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With the increasing restrictions on petrol and diesel vehicles in London, UK, the demand for electric cars is rising. According to Zap Map, more than 265,000 EVs were registered in 2022, and more than 660,000 battery-electric cars were on the roads of the UK at the end of December 2022. These numbers are significantly greater than they have ever been, and it shows that switching to fully electric cars has many benefits. Not only do EVs cost less to operate, but they also release zero carbon emissions, reducing the environmental impact.

 

If you drive a PCO car in London, switching to an EV can save your operational expenses and you can benefit from a number of incentives that the government offers. Keep reading to learn all about these benefits.

 

Zero Emissions

Ridesharing services like Uber and Bolt have changed the way people get from one place to another, but the pollution associated with PCO cars is detrimental to the climate. One of the primary benefits of driving an electric vehicle is reducing the environmental impact. London is one of the most congested cities worldwide and has an alarmingly high air pollution rate. Petrol-driven PCO cars are a significant contributor to the high pollution in this city.

 

On the other hand, fully electric PCO cars have no tailpipes so they don’t emit exhaust gases. Switching to an EV can help you become a part of improving air quality for a secure and healthy future.

An illustration of low carbon emissions and eco-friendliness

Low-Maintenance Vehicles

Driving an electric car saves you time and money on maintenance and servicing. These cars are equipped with modern hardware and technology that can keep up with daily rides. Petrol cars have many working parts, including the engine, radiator, exhaust system, etc. Their complex mechanism requires frequent expensive repairs and replacements.

 

Due to the lack of the internal combustion engine (ICE) and other working parts, the maintenance of EVs is a lot simpler. This saves your trips to the garage and other such expenses. Research shows that EV drivers save 50% on repair and maintenance compared to drivers of petrol vehicles.

 

Every PCO car needs an MOT after three years, including EVs. However, an electric car won’t require an emissions test, saving a lot of hassle.

 

Save on Fuel

Fuels prices have soared to unbelievable heights and from spring 2023, the fuel duty will rise too. The government reduced fuel duty last year to help people keep up with the rising living costs. However, these rates will return to former levels this year and it’s also expected that fuel prices will increase by 23%. All of this can put a significant strain on your earnings.

 

EVs require electricity to operate which costs much less than petrol. The cost of EV charging will depend on where you charge it. Due to the increased demand for EVs, there are now 36,000 charge-point connectors in the UK, 3961 of which are free to use. Supermarkets like Sainsbury’s offer free EV charging points.

 

For more information on EV charging, watch this detailed video: How to Charge Electric Cars and Different Types of Charging Points in London.

 

Save Money on Zone Charges and Road Taxes

There are various charges and taxes you have to pay as a PCO driver in London, including the Congestion charge, ULEZ charge, and road tax (vehicle excise duty). Purely electric vehicles are exempt from these three charges that can help increase your profit significantly. Moreover, the government has decided to expand the ULEZ to all boroughs of London this year, which means you’ll have to pay a charge on your non-emission-compliant car, no matter which route you take in the city.

 

By switching to an EV, you can save almost £27.50 daily (£15+£12.50) by not paying the congestion and ULEZ charges. Although EVs will have to pay the Congestion charge and road tax from 2025, there’s still a lot of time left to make the most of this exemption and save money by switching to an electric vehicle.

 

A Wide Range of Vehicles to Choose From

It wasn’t so long ago when finding a reliable electric car with a good range was challenging. Now you have a wide range of incredible EVs to choose from. More and more automotive manufacturers are creating advanced vehicles to suit everyone’s needs. These cars have better range, battery capacity, cargo space, and performance.

 

For example, the Kia e-Niro has a 64kWh battery and a range of 280 miles. With one hour of fast charging, this car will give you a full range to operate all day without requiring another charge cycle. Moreover, you can leave the car charging overnight, and get a fully-charged car, ready to hit the road in the morning. This can help make your PCO journeys smoother and hassle-free.

Kia e-Niro PCO car

Besides Kia e-Niro, Nissan Leaf, Mustang Mach-E, and MG5 Exclusive are also top-rated EVs for rideshare drivers. You can rent any of them from G&M Direct Hire. It’s a leading PCO electric car rental company in London with over 15 years of experience in the industry. The company helps drivers in obtaining a PCO licence, sign up with rideshare platforms, and also offers free servicing and maintenance.

Visit their website or contact them for more details.

About the Author

The author is an experienced Uber driver affiliated with a PCO car rental company in London. He is an environmentalist and writes encouraging and informative blogs to help people make better choices.

 

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