Octopus Energy, collaborating with National Grid, has penned a report – ‘Full Charge: Electric Vehicles and a decarbonised future’. It’s all about the benefits of going electric – not least getting to Net Zero, sooner – covering four big focus areas:

EVs are fun to drive and easy to use:

The average range of an EV is 215 miles, making range anxiety a thing of the past – especially as the UK’s charging infrastructure grows each day. Today, there are 26,000 public charge points. Tomorrow, there’ll be more. With their simplicity and responsiveness, they’re an exciting ride too.

EVs are more cost effective and more affordable than ever

Salary Sacrifice schemes can save people up to 40% on the cost of driving electric. They simply pay for a brand new EV from their gross salary. Once the lease ends, those cars – simple to run, simple to maintain – enter the burgeoning secondhand EV market.

The Plug-in Grant, EV home charging scheme, urban travel exemptions (like London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone), reduced parking costs and favourable company car rates, all combine, enabling more people to get going electric – for less.

EVs improve the environment

With zero tailpipe emissions, EVs cut surface transport carbon emissions, which make up 22% of UK greenhouse gas emissions today. Air quality is improving, and repurposing EV batteries – for energy storage – is making our energy system smarter.

EVs decarbonise the grid

EV owners can use 'green power’ when renewable energy is plentiful. It turns their EV into an energy asset, with unused energy from the car’s battery being reintroduced to the grid.