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Electric vehicles can be a confusing subject but don't worry we're here to help you with clear, simple advice.

After 60 years in the automotive business, we are proud to embrace change and the evolving landscape. As a forward-thinking business and electric vehicles on the increase, we have worked really hard to ensure we can offer all our customers the right buying experience for your fleet or business.

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Types of electric vehicles

With so many acronyms flying around, it’s no wonder that some people are put off by the range of options available.
Here we break down the different electric vehicle variations so you can make an informed decision.

Mild-Hybrid
Electric Vehicle

In the case of a mild hybrid, the conventional combustion engine is assisted by a battery driven electric motor. Although the electric battery cannot power the car itself, the assistance it provides reduces emissions.

Hybrid
Electric Vehicle

A Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) utilises two sources of power - conventional and electric. The vehicle will automatically switch between the two depending on the speed of travel. When crawling through heavy city traffic, for example, a HEV will switch to electric power and will not use the conventional engine at all.

Plug-In Hybrid
Electric Vehicle

A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is similar to a HEV in that it uses both conventional and electric power sources, but the battery is much larger and as a result the vehicle is able to travel further distances using solely electric power. They need to be plugged into a charging point in order to recharge the electric battery.

All-Electric
Vehicle

The All-Electric Vehicle (E) is driven purely by electricity. Simply plug in to a charging point to charge and the car will take care of the rest. The e-Niro will take you 282 miles on a single charge, so if you’re planning on making a long journey don’t forget to plan your charging points in advance.

Where and how to charge your EV

Charging an electric vehicle is a little different to filling the tank with petrol or diesel, but the basic concept remains the same. You need to make sure your car has sufficient power to get from A to B, stopping to top-up along the way if necessary. With over 100,000 charging points across Europe you can rest assured that you’ll never be far from your next charge.

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Charging at home

As long as you have off-street parking, you’ll be able to get a charging point installed. You’ll receive a cable from the manufacturer to connect to the socket - simply plug it in to your EV to begin charging, just like a smartphone.You can also connect your electric car to a standard 3-pin socket in your house, but this takes a lot longer to achieve full charge.

Charging on-the-go

Plenty of public destinations now provide electric charging points including supermarkets, shopping centres, restaurants and car parks. They’ll often let your charge for free to encourage you to visit, but you usually need to bring your own cable. For longer journeys, most motorway service stations now offer rapid charging points.

BYD Charging

Charging at work

A lot of workplaces are getting on board with the electric revolution and now offer charging points in their car parks for employees to recharge during the work day.

D. M. Keith Limited, D. M. Keith (RGL) Limited, D. M. Keith (RGD) Limited, D. M. Keith (CA) Limited & Ringways (Hire & Leasing) Ltd are an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration number is 313486). Permitted activities include advising on and arranging general insurance contracts and acting as a credit broker not a lender.

We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers. We do not charge a fee for our Consumer Credit services. We do not act as a financial adviser, or fiduciary. We act in our own interest, whichever lender we introduce you to, we will typically receive commission from them based on either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow. Any and all commission amounts will be fully disclosed to you as part of your sales journey. You will be required to give your fully informed consent to our receipt of this commission. By doing this, you acknowledge that you understand our role as a credit broker, and that we will receive a financial incentive if you take out a loan from a lender that we introduce you to.

All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18s or over, Guarantees may be required. All group companies VAT registration No. GB169785889.

D. M. Keith Limited, D. M. Keith (RGL) Limited, D. M. Keith (RGD) Limited, D. M. Keith (CA) Limited & Ringways (Hire & Leasing) Ltd are an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration number is 313486). Permitted activities include advising on and arranging general insurance contracts and acting as a credit broker not a lender.

We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers. We do not charge a fee for our Consumer Credit services. We do not act as a financial adviser, or fiduciary. We act in our own interest, whichever lender we introduce you to, we will typically receive commission from them based on either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow. Any and all commission amounts will be fully disclosed to you as part of your sales journey. You will be required to give your fully informed consent to our receipt of this commission. By doing this, you acknowledge that you understand our role as a credit broker, and that we will receive a financial incentive if you take out a loan from a lender that we introduce you to.

All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18s or over, Guarantees may be required. All group companies VAT registration No. GB169785889.

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