Go Ultra Low

We are a 'Go Ultra Low Company'!

What is the 'Go Ultra Low' Companies Scheme?

We are proud to be one of the first organisations in the UK to receive ‘Go Ultra Low Company’ status. This newly launched initiative recognises businesses that are embracing electric vehicles (EVs) as part of a new scheme run by government and automotive industry campaign, Go Ultra Low.

We have been awarded ‘Go Ultra Low Company’ status in recognition of how plug-in cars and vans form an increasingly important part of our fleet. The accolade also recognises our commitment to boosting their uptake over the next five years as part of our long-term transport strategy.

Go Ultra Low exists to highlight the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) by helping motorists understand the cost savings and capabilities of the wide range of EVs on the market. The campaign aims to educate the public and fleet audiences about plug-in vehicles by addressing outdated myths and highlighting how they offer competitive practicality for both private and business users. 

The Go Ultra Low Companies initiative recognises British companies that have made efforts to embrace electric cars and vans as part of their vehicle fleets. Run by campaign group Go Ultra Low and backed by government and the automotive industry, the initiative also acknowledges and rewards businesses that have made a commitment to boost their uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) over the next five years.

What is the purpose of the wider Go Ultra Low campaign?

Go Ultra Low exists to promote the uptake of electric vehicles by helping motorists understand the benefits, cost savings and capabilities of the raft of new EVs on the market. The collaborative campaign is the first of its kind, bringing together a consortium of leading car manufacturers (Audi, BMW, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen), Government and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Further details are available at www.goultralow.com

What are the Financial benefits of Electric Vehicles?

  • Motorists could save around £800 per year in tax and fuel by switching to electric emission vehicles versus the average car on the road
  • Fuel costs from 2p per mile, compared to around 10-12p per mile for a typical petrol or diesel car
  • A journey from London to Brighton (70 miles) can be done for £1
  • EVs are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax)
  • Plug-in grants from government towards the cost of EVs
  • Less maintenance required compared to petrol or diesel cars
  • Free parking in many places (and free charging in some)
  • No London Congestion Charge 

We also have much more information about the benefits of Electric Vehicles here

What are the environmental benefits of Electric Vehicles?

  • Environmental benefits of vehicles are mainly discussed using CO2 emissions as a base. Clearly for those with no fuel, there are zero tailpipe emissions. All vehicles eligible for the plug-in grant emit less than 75g/km of CO2.

  • Pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are the lowest-emitting options for motorists looking to minimise emissions, while keeping running costs low.

  • More than half of ultra low emission vehicles on UK roads are pure electric so have no tail pipe emissions. All other ultra low emissions vehicles emit less than 75g/km of CO2, around half that of the average new car on sale today. 

  • Almost every vehicle manufacturer offers a low or ultra low emission vehicle, with a wide selection of zero or ultra low CO2 emission cars which enables motorists to choose the most appropriate one for their needs.

  • By 2040, the UK government expects every new car or van sold to be a zero emission vehicle, ahead of the 2050 target set out by the Climate Change Act which effectively requires all cars on the road should have zero emissions. 

Hasn’t the government reduced the subsidy for new ultra low emission cars?

Government has confirmed that £400million more funding has been assured to keep the Plug-in Car Grant running until at least March 2018 and allow 100,000 more motorists to benefit from the scheme. Vehicles with a zero-emission range of up to 70 miles are entitled to a £4,500 grant from government, while others could claim £2,500. The hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai is also now eligible for the Plug-in Car Grant. The PICG was introduced to assist consumers with the purchase of these vehicles as these economies of scale took hold. 

How many cars have already been registered using the plug-in car grant?

Since the launch of the Plug-In Car Grant in January 2011 up to Q1 2016, there have been more than 70,000 eligible cars registered. (Please note: this data includes only new car registrations and not commercial vehicles.)

What is the capable range of Electric Vehicles?

The EV with the furthest range can travel up to 700 miles before needing to refuel!

  • From pure electric cars that are capable of up to 100 miles through range-extended cars (up to 200 miles) to plug-in hybrids (up to 700 miles), there is an EV that meets everyone’s lifestyle
  • The average commute in the UK is less than 10 miles (ONS) and 11.5 million motorists (36%) never drive further than 80 miles in a single trip (GUL survey Jan 2015) within the range of most pure-electric cars

Different types of Electric Vehicles

There are many different types if Electric Vehicle available. Listed below are some of the different types and their capabilities.

Pure Electric:

Powered by a battery charged from mains electricity with a single charge range typically up to 100 miles. Models available include the BMW i3, Kia Soul, Nissan LEAF, Nissan e-NV200, Renault ZOE, Renault Kangoo ZE, Volkswagen e-Golf and Volkswagen e-up!

 

Plug-in hybrid:

 

Matches a battery for short trips of 10-35 miles with a standard petrol or diesel engine for longer journeys giving a range of up to 700 miles. Models available include the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, BMW 225xe Active Tourer, BMW 330e Saloon, BMW i8, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Toyota Prius Plug-in and Volkswagen Golf GTE.

Range extender vehicles:

Powered by a battery with an internal combustion engine generator on board, which charges the battery when it gets below 3%, can increase the range of the car from 100 miles up to around 180. The only model on the market that currently offers this is the BMW i3 Range Extender. 

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles:

They have a fuel cell stack which uses hydrogen to produce electricity. This then powers the wheels of the vehicle emitting only heat and water – with a range of approximately 300 miles. The only hydrogen fuel cell model eligible for the plug-in car grant is the Toyota Mirai. 

Where can I charge an Electric Vehicle?

There are many places you can charge an EV, at home, at work or at a public charging station. There is a nationwide network of 10,000 charge points in almost 4,000 locations! In London, there are more charge points than petrol stations. Approximately 500 rapid chargers are deployed across the UK – including one at almost every motorway service station – that can offer an 80% charge in less than half an hour, giving the UK the best rapid charger network in Europe!

GoUltraLow.com provides a charge point map (powered by ZapMap) so you can see where the nearest available points are. As you can see from the map below, there are a huge amount of EV charge points in the UK!

Who runs the charge points – do I have to join a membership scheme?

Different regions have different charge point networks. Most have free registration, although some make a small charge to use their network. Many networks will also permit free use on other networks too – your regional provider will have details of affinity schemes on their website. Publicly accessible government-funded charge points installed since 2014 are pay-as-you-go, without the need for pre-registration.