service your electric car regularly, even though they don’t require oil changes.

Did you know the average ‘daily’ mileage travelled by motorists in the UK is 20 miles? This means a used electric car is a great option for anyone buying an electric car in Cheshire, Manchester and beyond. Electric cars are incredibly efficient over shorter journeys and lower speeds. With brake regeneration technology they are smooth and enjoyable to drive on A roads, B roads and Motorways.

And, electric car manufacturers are so confident with their battery technology they provide long warranties as standard. Usually around 8 years, sometimes longer, these warranties guarantee battery performance and longevity. A great example are Tesla with some Model S and Model 3 models travelling over 400,000 miles with the original electric motor and battery - battery health was rated at an impressive 76%.

Battery health is just one aspect of your electric car we’ll check at FOW. Our battery health checks give you a clear indication of battery condition and longevity. Real world tests, such as the Tesla above highlight just how long batteries last. Often battery life is so strong they are repurposed at the end of the cars life for battery storage systems in homes and offices. A great option for sustainable living.

An electric car warranty provides complete peace of mind for your new electric car. Powered by the RAC, our extended warranty options are tailored to your electric car with increased labour rates coverage beyond our petrol or diesel car warranty (up to £90 an hour). There’s no excess to pay and valid claims are covered directly with the repairer which means you’re not out of pocket.

Stay protected with cover for your electric motor, vehicle control module, braking system, wiring harness, traction motor invertor, charge connector and so much more - you can discover all the benefits here.