British motorists urged to go electric

British motorists are missing out on savings of almost £24.5 billion every year by not taking advantage of ultra-low emission motoring, according to new research released today.

The figures, from the government and industry-backed Go Ultra Low campaign, show that – while the average cost to fuel a petrol or diesel car is around 12p-per-mile – the equivalent cost for an ultra-low emission vehicle is just 2p-per-mile.

With the average car travelling around 7,500 miles each year, the difference in annual spend between the two options is a substantial £7505 – equating to tens of billions of pounds across the nation’s 32.6 million cars.

To help promote cost-efficient motoring even further, Go Ultra Low has enlisted the support of a raft of experts to provide consumers with handy hints and tips such as winding up windows, de-cluttering car boots and smooth acceleration. They have been put together with the aim of helping consumers enjoy the thrill of driving, but on a tighter budget.

Led by the nation’s newest favourite money-saver, Ashleigh Swan, Go Ultra Low’s panel also includes automotive journalists, senior industry figures and current electric car owners.

Mother of three, Ashleigh commented, ‘Like millions of other parents across the UK, I know that ferrying the kids around can be an expensive business. Fuel bills are the most noticeable regular outlay, and every time we pull up at a petrol station, my husband and I wince at the price of a full tank. Discovering the thrill of travelling in an electric car, as well as the extremely low running costs that come with it, has been a real eye-opener.’

Hetal Shah, head of the Go Ultra Low campaign added, ‘After buying a house, a car is the second most expensive purchase that most of us will ever make. Consumers are therefore looking for an option that gives them better value for money on an ongoing basis. With fuel costs from just 2p-per-mile, no road tax, no congestion charge and free parking in many locations, electric cars certainly present a compelling proposition. Put simply: the more you drive, the more you save.

‘Added to that, there is now a whole host of electric vehicles available to suit any lifestyle, from city run-arounds and family hatchbacks to 4x4s and sports cars.’