New Electric Cars in 2023

Why 2023 Electric Cars Are All the Rage

In the UK, the sale of new electric cars increased by 40% last year alone. More and more drivers are looking to do their bit for the environment and remove harmful exhaust emissions from the roads. So many car manufacturers are now offering their own green vehicles for the first time, which is useful to see as the ban on the sale of new non-electric cars in the UK looms ever closer.

Key Advantages to New Electric Cars

Despite the global semiconductor shortage and limit on resources due to various factors, there are still a number of benefits to buying a new electric car. Technology is also improving year on year, so EV ranges only ever go up as innovation drives better new electric cars onto the market.

You can benefit from:

• Cheaper running costs

• An eco-friendlier option

• Government incentives

• A smoother driving experience

• No congestion charge

If you’re looking for a more cost-effective driving option, EVs are still cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars, despite the soaring costs of energy. Also, new electric cars are incredibly smooth to drive as they only have a forwards or backwards option, cutting down on gears and mechanical parts. You won’t be emitting any emissions either, so you won’t pay any congestion charge. Additionally, you can get money towards the cost of installing a home EV charge point for your new electric car.

Are 2023 Electric Cars Expensive?

New electric cars have always come at a premium, but prices are starting to fall in line with traditional petrol and diesel cars. As manufacturers are being forced to break away from the traditional petrol and diesel models and offer hybrid or fully electric vehicles by 2035, price parity will start to come along as more resources are given to EV development.

Having said this, a recent report expects new electric cars to increase by 10% from 2024. This is due to Brexit red tape as tariff exemptions for EVs are due to expire on 31st December 2023. Unless new electric cars are substantially made in the UK, they won’t qualify for zero tariffs. This is just one reason why buying an EV makes more sense in 2023.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as new electric cars are expected to become cheaper than fossil fuel vehicles in Europe between 2025 and 2027, depending on the car type. An analysis by Bloomberg NEF in 2021 shows that vans will be the first to reach this point, followed by small and medium cars.

What Ranges Can We Expect?

The range of new electric cars has only ever increased as the years have gone on. Range anxiety has consequently been reduced too. On a single charge, people typically want to see 200-300 miles. The average range of new electric cars tends to be around 275, but this depends on the type and size of vehicle, as smaller EVs will have smaller batteries and won’t go as far. The list of new cars for 2023 included below shows EVs with ranges between 275-435 miles, so this shouldn’t be any cause for worry.

See our related article to find out how far an electric car can go.

Electric Cars 2023 Will See

Here is a list of a few new electric cars that will appear in UK markets this year. Demand in EVs is on the rise, so let’s hope infrastructure can keep up.

Rolls-Royce Spectre

£275,000

Adding a touch of class to the new electric car game, Rolls-Royce has produced its first ever EV. Weighing in at almost 3 tonnes, it will have a range of 323 miles and will get from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds. Streamlining the process, the Spectre is aerodynamic and has an all-new aluminium chassis.

Lotus Eletre

£89,500

Featuring an impressive 600bhp and a range as much as 373 miles, Lotus’ first ever SUV will charge at 350kW to achieve 248 miles in only 20 minutes. The car has been designed in such a way as to automatically open up vents when the electrics need cooling down, or close if aerodynamic drag needs to be reduced.

Mini Aceman

£30,000

This Mini SUV will be unveiled later this year, but will be available from 2024. It will be a little over 13 feet long and 6.5 feet wide, which is similar to the size of the Countryman. More details will be revealed later in the year. Mini is no stranger to making new electric cars, but the design of this one sets them in a new direction.

Volkswagen ID.7

£55,000

This version of the VW ID improves the range and the charging rate. The battery can be charged at a rate of 200kW and the range is now at an impressive 435 miles. The increase in charging capabilities should see 143 miles added to the clock with only 10 minutes of charging.

Jeep Avenger

£35,000

This small SUV is a new electric car that ticks all the boxes. Although it comes in front-wheel drive and has 150bhp, the 54kWh battery can be rapidly charged from 20% to 80% in 24 minutes. The range will be about 249 miles, or up to 342 miles in urban areas.

BMW iX1

£52,255

This new electric car will be BMW’s entry-level EV. This car will have 313bhp and will be capable of up to 272 miles. The battery will have a capacity of 64.7kWh and can charge from 10% to 80% in just 29 minutes.

How To Charge an EV

There are around 42,000 charge points across the UK, and this will include Slow, Fast, Rapid and Ultra-rapid charging, which come at different costs. The faster the charge you want, the more expensive it will be. Slow chargers can take between 8-10 hours, while Rapid chargers can take as little as 30-60 minutes. Ultra-rapid chargers can take only 20 minutes to charge new electric cars to 80% capacity.

While you can charge at public points, they are usually for a cost. Some supermarkets offer free charging for a set time period, but the cheapest way to charge is at home after installing an EV charger. What’s more, you are able to link a home EV charger with solar panels, which effectively charges your new electric car for free. There is a government grant available to install a home EV charge point.

Is It Better to Buy Used or New Electric Cars?

While newer models will have better ranges and features, used electric cars will not reach their expected ranges that they would have done when they were new. Batteries lose efficiency over time before they need to be replaced. Replacing an EV battery can be incredibly expensive, something to the tune of £10,000, but this usually doesn’t need to be done until either 8 years of use or 100,000 miles.

If you can afford to purchase a new model, new electric cars will always outperform used EVs. If you don’t have the funds for a new car, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t buy a used vehicle. They will still be relatively recent enough to offer safety and satisfaction and will additionally give you the benefit of no exhaust emissions.