A FIRST-time driver has revealed how she’s learning to pass her test in an electric car – thanks to the numerous upsides.
However, she also admits there’s one big drawback that might put off other young drivers from choosing an EV over a petrol or diesel motor.
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Evie O’Flaherty, 17, from Hertfordshire, is learning to drive in her parents’ Nissan Leaf and sees nothing but advantages – despite numerous teens opting to get their licence in a manual, petrol-powered set of wheels.
Speaking to MoneySuperMarket, Evie said: “Compared to a petrol vehicle, the Nissan Leaf is much easier to drive. It sounds nicer, there is less start-up, and it feels like a cleaner journey.
“It is really easy and convenient to charge up, and far cheaper to run – it only costs about 75p for 100 miles, compared to a tank of petrol.
“I’ve also been quite focused on sustainability and the environment from a young age, and I feel like an EV suits me much better for that reason.”
Since a young age, Evie has been an advocate for electric vehicles – despite not growing up around them.
She added: “I’ve been encouraging my parents to drive EVs since I was about eight years old – they were thinking about it anyway, but I kept nudging them.
“Every time my dad mentioned a new car, I would say: ‘Is it electric?’ and finally his answer was ‘yes’. We used to have two Saabs, and now we have the Leaf and a Tesla.”
However, she does admit there is a major stumbling block when it comes to youngsters buying an electric car.
“EVs are obviously more expensive to buy, but I am happy to hold off until I can afford one rather than get on the road more quickly,” Evie said.
“I’m saving money to pay for my car by working as a tutor in my spare time.
“So far, I’ve looked at the Nissan Leaf and electric Renault Zoe, which would cost around £4,000 to £6,000 if I bought one second-hand.
“My sister recently bought a Ford C-Max for £1,500, but she had to spend more than £3,000 on repairs, so it won’t be much more expensive than that.
“Electric cars also seem to be getting more affordable all the time.
“The main attraction of a petrol car for me would be that they are more convenient for driving long distances, and there’s a better infrastructure.
“But I’ve not really had any problems finding charging stations so far, and I don’t need to drive long distances – I don’t plan on taking a car to university.
“So it still feels like an EV would be the best fit for me.”
Indeed, the Leaf and Zoe are among the cheapest ways to access EV ownership on the second-hand car market.
What’s more, the BMW i3 and often-forgotten Volkswagen e-Golf are becoming highly affordable – both costing, on average, under £7,000 at used car dealerships.
Top Gear even recently suggested the Tesla Model 3 – one of the UK’s most popular EVs – can now be found for around £10,000, with even the oldest iterations offering drivers around 250 miles of range.
Sara Newell, Director of Insurance at MoneySuperMarket, said: “The cost of getting an EV on the road is a topic of much debate.
“As our Household Money Index shows, young drivers are keen to drive electric cars, but it is still much more expensive for a first-time driver to get on the road with an electric car compared to a petrol equivalent.
“However, we can see light at the end of the tunnel as more electric cars come onto the market, and insurance premiums become more competitive – and in some cases, it can even be cheaper than insurance for a young driver with a petrol vehicle – especially if you shop around.
“We have developed an online tool to compare which EV is right for you.”
The latest MoneySuperMarket Household Money Index (HMI) reveals the average cost of getting on the road with an electric vehicle (EV) is over £16,139.
However, they also found that a third (32%) of youngsters plan to delay driving until they can afford an EV.
Drivers interested in potentially purchasing an EV can head to the MoneySuperMarket EV tool to check it out.
