This 9 September is annual world EV day. In honour of this, let’s talk a little about how electric vehicles interact with our personal home energy.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been around since the 1832, when they were first invented in Scotland. But they have gained a much greater share of the car market in the past several years. In 2023, one out of every four vehicles sold in the world were EVs and nearly 315,000 new EVs were registered in the UK – taking the total number of EVs in the UK to 1,190,000.

EVs can be charged with home charging stations, using a network of charging stations across the country or even using a standard electrical outlet from your home. Charging time can differ based on which charger you are using and how full your battery is when charging begins. A fast-charging station can get an 80% charge in about 30 minutes. When I charge my 10-year-old Nissan Leaf on a regular outlet in my home, it takes about six hours to get to 80% charged. Newer car models and better cables reduce this time significantly.

Some newer EVs are compatible with “vehicle-to-grid” (V2G) technology. This allows energy to go back and forth between the vehicle and the grid and enables EVs to be energy storage devices. They can send their stored energy back to the grid when the demand is high. Some EVs, like the Ford F-150 Lightning or the newer models of the Nissan Leaf can power a home during power outages and emergencies. Many EVs also come with smart charging features that allow EV owners to schedule their charging during off-peak times when electricity rates are lower or renewable energy is more available, reducing strain on the grid and their owner’s wallets.

Due to their battery, electric vehicles have a lower centre of gravity, which improves their stability and handling on the road. Electric motors provide quicker acceleration and a better, smoother driving experience. EVs often have lower maintenance costs with their fewer moving parts and don’t require oil changes (I have had my EV for 4 years and have only had to replace the tyres). Electric vehicles are now nearly identical in price to their petrol-powered competitors. EVs also operate quietly, reducing noise pollution in cities. And lastly, EVs have a lower carbon footprint than petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles.

These reasons and more have created a boom in the electrical vehicle market, which will only grow as the regulations continue to increase on petrol-powered vehicles and we all shift to cleaner, healthier, quieter and more fun transportation.

If you live in Birmingham and have energy questions or want some advice about your own home energy, please get in contact to arrange a free advice session with BrumEnergy here.