UK diesel and petrol ban - Top 5 electric cars that won’t break the bank
AFTER the Government announced that they would be banning new petrol and diesel cars by 2040, many Britons were worried that they may have to ditch their current vehicle and buy an expensive electric model.
BMW i3 can be bought used for around £15,690
The Government ban of new petrol and diesel car sales by 2040 in Britain has caused a huge stir across the country.
Diesel drivers feel hard done after Tony Blair’s Labour Government recommended these vehicles back in 2001.
Equally drivers were frustrated that they may have to drive an electric car which are typically more expensive than petrol and diesel equivalents but don’t match up to them in terms of performance.
However, you don’t necessarily need to break the bank to buy a green car.
Over the years the second hand electric car market has improved, with great cars at just a fraction of the price becoming available.
Electric and hybrid cars are becoming more popular for a multitude of reasons.
They don’t emit harmful toxins like petrol and diesel cars do, they are cheap to run and have less moving parts meaning they are easier to maintain. Similarly, being zero-emissions, they benefit from car tax relief.
According to the AA Cars, it costs around 3p per mile to recharge a pure electric compared with 16p to refuel a petrol or diesel car.
Renault Zoe is a compact five seat electric car
The AA has compiled a list of five zero emissions vehicles that won’t break the bank to buy and are more cost effective to run.
Dynamique Nav Auto
The Renault Zoe is proof that you can go green and it not cost you the earth to do so. This compact five-door supermini is also well kitted out.
It includes some snazzy automatically-activated features, such as headlights, windscreen wipers and warning lights. It also accommodates rear-parking sensors, a rear-view camera, a touchscreen TomTom navigation system and a Bluetooth hands free phone.
81.4 kWh EV
The Kia Soul packs a large boot, an adjustable steering wheel, an automatic dimming rear view mirror and electric heated adjustable door mirrors. The Soul EV moves off quickly from standstill, and has a light steering system, which makes it feel spritely when driving in built-up areas.
5dr Auto
The Citroen C Zero is cost-effective, fuel-efficient and practical. It is quick to charge with plenty of range for everyday journeys. It is amazingly cheap to run and smooth to drive. Although it is not as flash as the other cars it is classically simple, clean and uncluttered with lots of extra space.
Nissan Leaf is one the best-selling electric cars in the world
Tekna 5dr Auto
The Nissan Leaf is a favourite amongst electric purists. It's a compact but comfortable car and doesn't compromise on the bells and whistles - as it comes with steering mounted audio and telephone controls, climate control, heated seats, bluetooth and satellite navigation.
This low emission beamer packs a punch without breaking the bank. It is fully equipped with integrated remote control central locking, electric tyre pressure monitoring, crash sensors, cruise control and many other up-to-date features.
With the government’s crackdown on vehicles that damage air quality and plans to ban diesel and petrol cars in the future, UK drivers are increasingly looking to low emissions vehicles as a viable alternative.
As manufacturers rush to put new eco-friendly models on the market, it's worth keeping an eye on the price of used cars on sites such as www.aacars.com to see if you can pick-up a bargain.