Gone are the myths that electric vehicles (EV) are only useable as a second car run-around. The latest figures show that EV’s, specifically cars, cover similar distances as their petrol and diesel fuelled models.
Data from the RAC Foundation found that pure battery EV’s clocked up an average of 9,435 miles each year for the first 3 years, on UK roads. The equivalent of 26 miles per day. This is only slightly less than the daily average of 28 miles done by typical petrol and diesel combustion engines. Petrol cars do an average of 7,490 miles each year in the first 3 years on the road, whereas diesel cars cover 12,496 miles per year, on average.
Many people still believe that only petrol or diesel cars are practical as a main car, due partly to the anxiety of running out of charge mid-journey. However, the RC Foundation data should that EV’s are not just a secondary, run-around. The average annual mileage of an EV is only 9% less than that of both petrol and diesels, which is 10,377 miles a year.
“This data suggests that owners of electric cars have found them to be a practical proposition, running up the sort of big annual mileages that many of us need to do, challenging preconceptions about their range and the ease of recharging.”
Steve Gooding, RAC Foundation
The study looked more closely at Tesla’s Model S, which clocked up more average miles than any other manufacturer. Designed to cover long distances the Model S covered an average of 12,392 miles a year in the first 3 years on UK roads.
EV sales have continued to grow year on year since 2014, however still only held a 1.6% share of the new car market in the UK last year. With the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars brought forward to 2030 the sales of pure-electric vehicles and the longevity of them will continue to increase.