Says Mick O’Reilly, Power NI Product Innovation Lead
Before the turn of the decade, Electric Vehicles were widely considered a niche choice, and one only for the early adopters, due to their high price and limited availability.
Cost aside, the main roadblock for anyone wanting to make the switch was real-world range, and the many problems that ‘range anxiety’ tended to create due to home charging still being a new concept.
The thought of setting off on a long drive and not knowing if it could be completed on just one charge, put many prospective owners off, and that was before they had considered the availability of public charging, charge times, and the expense of topping up on the go.
The EV landscape has changed considerably over the past five years, and as more manufacturers form alliances to share research and development costs, savings are now being passed on to the consumer.
The net effect of this is that the range of most new EVs has gone up from 200-miles to approximately 300-miles, with several premium alternatives promising anything up to 500-miles, making longer trips more feasible and less stressful.
EV sales are expected to accelerate further over the coming months with a grant now available to reduce the cost of approved makes and models of EVs bought over the next couple of years.
This forms part of the UK’s £650m ‘Plan for Change’ – an initiative that is intended to help households save money while getting more people into greener, zero-emission cars.
It’s hard to imagine that only a few years ago, Electric Vehicles were seen as expensive and impractical to many, with limited range and charging options holding local drivers back.
Fast forward to the present day and thanks to major industry investment and innovation, Electric Vehicles offer nearly double the range, faster charging, and greater affordability. It helps make zero-emissions driving a realistic choice for more people than ever before.
At Power NI, we are committed to making the switch to electric driving as simple and affordable as possible.
Through our trusted home charger and installation services, and exclusive Electric Vehicle tariffs, we are helping customers charge their vehicles from the comfort of their own home – the best, cheapest and easiest way to power an EV.
Whether you are just starting your Electric Vehicle journey or are already behind the wheel of a zero-emissions car, Power NI is here to support you every step of the way.
To find out more about Power NI EV tariffs and chargers, visit powerni.co.uk/electric-car