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Why Go Electric?

There are many reasons to choose an Electric or Hybrid vehicle. From lower running costs to reducing your carbon footprint, the benefits are numerous. Here are some of the key incentives to going greener.

Congestion Charge and ULEZ Charge Exemption All-Electric and Plug-In Hybrid models are likely to be exempt from both the London Congestion Charge and ULEZ charge. Those Hybrids which use petrol engines may also be exempt from the ULEZ charge. Take a look at our dedicated page to find out more about these charges and which vehicles are exempt. Find Out More

Easier Charging Charging your Electric or Plug-In Hybrid is easier than ever thanks to the wide network of charging points located across the UK. Many public places such as supermarkets, gyms and retail parks now have charging stations that you can use, sometimes for a limited time and often for free, while motorway services have points that you can utilise for a small fee. It’s easy to charge your vehicle at home too, either with a wallbox or using your mains power supply. If you have off-street parking, you can simply run your charging cable to the charging unit or home plug and the battery will top up overnight, leaving you will a full charge in the morning.

Environmental Benefits Aside from the benefits in terms of cost savings and easy charging, the obvious advantage of choosing a Hybrid or Electric vehicle is the reduced impact on the environment. Plug-In Hybrid and All-Electric vehicles in particular have significantly lower CO2 and NOx emissions, which helps to reduce air pollution, especially in urban areas. If you’d like to find out more about any of the benefits of choosing a Hybrid or Electric vehicle from the Ford range, contact your local Gates Ford dealership today. Our dealerships are located across Essex, Hertfordshire and London.

Lower Running Costs

Compared to the price of petrol and diesel, electricity is very cheap. An All-Electric vehicle will cost, on average, two thirds less than conventionally fuelled engines on a cost per mile basis. Plug-In Hybrid options also offer significant reductions in running costs thanks to their large batteries and high overall ranges, which mean fewer stops at the pumps.

Research carried out by Cap HPI in 2018 suggested that electric cars cost an average of 23% less to run than petrol vehicles over a three-year/60,000 mile period.

To give you an idea of the savings you could make over time, take a look at the table below.

	Electric Vehicle	Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle	Petrol Vehicle
Fuel Cost	3-7p per mile	7-12p per mile	10-14p per mile
Tax	£0 pa	£10 - £100 in the first year £0 - £100 thereafter	£110+ in the first year £130+ thereafter

Servicing and maintenance costs depend on the vehicle and the type of Hybrid powertrain it uses, but many manufacturers offer a fixed price plan to cover the costs of the first three years of servicing. To find out about the cost of servicing for Ford Hybrid and Electric cars, contact us today.

Government Grants The UK government is actively encouraging motorists to invest in hybrid and electric vehicles and is offering financial incentives for doing so. The electric car grant means you can get up to £2,500 off the purchase price of a fully electric car up to the value of £35,000. Meanwhile, Plug-In van grants provide up to a maximum of £3,000 off the purchase price of a small van and up to £6,000 for a large van. In addition, almost all electric vehicles that require an external power source to charge are eligible for a grant of up to £350 towards a home charging point.

How do Electric Vehicles Work? The theory behind electric vehicles is very simple. Using a lithium-ion battery that holds an electrical charge, the vehicle uses the battery to power every component in the vehicle, negating the need for a fuel-powered combustion engine. Of course, the technology behind electric vehicles is far more complex. The battery in each electric vehicle requires regular charging via an electrical output - either at home or a public charging station - which represents far more affordable motoring than traditional engines. With an electric motor, delivery of power and torque to a vehicle’s wheels is almost instantaneous, meaning keener acceleration than you could expect from a petrol or diesel engine.

Company Information

© Frank G Gates Ltd

© 2021 Gates. All Rights Reserved

Reg. Office: Gates Corner, Edinburgh Way, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2EG.

Registered in England. Company Reg. No. 245843

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Disclosure
Frank G Gates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 311218. We act as a credit broker and not a lender. We work with a number of carefully selected credit providers who may be able to offer you finance for your purchase. We only offer finance products from these providers: Ford Credit, Blackhorse, Alphera Financial Services, London and Surrey Motor Finance Limited, Creative Funding Solutions, ALD Automotive Limited (trading as Ford Lease), MotoNovo and Close Brothers Motor Finance.

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