I contacted select car leasing at 8 months pregnant having had my own car just give up the ghost. Obviously I was in a tight spot with the baby coming soon! Luckily I found my way to the amazing John Lloyd. John could not have done more to make me feel supported and moved very quickly to find me the perfect car for my needs. John talked me through the differences with the vehicles we were looking at it, gave brilliant advice and ultimately got the car delivered to me quicker than any other avenue would have been able to do. The car has arrived before the baby and my mind is at ease! Thank you John!
Living With Your EV: An Essential Guide from Select Car Leasing
By David Lewis, Electric Vehicle & Clean Energy Journalist.
Taking delivery of an electric vehicle is a genuinely different experience from owning a petrol or diesel car – and the biggest shift isn’t just what you drive, but how you think about driving.
Instead of fuel stops, you’ll be planning charging; instead of engine noise, you’ll notice near-silence; and instead of miles per gallon, you’ll start thinking in terms of range and efficiency in miles per kWh.
The good news is that most of the change is simple to adapt to, and once you get used to it, owning an EV often feels easier, and more relaxing day to day, than a traditionally-fuelled car.
This guide walks you through all of the essential things you need to know about living with your new EV.
Select's EV expertise
What does Select know about electric vehicles? We’ve leased thousands of electric vehicles over the last decade and more than 1 in 3 vehicles we lease right now uses a charger, whether that’s a straight electric or a plug-in hybrid. So, we’ve learnt a lot along the way and we want to make sure every customer is equipped with the knowledge that lets them really embrace EV enjoyment.
This essential EV guide covers everything you need to know, whether this is your first ever EV or you’re already fully aboard the electric bandwagon.
From charging at home, finding cheap off-peak energy tariffs, what to do when you need to recharge in public, and how weather might affect your car’s range, you’ll find all the helpful hints and tips you need below.
If you're unsure about ANY aspect of EV motoring, one of our specialist consultants can talk you through charging, costs and ownership both before and after delivery of your vehicle. Just call 0118 920 5130 or email enquiries@selectcarleasing.co.uk.
Top 5 initial EV action points:
So, where to start? Firstly, what are the top 5 actions you need to take when taking delivery of an EV? You’ll likely have thought of these already, but here they are again as a reminder….
- Install a home charger if you haven't already (we can help you, via our partners at E.ON Next)
- Switch to a low, off-peak EV home charging energy tariff
- Get familiar with the idea of public charging
- Understand your EV’s range in cold conditions
- Prepare to enjoy cost-effective and often exhilarating motoring!
Your new EV has arrived
The first thing to understand is that most EV drivers charge at home 2-3 times a week, overnight, on off-peak tariffs. Public charging is typically used for longer journeys or occasional top-ups.
So, charging your EV at home is much more cost-effective than charging in public and typically far more cost effective than petrol or diesel, pound for pound.
If you haven't done so already, you should install a dedicated wallbox charger at home. If you've got off-street parking, brilliant, if you haven't, check out the cross-pavement parking solutions from firms like KerboCharge.
To reinforce the point, at a public ‘ultra-rapid’ charger (which delivers power at 150 kW or more) you might pay up to 85p per kWh of energy.
However, if you charge at home on one of the many of the low off-peak rates offered by the major electric utility companies, you can pay from around 7-8p per kWh.
It’s a big difference, and potentially cuts a single recharge bill from around £40 (public) to around £1.50p (for a full charge at home with an 80 kWh battery).
Installing a home charger (if you’ve got off-street parking)
The process is really simple – and we’re here to help.
First of all, let’s explore home chargers themselves in a little more detail.
Since 2022, regulations here in the UK state that all new EV home chargers must have ‘smart’ functionality. But what does that actually mean?
It essentially means that your charger is capable of ‘talking’ to your EV through Wi-Fi, usually via an app. You can set your car to charge overnight when the cost of electricity is lower. It’ll give you charge status information. And it also lets you preheat your car on cold days while it’s still plugged in outside, while you have a warming cuppa indoors. Almost all modern EVs now have this function.
A dedicated home charger typically delivers a charging speed of 7.4 kW. Home chargers will (depending on the size of your car’s battery) deliver a full charge in 7-9 hours. And remember that you don’t need to exit your bed and plug it in at midnight to get the cheapest electricity, just preset your smart charger to work its magic via the app.
Read our guide to installing a home charger – and some mistakes to avoid.
How much does it cost to install a home EV charger?
A full package – which includes the unit itself and full installation – typically costs between £900 and £1,100. If that sounds like an expensive initial outlay, remember that you’ll swiftly recover those costs by not charging in public. It’s also super convenient for you to charge at home, too.
To help you on the home charger installation front, we’ve partnered with E.ON Next to offer £75 off a home EV charge point installation. It’s available to anyone who has leased an EV with Select.
Some chargers are ‘untethered’ (you need to plug in your own cable) while others are ‘tethered’ (which come with their own cable for maximum convenience). Have a think about which type might suit you best.
To learn EVERYTHING you need to know about charging an EV, read our expansive and comprehensive 'Ultimate Guide to Electric Car Charging in 2026' guide.
Has my EV come with a charging cable?
Yes, the vast majority of new EVs are delivered with at least one cable. Check in the boot, or the front trunk (or frunk), if you can’t find it immediately.
You’ll usually find what’s known as a Type 2 cable, which is used for AC charging at home, at work, and at many public destination chargers. A 32A Type 2 cable can support up to 7.4 kW on a single-phase supply or up to 22 kW on a three-phase supply, provided the cable, charge point, and vehicle all support that speed.
Your EV will almost certainly have a CCS, or Combined Charging System, charging port. CCS combines a Type 2 AC connection with additional DC pins, allowing the same vehicle socket to be used for home AC charging and rapid or ultra-rapid DC charging in public. CCS rapid chargers are normally tethered, so the cable is attached to the charger rather than supplied with the car. Some CCS chargers can deliver up to 350 kW or more, although the actual charging speed depends on your vehicle, the charger, and battery conditions.
A word of caution if your EV comes with a cable that lets you plug the car into the mains via a traditional three-pin socket.
We don’t recommend regular charging from a domestic 3-pin socket and most manufacturers state that you should only resort to this method in emergencies. A dedicated wall charger is safer, faster, and more efficient.
For more information about charging and the different sorts of cables and plugs, read our comprehensive EV Charging Guide.
How do I charge my EV at home for less?
As we’ve outlined above, to make the most out of the considerable fuel cost savings when you run an EV, we’d urge you to choose an energy provider that caters for EV motorists.
What you’re looking for is a cheap, off-peak EV charging tariff. Their overnight rate will be considerably below the standard Energy Price Cap electricity charge, currently at 24.67p per kWh.
And it means a full replenish of your EV’s battery can be had for around £3. The potential savings are enormous.
The best dedicated EV tariffs are 'smart tariffs'. These allow full communication between your car or charger, your smart meter, and your energy supplier. For more details, read our guide on Why Choose EV Smart Chargers for Your Home?
How do you charge an EV in public?
We hear you – charging an EV in public for the first time can be a daunting experience. How do you know which charger to use? How do you actually pay for the charge? And are you allowed to leave your car charging while you nip off for a coffee?
Rest assured, public charging is MUCH easier than it appears at first glance and there really is nothing to be scared off. You’ll likely need to charge in public if you’re embarking on a bigger trip, so it’s worth getting to grips with it early.
Are there enough EV chargepoints in the UK?
Your first task is to actually locate a public chargepoint. Thankfully there are LOADS of them.
Department for Transport data revealed in 2026 that there are now more than 116,000 public EV chargers, in addition to thousands of home wallboxes.
For comparison purposes, there are around 60,800 individual fuel pumps in the UK. So, EV chargepoints outnumber petrol and diesel nozzles by almost TWOFOLD.
How do you find an EV chargepoint?
With many EVs, you can use the car’s infotainment system to find the nearest charge point. Some will automatically direct you to a charging location when you’re running low.
Or you can use a dedicated app to show you the way. The Zap-Map app shows all public chargers in your given location. It also gives you real-time charger availability, lets you know if any are out of action, and even lets you pay via the app.
Not all public charge points are made equal. Some (ultra-rapid) are faster than others, and with some you’ll need to bring your own cable (make sure it’s in the boot).
But once you get into the swing of things, it’s a doddle. And, YES, because EV charge point cables lock at both ends, you’re free to grab a drink and a bite to eat while you wait for the battery to be topped-up.
Charging times vary between EVs, but some cars allow for a 10-80% recharge in less than 20 minutes and these charging times are improving constantly.
How do you pay for charging an electric car in public?
At the end of 2024, the UK government brought in new rules for EV charge point operators as part of the Public Charge Point Regulations legislation.
It means all new public charge points of 8 kW and above – and existing charge points of 50 kW and above – must offer contactless payment to consumers.
That’s great news for EV owners because it means they can simply pull up, plug-in, tap a card or mobile phone, and drive away happy on a pay-as-you-go basis, without needing to download other apps to make payment or have a monthly subscription.
It’s not available on all charge points just yet, but they’re sure to catch up in the next couple of years. Contactless can be slightly more expensive than other options.
If the charge point you arrive at doesn’t offer contactless payments, you’ll have to utilise one of these other options instead:
- All-encompassing app: Apps like Zap-Pay, from Zap-Map, aim to make paying for charging more simple. The idea is that you can use one app to pay for charging across multiple different networks and providers who have all signed up to the scheme, via a monthly subscription.
- Network app: You might need to download the charge point network’s individual app before charging. Network membership can often mean cheaper prices, which is a bonus, but you should try to download the app before you arrive at the charge point to avoid extra faff.
- RFID card: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card works in the same way as an all-encompassing app, in that it allows you to access charging at lots of different networks without having to download individual apps. Just tap the card at the charger and you gain access to charging and automatic payment. RFID cards are offered by lots of different networks and vehicle manufacturers and you can also gain access to loyalty discounts via a monthly subscription.
- QR codes: For pay-as-you-go charging on some networks you can scan a QR code on the side of a charger, which then takes you through to a payment page, which controls the charging session.
- Vehicle-to-charger communication: Some EVs and networks allow a vehicle and charger to talk to each other when you pull up at a charge point, and that communication allows automatic charging and billing. Take a look at Fastned’s service, for example.
What if you’ve leased a Tesla and want to charge in public?
If you’re getting behind the wheel of a leased Tesla, you’ve just joined a very exclusive club.
Tesla has its own network of ‘Superchargers’. These are public charge points designed exclusively for Tesla drivers (though some are available to use whatever EV you have, even though you’ll pay a slightly higher rate).
There are around 1,000 of them in the UK, and your Tesla’s on-board infotainment system will automatically direct you to the nearest Supercharger. These rapid charging stations can add up to 172 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
Check out Tesla's guide to Superchargers in the UK and around the world.
Can I charge my EV in public for free?
According to Zapmap, there are around 1,800 free charging devices in the UK.
The majority of free EV devices are located in public car parks, but you can also find them at tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants, as well as museums, theatres, zoos, pubs, and even garden centres.
Why would a location or network offer free EV charging? It’s really simple: they want you to pull up, stay for a few hours and spend your money at their venue. Free charging is a great incentive for you to do just that.
The easiest way to find a free charge point is to use a dedicated app, such as Zapmap. When you open the map you can select the ‘free to use’ payment filter, which then reveals all of the free charging devices near your given location.
EV battery health - some general tips
The batteries in EVs are much more robust than you might think, but it doesn't hurt to follow guidance when it comes to caring for them.
The Generational 2025 Battery Performance Index is a piece of research released by Generational, a specialist in battery electric vehicle (BEV) battery condition diagnostics.
They tested more than 8,000 electric cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and found that 8-9-year-old vehicles retain a median 85% battery capacity, compared to new, while the median battery state of health (SoH) for 4-5-year-old EVs was a healthy 93.53%.
How to protect your electric vehicle's battery health?
- Aim to keep daily charging between 20-80%: It reduces stress on lithium-ion batteries and helps them degrade more slowly over time.
- Avoid running the battery to 0%: Repeated deep discharges push the battery toward its chemical limits, increasing internal resistance.
- Don’t worry about occasional 100% charges for long trips: The 20-80% guideline is mainly for daily charging, not for times when you need the full range.
How does weather affect an EV’s range?
To cut a long story short, cold weather can temporarily reduce an EV's range, just like fuel economy drops in petrol cars in certain driving scenarios.
What's the best way to combat cold weather range loss?
Battery pre-conditioning while plugged in helps minimise this. It heats or cools the battery pack to its ideal operating temperature, maximising range, protecting the battery's overall health, and ensuring the fastest DC fast-charging speeds.
How do you pre-condition the battery? It's usually done via your car's dedicated app and the process can also take place as soon as you set a chargepoint as a destination in your sat nav. Methods differ so check your own car's instructions.
What is WLTP range for an EV?
All EVs come with different sized batteries, which give you varying amounts of range before you need to stop and plug in once again.
The range figure you’ll have seen quoted for your specific EV has been arrived at via what’s known as the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
The WLTP organisation put cars (including EVs) on a rolling road in a laboratory. And while they aim to get as close as possible to real-world figures, you’ll probably struggle to hit that maximum range on a regular basis.
Lots of different factors can affect an EV’s range, including your driving style, vehicle accessories, and any additional weight you might be carrying. Weather conditions and ambient temperature also make a big difference, and you’ll want to factor-in a reduced range when the mercury drops.
By how much is an EV's range affected by cold temperatures?
Research by What Car? suggests an EV’s range might fall by up to 30% in cold wintry conditions. As long as you’re able to anticipate that change when planning a journey, it won’t come as a nasty surprise. Remember that most EVs will calculate the range depending on the weather situation at that time, so your range will improve between starting driving at –3ºC at 7am and driving at 8ºC later in the day.
If your EV is fitted with an auxiliary heat pump (and many modern EVs have them equipped as standard) you’ll see less of an impact. The heat pump warms the cabin by feeding waste heat from the car's battery to the vehicle’s interior, rather than having to drain energy from the battery using the climate control.
Note: It also takes longer to charge when it’s cold. You might need to wait longer than you would in summer.
For a comprehensive analysis of EV range, take a look at our guide on Electric Car Range Explained.
Servicing and tyre replacement for an EV
You’ll need to service and maintain your EV just as you would a traditionally-fuelled vehicle.
With fewer moving parts, most EVs have longer service intervals than petrol or diesel equivalents, which means you need to take them to the garage less often. Wear to brake pads and discs is also reduced thanks to ‘regenerative braking’ – the system that EVs have to convert kinetic energy (when you slow down) into electrical energy, which then gets fed back into the battery.
You do, though, need to keep a close eye on your EV’s tyres.
Due to the lithium-ion batteries they carry, EVs tend to be heavier than their petrol or diesel equivalents. That extra heft, and the instant torque and acceleration EVs enjoy, can place an additional burden on the car’s tyres.
A recent study by Select Car Leasing showed that 51% (34,179 vehicles) of the 66,772 EVs that failed on their initial MOT test did so because of tyre-related issues. That’s a much higher figure than diesel (23%) or petrol (22%) cars.
The good news for EV enthusiasts is that MOT pass rates for EVs wipe the floor with their ICE (internal combustion engine) equivalents, with 30% of diesel vehicles failing the initial MOT tests in 2024 and 28% of petrol cars doing the same. On the other hand, just 15% of EVs failed their initial MOT test over the same time period.
Again, think about adding that maintenance plan to cover yourself for any additional costs that may arise.
Enjoying your EV’s performance and driving style
All electric vehicles drive like automatics, in other words there is no need to change gear. There are only two pedals: the brake on the left and the accelerator on the right.
In most new EVs, you don’t need to turn them on – you just unlock the car, put it in ‘Drive’ and press the accelerator to go. In other EVs, you need first to press a ‘Start’ button or similar and then select ‘Drive’.
If you’re driving an EV for the first time, you might be surprised at how quick it is. Because of the linear way an EV delivers power to the wheels from the electric motor, even entry-level cars are typically much quicker off the mark than similar petrol or diesel models.
Go easy on the accelerator until you get used to it or simply put it into ‘eco’ or ‘comfort’ mode rather than ‘sports’. You may also want to turn the regenerative braking down a bit or off to create a more relaxed driving experience. Have a play with it and find what works for you.
You can check out some scintillating performance EVs via our deals pages.
Get advice from like-minded motorists
Getting any new car, whether it’s an EV or not, can be slightly confusing as you grapple with a new infotainment system and figure out the best way to adjust the settings.
If you’re confused about anything, the best way to seek advice is to get online and check out your particular EV brand’s dedicated forum. There are hundreds of these and the EV drivers on there can provide great insight and advice around your particular model – or everything electric in general.
Otherwise, why not have a look at our extensive collection of EV motoring guides.
Finally, really take the time to enjoy the experience: the fun, the good, and the interesting! EVs are here to stay and the earlier you get to understand all the nuances of them, the more you’ll enjoy them.
Watch our Select Car Leasing YouTube channel!
Enjoy in-depth reviews of all the latest EVs, epic electric road trips, and battery-related mythbusting.
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