Charging times will vary between all electric vehicles, however a typical 7.4kW home car charger will charge an electric vehicle up to 3 times faster than a conventional 3-pin plug. Take a look at the following table to see how quickly you can charge with a home charger.

* Based on Pod Point estimates, charging rates can differ based on the ambient temperature, the state of the battery (e.g. empty or half full) and variation in charging rate.

While 3-pin plug sockets can charge EVs, they are not designed to support the kinds of loads for the time periods that EVs require. These loads can cause heating that tests the quality of historic domestic wiring, as well as the socket. Our Pod Point Experts have seen many issues of overheating when attending to subsequently install homechargers.

Conversely, dedicated chargepoints are installed on new electrical circuits and are specifically designed for the purpose of handling car charging loads. Furthermore, chargepoints should meet a plethora of evolving regulatory standards to ensure they are safe from all feasible electrical risks. This makes dedicated homechargers far safer choices.

Dedicated homechargers will be installed in a convenient spot, making it easy to plug in, where existing 3-Pin plug sockets often mean cables threaded through windows, doors and cat flaps.

Tethered homechargers are perhaps the pinnacle of ease of use, as the cable sits in its holster, needing only to be plugged in at one end.

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Solo charger lifestyle image

As more people utilise electric car charging at home, chargepoints will likely need to solve new energy related challenges that will arise for drivers and networks. Home chargers will soon have to contain functionality that allows them to do exactly that, where 3-pin plugs do not.

Yes, you can take your charger with you when you move. However having a qualified electrician remove the charger and install it on your new property does carry some cost. We would advise customers to check both moving a charger or having a new one installed to determine which is more cost effective. There will also be some cabling left at your old property that the new owners will be able to hook up to a charger of their own.

Here is a quick overview of the current grants available for residential and commercial properties, for those who live in rented properties and flats, or own commercial or residential property.

Check the residential and commercial grants flowchart for a visual breakdown of what grant applies to you. If you live in Scotland, you may be able to also apply for the Factored development chargepoint funding.

EV Chargepoint grant for tenants and flat owners

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The Electric Vehicle (EV) Chargepoint grant allows people who live in rental accommodation or own a flat to reduce the cost of buying and installing a home charger by £350.

You can only claim one chargepoint per eligible vehicle and household, and must have dedicated off-street parking.

Additionally, you can’t claim this grant if you have previously claimed any other EV chargepoint grant.

Please note: the OZEV EV chargepoint grant replaced the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) on the 1st of April 2022. There isn’t currently a grant available for those who own a house.

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This grant applies to anyone renting, leasing or managing a multi-tenancy residential property. Charging infrastructure must be installed to a minimum of 5 parking spaces, with at least one active charger (cabling and chargepoint installed). The rest can have just passive infrastructure (cabling for chargepoint installed now, but not the chargepoint itself), if that is preferable.

You can claim up to £30,000 or 75% of the installation cost and can only claim one grant per building.

• Up to £500 per passive parking space.

• Up to £350 per active parking space.

You can claim up to 30 grants per financial year, and the grant can be used at the same site as the landlord grant (see further down for more on this), but not for the same charging points.  

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This grant is available for anyone leasing, renting or managing a commercial or residential property, and could reduce the cost of EV charger installations by 75%, up to £350 per charger.

It’s limited to one application per building, the application cannot have a mix of residential and commercial properties. However, you can apply for subsequent installations at the same property at a later date.

Up to 200 grants are allowed per financial year for residential properties, and 100 grants per financial year for commercial properties.

No tenants can reside in the commercial property, however there are currently no restrictions for residential properties. Importantly, there must be private parking for the fleet and staff.

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This grant is available to reduce the cost of buying and installing charging infrastructure at factored developments in Scotland by up to 50%, covering a maximum of £20,000. This can be combined with other OZEV available grants to reduce costs even more.

Only property factors or another organisation managing the shared parking for residential properties can submit a claim. To apply you’ll need to:

• Get a quote from an approved chargepoint installer like Pod Point.
• Complete an application form and send it with the quote to electricvehiclesscotland@est.org.uk

You'll then receive a grant letter stating how much of the installation costs the grant will cover. After this, you’ll need to get the charging infrastructure installed and then claim back the money.

There are two workplace grants, the first for larger businesses, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), and the second for smaller businesses, the infrastructure grant for staff and fleet.

Check the fleet and staff grants flowchart for a visual breakdown of what grant applies to you.

Workplace Charging Scheme

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The WCS uses a voucher based system. This scheme is available to businesses, charities, and public authorities, and is capped at £350 per socket, up to 40 sockets per applicant business.

See below for the eligibility criteria:

• You must have off-street parking and be able to outline a business need for electric vehicle chargepoints.

• Your chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV-approved installer (like Pod Point).

• You must apply for a digital voucher and present it to your chosen installer.

Small accommodation businesses and charitable organisations have recently been added to the WCS grant. For these there are no restrictions on who can use the designated off-street parking.

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Alongside the Workplace Charging Scheme, there is also a grant available for state-funded schools and education institutions to install electric vehicle chargers at their sites. 

This grant offers up to 75% off the cost of purchasing and installing EV chargers, up to a maximum of £2,500 per socket, or 40 sockets across all sites (including any applications made previously via the Workplace Charging Scheme). 

Once the grant has been approved, and your application is successful you will receive a voucher, which is valid for 180 days. The work must be done in this time. 

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Alongside the Workplace Charging Scheme, there is also a grant available to help small and medium sized businesses (with 249 employees or less) install the supporting infrastructure they need for chargepoints, both now and in the future. Both grants can be used at the same site, but not for the same charging points.

A business can receive up to 5 grants per financial year (only one grant per site).

The grant is capped at £15,000 per building, and will provide up to £500 for passive and an additional £350 (£850 total) for active infrastructure per parking space.

You must install infrastructure for a minimum of 5 private off-street parking spaces, with at least one active chargepoint. The chargepoints must be exclusively for staff or fleet use.

Plug-in grant to help reduce the cost of vehicles

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The OZEV plug-in vehicle grant is designed to promote the uptake of electric vehicles in the UK.

The grant provides a discount on the purchase price of a brand-new and eligible plug-in van or motorcycle (NB: cars are no longer eligible). The electric vehicle subsidy in the UK is applied at the time of purchase and is usually given as a discount on the purchase price of a vehicle.

Grants offered:

• Motorcycles: up to £500

• Mopeds: up to £150

• Small vans: up to £2,500

• Large vans: up to £5,000

• Taxis: up to £7,500

Leasing typically works out cheaper than buying

Electric cars tend to have a higher list price than similar petrol or diesel cars. When you lease an EV, you're essentially renting it for a fixed period, often 2–3 years. You pay an initial deposit and set monthly payments as part of your leasing agreement. This typically works out cheaper than buying a new EV using other financing options.

Depreciation is not a concern

Cars depreciate in value over time, and in the first few years, your car loses most of its value. Numbers show that a petrol or diesel car that was bought new is worth up to 60% less three years after leaving the dealership. So an ICE car that was brand new three years ago could be worth less than half of its original purchase price.

In contrast, EVs depreciate in value at a slower rate than petrol or diesel cars. By year three, an electric car only loses 40 to 49% of its value.

When you lease, the responsibility for the car’s resale value does not fall on your shoulders. This gives you the flexibility to upgrade your electric car once your lease ends without having to worry about the resale value.

Choose from a wide range of EVs

Leasing offers a broad range of EVs to choose and test, including the latest models with advanced features and technology. When your circumstances change, it’s easy to also change the type of car you drive at the end of your lease.

Maybe you want to size up from a hatchback to an SUV to fit a growing family, or pick a model with more range to take you further on your journeys. Leasing lets you try the car out first without having to commit to the full cost of buying.

Avoid an ageing and degrading battery

An EV battery starts to degrade as soon as it’s manufactured, but your use of the car impacts the rate at which battery capacity reduces. If you drive a lot, regularly use rapid chargers, and heavily accelerate and brake, the battery will wear out quicker.

While most EV batteries are covered by a 7- or 8-year warranty, repairs or replacements typically only happen once the battery’s initial capacity drops below 70%. When leasing, you don’t have to worry about an ageing battery and likely won’t feel the effects of degradation, as you get to change your car every few years.

Option to add a maintenance package

As part of a lease agreement, you’re generally required to service your EV every 12 months. You may have the option to add a maintenance package to your lease which commonly includes servicing, MOTs and breakdown recovery.

A maintenance package helps you spread the cost of routine servicing and maintenance over the period of your lease, meaning you won’t have to save for these expenses.

Enjoy the latest EV technology

Leasing allows you to experience the latest EV technology, because innovation in this space moves at a rapid pace. As electric car batteries evolve constantly, you’ll be able to benefit from an ever-increasing range when you change your leased EV every few years.

From battery type to infotainment equipment, so much can change in just a few years and leasing gives you the option to make the most of it.

Reducing environmental impact

If you switch from an internal combustion engine (ICE) car to an electric car, you’re eliminating the CO2 emissions that come from your tailpipe, improving air quality in your immediate area. Just one journey in an EV means one less journey in a petrol or diesel car.

It benefits you and your family’s health, and brings everyone closer to phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles, as new sales will be banned in the UK from 2035.

Set mileage limit

Lease agreements typically have mileage limits, and exceeding them can result in additional costs. You’ll be charged a set fee for every mile over the limit, typically around 3 to 30 pence per mile.

Mileage penalty charges ultimately lead you to pay more than you would have if your mileage limit was set correctly in the first place. To avoid excessive charges, carefully consider your average weekly mileage and any longer road journeys you’re expecting during the lease to set your limit accordingly.

Charges for excessive damage

During a lease, the dealership expects a normal amount of wear and tear to happen, but any damage beyond normal usage can lead to additional charges when the lease is up. This applies to electric cars as well as petrol and diesel vehicles.

Your leasing partner will use the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Fair Wear & Tear Guide to fairly assess the returned car. Damage outside of wear and tear will result in end of contract charges.

Additional battery leasing

You may need to pay a separate fee to rent your EV's battery, also known as battery leasing. It’s an extra cost to consider, but this option is becoming increasingly rare. Renault currently offers full battery purchase and battery leasing for its battery electric car Zoe.

Hire purchase (HP)

With HP, you make fixed monthly payments for 1 to 5 years until you've paid off the entire cost of the car, after which you own it outright. A key benefit of a hire purchase is the unlimited mileage you get as a result of full ownership.

Lenders charge interest on HPs, so you’ll pay more throughout the contract than if you had bought the car outright. As with any financing option, if you miss a payment, the car can be taken away.

It’s worth taking note that if you purchase an EV using HP, the car’s technology and battery may not be up-to-date by the time you’ve fully paid it off. If you want to upgrade, you’ll have to take that into account that the resale value will be reduced.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)

PCP combines leasing and buying. You make lower monthly payments and have the option to purchase the car at the end of the agreement or simply return it.

The deposit you pay at the start of the PCP and monthly payments equal the car’s estimated depreciation over the financing term. Similar to a lease, you’ll have the benefit of switching to a different EV at the end of the PCP term if you want the newest technology or more space.

Alternatively, if you’re happy with the car and want full ownership, you pay the remaining sum and the car is yours.

Salary sacrifice

Salary sacrifice allows you to lease an EV through your employer's scheme. The monthly leasing fee is deducted from your gross pay, resulting in Income Tax and National Insurance savings.

Salary sacrifice schemes offered through employers typically include a maintenance package, so your servicing, MOTs and breakdown cover are included in the price. Thanks to the tax benefit, this option is cheaper than leasing the same car directly from a dealership.

When you end your employment, you will likely have to end your lease through the salary sacrifice scheme, unless your new employer is willing to take on the lease.

Learn more about salary sacrifice in our guide.

The answer to this question is not a simple yes or no. Whether leasing or buying an EV is cheaper depends on your individual circumstances, driving habits, and financial goals.

Leasing offers lower upfront costs than buying and can come with lower monthly payments depending on the make and model whilst letting you test the waters with an EV first, making it a more affordable choice for some.

However, if you plan to keep the vehicle for an extended period of time and are concerned about mileage limits, buying might be a more cost-effective option in the long run.

Which option is better?

In the end, whether leasing or buying an electric car is better for you depends on your personal situation and priorities. Consider factors like your budget, how long you plan to keep the car, your driving habits, and your desire for the latest technology.

By weighing these factors up carefully, you can make the choice that suits your needs and contributes to a more sustainable future.

Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) are a concept to tackle urban air quality challenges in the United Kingdom.

Purpose

Vehicle transport is the primary source of air pollutants such as oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and exhaust particulate matter.

A ULEZ is predominantly about improving the air quality within the zone by discouraging those vehicles that produce more harmful emissions through an additional financial charge.

These zones will typically be established in areas of high population density, high traffic congestion and resultant poor air quality.

Enforcement

Authorities will typically use ANPR cameras to establish which vehicles have entered the zone and are therefore required to pay the ULEZ charge.

That charge will typically have a daily fee attached, while regular users can set up automatic payments.

There are penalty fees for those who fail to pay the charge correctly.

Vehicles Affected

Initially, only the cleanest petrol or diesel cars will make the cut, though it is likely that rules will be tightened over time to push motorists towards zero emission options.

The first ULEZ came into force on 8th April 2019 in London and was recently expanded in 2023. Here are the key details.

Area

The ULEZ operates in across all London boroughs and the City of London. The M25 is not in the zone. 

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London ULEZ

Hours of Operation

The ULEZ is permanent.

Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year except Christmas Day (25th December).

Conversely, the “Congestion Charge” is only in effect from 07:00-22:00 on weekdays, excluding Christmas Day.

Minimum Emission Standards

• Petrol: Euro 4
• Diesel: Euro 6

These standards are more stringent for diesel (due to higher air quality impact), but they are both met by all plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and, of course, all full battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The following can claim some form of discount or exemption:

• Vehicles for disabled users

• Taxis

• Wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles

• Historic vehicles (built more than 40 years ago)

• Agricultural, military, non-road going vehicles than can use the highway (e.g. excavators), some mobile cranes

• Vehicles used for shows or performance

• Not-for-profit minibuses

• Heavier vehicles, including lorries (over 3.5 tonnes) and buses/coaches (over 5 tonnes)

Rules for each vary from blanket exemption to time-limited 100% exemption to partial discount. If these are relevant to your vehicle we recommend reading more about discounts and exemptions.

Pricing

• £12.50 for most vehicle types, including cars, motorcycles and vans (up to and including 3.5 tonnes)

Payment

Payment must be made by midnight on the third day following the journey.

The following payment methods are accepted:

Online Payment

Pay via the payment portal that calculates what is due based on the day of access to the ULEZ and your vehicle’s registration number.

Phone Payment

You can pay over the phone with lines open Monday to Friday: 08:00-20:00 (excluding bank holidays).

• UK: 0343 222 2222 (TfL call charges)

• International: +44 343 222 2222

• Textphone: 020 7649 9123 (if you have impaired hearing)

Auto Pay

Auto Pay bills you automatically every month for any Congestion Charges and ULEZ charges you may owe. Set up Auto Pay.

TfL Pay to drive in London app

TfL’s free app helps you pay your Congestion Charge, ULEZ and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charges and manages the whole process.

Penalties and Enforcement

If you fail to pay (or make an error on your number plate or date of travel), you will be liable for the following penalty fees.

This section explains the difference between London’s three different traffic charging schemes.

ULEZ

Detailed above.

Low Emission Zone (LEZ)

The LEZ covers a wider area and affects commercial vehicles from large HGVs to small vans, pickup trucks and utility 4x4s. It is also permanently in effect. Full details about the Low Emission Zone are here.

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Low Emission Zone (LEZ)

Congestion Charge Zone

Introduced in February 2003, the Congestion Charge Zone requires drivers to pay a fee for entering the centre of London between the hours of 07:00 and 22:00 each working day. Full battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars are exempt from the Congestion Charge Zone, though vehicles must pre-register each year to claim the exemption, and there are other exemptions.

What is electric vehicle road tax?

The UK’s VED, also known as road or car tax, is a tax used by the government to fund road maintenance and upgrades. It’s an annual payment that car drivers must pay if their car is used or parked on public roads. Prior to 2025, zero-emission vehicles, as well as electric cars, were exempt from paying road tax. But, as of 1st April 2025, EV owners have been required to pay it.

Road tax is applied in bands, with these being based on a number of factors:

• The size of the engine
• Its fuel type
• Its tailpipe emissions
• The list price

It also matters when it was registered. Cars registered between 1st March 2001 and 31st March 2017 are split across 13 bands ranging from A to M, with lower emissions vehicles having lower road tax. Those registered from 1st April 2017 onwards are taxed in one of three bands – zero, standard, or premium.

To find out your car’s tax band, and how much it costs, you can check online by using your car’s registration date, which you can find in its V5C logbook.

Do you have to pay road tax on an EV?

With very few exceptions, all vehicles driven on roads in the UK need to pay road tax, and EVs are no longer exempt from this. However, the road tax rate is significantly smaller for cheaper electric cars that cost less than £40,000 as vehicles with list prices above this need to pay a “luxury” car tax supplement.

As of 1st April 2025, EVs are now required to pay VED. How much you pay depends chiefly on its emissions:

Standard rate (SR) 2023-24

Zero emission cars (including BEVs)

For the first year of registration, new EVs registered after the 1st of April pay the lowest VED “showroom” rate of £10. This rate applies to any vehicle with CO2 emissions between 1 to 50g/km.

From the second year onwards, the standard rate applies, which is £195. This rate also applies to zero-emission cars that were first registered between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2025.

Any zero emission cars that were registered before this – between 1st March 2001 and 30th March 2017 – will move from Band A to Band B, which is £20 a year.

Hybrid cars (including plug-in hybrids/PHEVs)

Hybrid cars, which use a mixture of petrol or diesel fuel and electric power, also need to pay road tax. They used to have a £10 annual discount, but this was removed, meaning the rate they pay now depends on when the vehicle was first registered.

Road tax rates for PHEVs registered before 1st April 2017 will depend on the car’s emissions. Tax bands for these can be found online on the gov.uk website. Hybrids registered after 1st April 2017 pay the standard rate of £195.

Note that because they also use fossil fuels, hybrid cars are also subject to Fuel Duty rates. This is a tax paid on petrol and diesel, which PHEVs used.

Expensive Car Supplement (cars over £40,000)

Any car, whether it’s a BEV, PHEV, or other, with a list price above £40,000 will have to pay an additional tax of £425. This is on top of the £195 standard rate, bringing the total road tax for “premium” cars to £620 per year.

What does this all mean for EV drivers?

Electric cars have long enjoyed exemption from road tax, so the addition of a £195 annual road tax is certainly going to impact EV drivers. However, they’re still fundamentally cheaper to run than petrol/diesel equivalents, and there are plenty of ways to save money charging and driving an electric vehicle:

• Charge at home: charging your car at home with a dedicated home charger is undoubtedly one of the cheapest ways you can keep your EV topped up
• Take advantage of overnight charging: homeowners on dual-rate energy tariffs can get cheaper energy rates overnight, helping them save on their charging costs by plugging in just before going to sleep. It’s also a green time to charge as energy demand is lowest, so you’ll be saving money and the planet
• Use government grants where possible: the government’s EV chargepoint grant reduces the cost of buying and installing a home charger by up to £350 for people living in rented properties or flats

Buying a brand new vehicle, whether it’s an EV or not, is a big financial decision for most of us. You’ll likely spend hours researching, test driving and thinking about a potential purchase. If you plan to sell your car in a few years, understanding the factors that impact its value is important. In this guide, we’ll be looking at EV depreciation, one of the key factors that will dictate the value of a used car.

Historically, EVs tended to depreciate much faster than petrol cars, mostly due to concerns over battery life and technology obsolescence. However, the gap is narrowing.

Advances in battery technology, increasing public charging infrastructure, and growing consumer acceptance have all played a role in improving the resale value of electric cars. With the upcoming ban of new ICE car sales in 2035, many drivers are wondering if they should make the jump to electric driving or stick to fuel-powered cars for now.

According to data from AutoTrader, EV depreciation within the first 12 months is higher than for petrol or diesel cars. After this point, the rate of depreciation slows significantly, matching that of ICE cars over time.

Certain factors impact how well an EV holds its value. Many of these points also apply to petrol and diesel car, but some are unique to electric cars:

• Mileage

• Number of owners

• Service history

• Brand and model

• Condition

• Battery health

• Modifications

Mileage

A higher mileage typically leads to a lower resale value. Cars that have covered many miles experience more wear and tear, increasing the chance for costly repairs and maintenance.

Number of owners

EVs that had fewer previous owners tend to keep more of their value than cars with many ex-owners. A history of multiple owners isn’t always a bad thing, but changes in ownership after just a few months or years can be a sign of serious problems with the car.

Service history

A well-documented service history without gaps provides reassurance that an EV has been maintained frequently. Regular servicing is essential to avoid issues and keep the car in good condition, which brings us to the next point.

Condition

An EV that appears to be in good or even excellent condition will always attract a higher resale value than a car of the same model and make in bad condition.

Battery health

For EVs, battery health and remaining capacity is key when it comes to depreciation. A healthy batter with high capacity, so one that can hold its charge well, will be worth significantly more than an electric car with a battery in poor condition.

Brand and model

Certain brands and models are known for their good quality, durability and long life, which can increase demand and the price buyers are willing to pay.

Modifications

Modifications typically narrow the pool of potential buyers and can decrease resale value. Although less common, some EV modifications can fetch sellers a higher selling price, but this is very much dependent on the modification and market.

Certain EVs tend to hold their value better than some petrol and diesel cars. Generally, EVs that depreciate at a lower rate than the average fuel-powered car are:

• High-performance electric cars like the Porsche Taycan

• Popular make and models like the Tesla Model 3

• Premium EVs like the Mercedes EQE or BMW iX