The North East is at the forefront of a transport revolution that can save drivers £3,000 a year in bills.
Research by esure has revealed that the region as a whole is the best prepared in the UK outside of London for the coming of the Electric Vehicle (EV) age.
It revealed the North East as a whole has the highest number of EV chargers per electric of hybrid car outside of London - with 10 electric vehicles per charger, based on the 9,645 registered electric vehicles divided between 935 charging stations in the region.
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In a UK top 10 of specific areas, the capital claimed first spot with a rate of a charger for every 4.1 EVs, Sunderland was placed second with a charger for every 4.7 electric or hybrid cars, Newcastle was 4th (8.4), Durham 5th (10.7) and Teesside 7th (11.7)
Commenting on the research, Neil Dwyer at esure, said: “As EV sales continue to rise and the UK becomes more eco-conscious, we wanted to see which areas are already getting ready for an EV future.
“As indicated within our research, it’s crucial that some of these locations invest in their EV infrastructure in order to ensure a smooth transition for those on the road before the end of the decade.
"However, regardless of where you live, if you’re driving an EV or planning on doing so anytime soon, it’s important to make sure you’re properly covered and have the appropriate insurance in place should any problems arise.”
Meanwhile, research by Vanarama detailed three ways how switching to EVs provides a potential saving of around £3,000 a year to owners.
1. Low-emissions zones could save EV owners £2,100 per year
Low-emissions zones, often referred to as LEZs, are there to encourage owners of highly polluting vehicles to stop driving through inner-city areas by charging them a fee if they do so. Vanarama’s research found that EV drivers could save £175 a month through LEZ exemption, which equates to £2,100 per year and £8,400 per average total vehicle ownership (four years).
2. Not paying for fuel could save EV owners £858 per year
No longer needing to pay for fuel at the pump could save EV owners £72 per month, which equals £858 per year and £3,432 per average total vehicle ownership. The fuel savings include the cost of charging an EV (£342 per year), based on the average British driver’s yearly mileage of 7,600 miles.
3. Car tax exemption could save EV owners £150 per year
Under the current rules, car tax doesn’t apply to all-electric cars. This means EV owners could save £13 per month, £150 per year, and £600 per average total vehicle ownership from not having to pay car tax. These tax calculations are based on the UK’s best-selling car of 2021, the sub-40k Vauxhall Corsa.
Top 10 UK areas with EV charging points per vehicle
1. London; 4.1
2. Sunderland; 4.7
3. Kirkwall; 7.2
4. Newcastle-upon-Tyne; 8.4
5. Durham; 10.7
6. Dumfries; 11.6
7. Teesside; 11.7
8. Brighton; 11.8
9. Manchester; 12.2
10. Nottingham; 13.6
