5 common questions on switching to EV—answered

Do you drive an EV? Yes, a Kia E-Niro

What's your favourite thing about the Festival of Speed? I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge of the EV industry and, as always, to dispel a few EV myths!

What's a common question you get from new EV drivers? ‘How long does it take to charge an EV?’ To understand how long it will take to charge an EV you need to know the battery capacity of the car, along with the amount of electricity (KW) the charger you are going to use will give you once connected. You can then use this to determine how much electricity the car can take and how quickly – as well as factors like the make and model of the vehicle, its condition, and the weather.

Do you drive an EV? I do indeed, a Skoda Enyaq

What's your favourite thing about the Festival of Speed? The range of people we’re fortunate enough to meet – some brand new to EV’s, some who are considering choosing one as their next car and those who are existing EV enthusiasts!

What’s a common question new EV drivers ask you? ‘Are EVs only practical if you charge at home?’ I always say that’s absolutely not the case! There are so many opportunities to charge your car whilst doing day-to-day activities and at multiple destinations. It’s often just as convenient to charge on the go!

Do you drive an EV? I do, an Audi e.Tron 

What's your favourite thing about the Festival of Speed? It's a great opportunity to spend four days talking to people about EV charging.   

What’s a common concern new EV drivers have? That it's too expensive to buy an EV. Whilst the initial cost of the vehicle may be higher than its ICE alternative, the overall lifetime cost of an EV could be lower, once you factor in costs such as maintenance.

Do you drive an EV? Yes, a Jaguar I-PACE

What's your favourite thing about the Festival of Speed? Seeing the latest shiny new EVs!

What's a common question you get from new EV drivers? ‘I do regular long trips so what should I go for longer range or faster charging?’ Personally, I’d rather have faster charging than just a bit more range but, ideally, you want both! Set a budget for your EV and take a look at the models available to get a sense of possible range and charging speeds.

Do you drive an EV? Yes, a Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor

What's your favourite thing about the Festival of Speed? It’s a different audience to a standard EV event. Everyone is a car enthusiast and I love the conversations that brings.

What do new EV drivers tend to ask you? ‘Do EVs make long journeys double the time because of charging?’ Modern EV charging is getting quicker and quicker—for some vehicles, it can take less than 20 minutes to charge. On a long journey, that might be less time than you’d spend in a service station.