Even though electric cars have been around for many years now, there are still plenty of myths and questions that pop up when it comes to thinking about switching to an EV. From how they’re built and how they work, to how long the battery will last and how to know which electric car is right for you.

These are all valid questions that can be answered for you by the team here at ElectriX.

So, let’s dive in:

1.  Can you drive and charge an electric car in the rain?

Rain and flash floods seem to be more frequent and have become part and parcel of the great British weather. This means many of us are likely to experience challenging driving conditions due to adverse weather – at any time of the year!

A storm or sudden downpour can suddenly turn a road you know well into a new water feature – a temporary pond right in the dip that you’d usually drive through without a second thought.

Maybe it’s a problem you’ve encountered many times in a petrol or diesel-powered car. But what if you’re facing standing water in your brand-new electric car, for the very first time, with all those kilowatt-hours of electrical energy stored right underneath you. What do you do?

As a blanket rule, the AA recommends that you should never drive into flood water that’s moving, or deeper than 10cm (4 inches). If you think the water is safe to pass through, go slowly to avoid making a bow wave – a wave of water forming at the nose of the car as you move through it.

As for rain, the simple answer is yes, it is okay to drive and charge an electric car in the rain!

The batteries in electric cars are all sealed and isolated so it is very difficult for water to get into the battery. Electric and hybrid cars also feature fail-safe systems that automatically isolate electrical drivetrain components in the event of a collision or short circuit.

You can feel confident that the charging components have also been built with wet weather in mind, so there’s no risk when it comes to charging. All charging points and chargers (public and private) are waterproof and electric cars are made with electrical safety as a top priority, so you can charge your car in the rain, go through a car wash and even drive through puddles, just as you would with a petrol or diesel car.

2.    Why don’t electric cars have solar panels?

When you think about sustainability and being environmentally friendly, solar panels and solar energy likely come to mind.

There are some electric car models that do use solar energy to power selected components. But currently, these two low carbon technologies have not been fully combined and there are no EVs on the market that are powered exclusively by solar panels.

The surface area of a car on which to fit enough solar panels is just not big enough. It would need around 8 or 9 solar panels to provide enough solar energy to run an electric car, and the average car would only fit 2 or 3 panels at the most.

The existing technology in solar panels would also not produce the amount of energy needed within a reasonable time frame (think days not hours for a full charge!). On average, a solar panel runs on about 20% efficiency, so the technology will have to improve dramatically to replace the current charging technology needed for an electric car.

While there are market innovators currently testing models with solar panels on (the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one example) it is not likely to be rolled out to the electric car market anytime soon.

You can however, in many cases, power your car through solar panels on the roof of your house. But you will need to make sure you have the right equipment. That includes kit like a solar PV system, a solar-compatible EV charger and a solar battery storage system if you want to charge overnight. The amount of charge you will get depends on lots of different things, such as how much the sun has been shining and the mileage range on your car. But it is perfectly possible to use the power generated from your solar panels on your home to charge your EV, and even have spare energy left to sell back to the grid! It’s worth noting that while solar panels achieve peak performance in direct sunlight, they do generate electricity in cloudy and rainy conditions too.

3.    Do electric cars have gears?

Many people think electric cars will be just like petrol or diesel cars, but one thing that makes them distinctive is that none of them have gears, they are all automatic.

Petrol and diesel cars have engines to power them and a multi-speed transmission (a gearbox), which needs to build up power. Top speeds are achieved in the high gears once momentum has been built.

Electric cars are powered by electric motors instead. These motors provide a consistent amount of power, allowing EVs to accelerate very quickly without the need to move through several gears. It’s a myth that electric cars are slow – they are still very fast and can quickly achieve high speed!

Here are some other advantages of an electric car being automatic:

• Improves efficiency – as no gear change is needed, power is delivered seamlessly from the electric motor to the wheels for instant power (torque).
• Easier to maintain – with an EV there are less parts to maintain and therefore less risk of things breaking. Replacing a gearbox or a clutch on a petrol or diesel car can be very expensive.
• Regenerative breaking – this is quite distinctive to EVs. Because they are battery powered vehicles, when you hit the brakes, energy is transferred from the wheels back to the car battery. This can help extend range as well as battery life.
• Lack of engine noise – EV’s are notoriously quiet emitting little more than a unique hum.

4.  How do I charge my electric car at home with no driveway?

If you don’t have access to private parking, how do you charge your electric car at home?

Cross-pavement charging solution

A cross-pavement charging solution is a purpose-built channel that can be installed on the pavement outside your home. It is designed to sit flush with the pavement to minimise the risk of injury to pedestrians. The technology also contains an electric vehicle charging cable that you can use to charge your electric car from the roadside.

This can be a great solution for those who don’t have access to a driveway, and there are grants available to support the installation of this type of chargepoint.

Alternative charging options

There are also other solutions if you don’t have a driveway. One option is to use some of the 53,000 public electric vehicle charge points across the UK, including many free ones. There are some great apps, like ZapMap, that can provide you with real-time data on your nearest charge points no matter where you are in the country.

Many workplaces also now provide chargeable and free electric car charge points, as well as public car parks, supermarkets and retail parks, so these days you’re never far from a charge point even if you choose not to install a home charging solution.

5. How far can an electric car drive?

Another common myth is that electric cars can’t travel very far. This is not true and in fact, there are now electric cars that can travel further than some petrol and diesel cars!

The range for each EV is different as you might expect, because it really depends on the size of the battery.

For example, the BMW I4 GRAN COUPE has a 70-kWh battery and a range of around 300 miles.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Smart FORTWO ELECTRIC COUPE has a 17kwh battery and a range of around 81 miles.

The key when making the switch to electric is to decide how you will use the vehicle and what works best for you. If you just need a car for local trips or driving around town, then a smaller car with a smaller battery might be just fine.

But if you need an EV for longer trips, such as commuting to work or seeing family or friends that live further away, then it might be more important to you to have a car with a longer range.

One other important point to make is that the range of an EV can differ depending upon a range of other factors, such as hills, having the air conditioning on, or driving faster. To make it easier for people to understand, you will often see something called ‘Real World Estimate’ listed alongside the range to give a more accurate predication of what the total range might be.

Have a look at some of the special EV offers on our website for more information on range and you’ll also find both the BMW I4 GRAN COUPE and the Smart FORTWO ELECTRIC COUPE listed here too.

How do I find the right electric car for me?

If you’ve never had your an electric car before, the whole concept can seem quite daunting, especially as there are now more than 100 EV models on the market.

There are multiple options when it comes to owning an electric car, from outright purchase to used EVs, personal contract lease, salary sacrifice, and business leasing. You need to make sure you research each option to find what is right for you.

First, you should talk to an expert, like one of the team members here at ElectriX, who can provide advice on leasing options, and talk you through home charger options and provide EV insurance. Take a look at our ultimate guide to electric cars too for a bit more information and guidance. Once you have all the information you need, it’s time to decide which model of electric car is right for you.

Some of the things you’ll need to consider are:

1. What type of driving do you mostly do? Short trips around town, long-distance commuting, staycations across the UK?
2. What is your price point? Do you want lower end of the budget or prefer luxury?
3. How quickly do you need the car? Many leasing options can offer 30-day delivery, some models may take longer.
4. Where will you charge the car? It’s important to be completely informed about charging and what will work for you.

We have a range of electric cars to explore on our website, with key information such as range, cost and charge time for each EV. With so many options on the market, there’s never been a better time to make the switch!