Should you go electric?
Electric mobility is set to revolutionise the way we drive. At Volkswagen, we believe electric is the future of mobility, making it easier, smarter, and more sustainable.
Here, we want to help you make your own decision by addressing some common misunderstandings.
All in all, the overall costs for an ID.3 are expected to be at the same level as a comparable combustion engine vehicle – or even lower. Thanks to attractive prices and leasing instalments, expected government funding, good residual values and lower maintenance costs.
On top of that, you get to feel good about making an important contribution to the environment, which is not only good for you but, above all, generations to come.
According to the latest WLTP figures, up to 340 miles (550 km), and performance is improving all the time. It’s commonly thought that electric cars can’t travel that far, but it’s a misconception that is fast disappearing with the latest generation of electric vehicles. Like petrol and diesel cars, range is influenced by a variety of factors, including driving conditions, weather, load, tyres and aerodynamics.
Probably not as long as you think, but a lot depends on the type of charging station you use. At home with a 7 kW wallbox, you can charge your electric car from empty to full overnight. With a 50kW rapid charger, you can add up to 100 miles of range in around 35 minutes.
Like a petrol or diesel car, your electric car will warn you when it’s running low. It will also switch automatically to energy-saving mode. The integrated Car Net navigation system In your electric Volkswagen will guide you to the nearest convenient charging station, or alternatively there’s a host of great charging apps available, including Zap-Map, PodPoint, Ecotricity and Chargemaster.
Should something go wrong, as a driver of an electric vehicle you can use our Volkswagen breakdown service on by calling 0800 VWSERVICE or 0800 897 378 423.
The network of charging stations in the UK is growing extremely rapidly right now. There are already more electric charging points than there are fuel stations and the number is increasing all the time.
You’re likely to be pleasantly surprised by how long the batteries last, and performance is improving all the time. The key factor is how often the battery is charged and discharged.
At Volkswagen, we guarantee that your battery will not drop below a minimum of 70% of the useable capacity value after eight years or 100,000 miles/160,000 km – whichever comes first.
On the contrary, the cost of ownership for an electric car is typically lower than for a petrol or diesel car. Home charging can cost as little at 2p per mile, while charging is offered for free at some stations. Electric technology is also less maintenance-intensive, which can mean lower servicing costs.
The purchase price for an electric car is currently somewhat higher than for a comparable petrol or diesel due to manufacturing costs associated with the battery, but there are also many purchase incentives, including tax breaks and grants for drivers converting to electric.
Volkswagen also offers a wide range of finance solutions with the e-Solutions package. This is a 36-month personal contract plan that puts you in control. If after 12 months you decide an e-car doesn’t suit you, we’ll give you the chance to simply hand the vehicle back, without charge providing it has been kept in good condition. (Subject to terms and conditions)1
Charging your electric car is very safe, even in damp and rainy conditions. As long as your electric car and the charging station meet strict legal standards, no electricity will flow until a secure and fully safe contact has been established.
You can also safely take your car through a car wash and open the bonnet in the rain. And your electric car is as safe as any other when there is lightning.
The best way to answer this question is to drive one. We’re pretty certain you’ll find the experience anything but boring. Unlike petrol and diesel cars, electric cars have what is called ‘instant torque’, which means there is no lag between you pressing the accelerator and the power coming on.
In addition, the batteries in the latest generation of electric vehicle are integrated into the car floor, giving it a phenomenally low centre of gravity and optimum weight distribution. As a result, the dynamics of electric vehicles are breathtaking.
You’ll never want to go back.
Actually, it’s really simple. All you need is a charging cable and a connection to electricity. The quickest and simplest way to charge from home is with a wallbox. This isn’t just an option for owners who can park their cars outside their homes. Wallboxes can also be installed in the garages of blocks of flats, while charging point manufacturers are developing a variety of different solutions for on-street charging.
Find out more about the Volkswagen ID. Charger.
Employers and retailers are also increasingly offering charging, so you can fill up while you work or shop.
Since 2011, the Government have spent £800 million to support ultra-low emissions cars. The current incentive offers customers who are purchasing a zero-emission car, priced below £50,000, will be eligible to receive a grant of up to £3,000. The cost of the car is the full purchase price you pay for the basic vehicle - including number platers, vehicle excises duty and VAT. It doesnt include any optional extras, eg delivery charges or first registration fee.
Battery technology has come a long way since electric vehicles first hit the market, on newer electric cars you can expect a range of up to 350 miles dependent on the battery specification. The average distance travelled each day is approximately 25 miles, so the average person would be able to travel each week on one full charge.
That is up the government. Currently, you pay zero tax on vehicles that cost under £40,000 whereas you can pay as much as £140 for internal combustion engines (ICE).
They are as dependable and safe as every other Volkswagen, and equipped with the most technologically advanced safety systems. If you should nevertheless experience a breakdown, simply call the VW hotline. Specialists will take care of any problem.
Recycling of used high-voltage batteries does not damage the environment. The lithium-ion battery in e-vehicles is a valuable source of raw materials. When the battery is recycled, secondary raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese can be extracted. This helps to replace the expensive mining of primary raw materials. For the ID.3 we are committed to the entire product lifecycle being net carbon neutral. More on how we achieve this can been found here https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/electric/research/sustainability/way-to-zero.html
All of our BEVs and PHEVs have an exterior e-sound as standard which emits an external electronic sound to pedestrians up to 18 miles an hour at a decibel level, the same amount of a petrol or diesel engine.
No, Electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which have proved themselves in millions of applications. The technology is so far advanced that Volkswagen can, with good conscious, give a guarantee on batteries. The battery can be charged thousands and thousands of times in this period. We offer an 8 year / 100,000 mile battery warranty on all our BEV and PHEV models.
It’s not mandatory, but we recommend all owners of a plug-in car get a home wallbox, in the same way that one wouldn’t rely on workplace or public charging for a smartphone or laptop. Our recommended wallbox provider is Elli or PodPoint.
You can use one of many public charging points - a list of available charging stations is available at https://www.goultralow.com/ev-charging-point-map/ or using the website and app Zap-Map
That is up to the individual government and council, currently there is no information to suggest this will be stopping over the coming months.
The Car-Net app allows you to turn on the air conditioning remotely (provided the car is plugged in) to warm up or cool down the car before you get in. So if it looks chilly outside, you can warm the car up from the comfort of your own home.
