Electric Vehicles: do you have range anxiety?

Is worrying about running out of charge causing you to put the brakes on getting an electric vehicle? Worry not – we’ve put together this guide to ease you out of your range anxiety.

One of the more persistent untruths about electric cars is that you’ll have an anxiety-filled journey waiting to suddenly run out of charge, with no way to recharge to get back home. The reality is very different. Today’s full battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are so capable that running out of energy is now no more likely than running out of diesel or petrol in a ‘traditional’ car.

Range alerts

Full battery electric vehicles never run out of charge without warning. They repeatedly remind you of the outstanding range. They are equipped with economy modes for low battery to help get you to a safe place.

Early electric cars did have low ranges which were limiting for many people, but a lot has developed over the last decade. The “Range Anxiety” label should now be consigned to history. Batteries are now a lot bigger in electric vehicles, like the Hyundai Kona Electric, capable of 259 miles, the Nissan Leaf e+ which can do as much as 217 miles on a full charge.

Charging options

One of the benefits of the Motability Scheme is you’ll be offered the option of a home charge point installation at no extra cost. If you don’t have off-street parking, or you’re not able to have a home charge point installed, you will be able to access a network of public charging points for easy on-street charging. There are also an increasing number of charge points popping up, for example in supermarket car parks and motorway service stations.

If you’re charging on the go it will take a bit more time and planning than a petrol or diesel car. Instead of taking two minutes to fill up at the pumps, it can take around half an hour with a rapid charger to top up your electric car. And if you’re charging from empty on average, it takes just under eight hours to charge to the brim, but it all depends on the speed of the charging point and the size of your car’s battery.The latest battery electric vehicles, with their navigation systems, will find the nearest charging station if you need it. Also, if you download the ZapMap app, you can locate publicly available electric vehicle charging points across Britain.

How can I find an electric car on the Motability Scheme?

There are a number of makes and models available to lease on the Motability Scheme, from small city cars to family hatchbacks and larger SUVs. To see what’s currently available, use the car search tool at motability.co.uk and select ‘Electric’ in the ‘Fuel Type’ option.

About the Motability Scheme

Motability Scheme enables you to exchange all or part of your mobility allowance to lease a car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, mobility scooter or powered wheelchair. Find out more about the qualifying mobility allowances at

motability.co.uk/allowances

Every lease is all inclusive, so insurance for up to 3 named drivers (this doesn’t have to be you), servicing, maintenance and breakdown cover is included. All you need to do is add fuel and go.

If you think the Scheme could be right for you, and you’d like to find out more, you can visit the website motability.co.uk or call one of their friendly advisors on

0800 093 1000.

Author: Motability | motability.co.uk | @MotabilityOps

STOP UNWANTED REQUESTS FOR CHARITY DONATIONS

Subodh Patel is the Manager of the Fundraising Preference Service, a free service which is operated by the Fundraising Regulator

IF you or someone you care for is feeling overwhelmed by unwanted asks for donations from charities this winter, there is a free service that can help you put a stop to this – the Fundraising Preference Service.

UK official service is free and easy to use

The Fundraising Preference Service (FPS) is the UK’s only service that allows you to manage the contact you receive from all registered charities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can access the FPS online or by phone and it is completely free to use. It is run safely and securely by the Fundraising Regulator, the independent regulator of charitable fundraising.

End contact from multiple charities at the same time

You could get in touch with each charity you receive contact from individually to ask them to stop sending you fundraising communications, but using the FPS means you don’t need to.

You can use the service to end contact with more than one charity at a time – all you need to know is the charity name or registered charity number.

Use the service on behalf of someone else

Over 13,000 people have used FPS to stop unwanted charity marketing and around 1 in 3 people use it on behalf of someone else. You can even use the service even if you, or someone you care for, have previously given consent to the charity to stay in touch.

How to use the FPS

By using the FPS, you can manage your communications from charities in just three easy steps:

1. Search for a charity name or registered charity number 2. Select the channels of communication you wish to stop - you can choose addressed letters, emails, text messages or telephone calls 3. Enter your contact details and we’ll take care of the rest

If it sounds like the FPS will be of help to you or a friend or family member, visit the website for more information about how the service works.

For more information

Visit fundraisingpreference.org.uk or call 0300 3033 517.

The FPS helpline is open Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 4:30pm (closed weekends and public holidays). Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than calls to local or national rate numbers (01 or 02) and should be included in inclusive minutes in the same way.