Electric vehicles come in all shapes and sizes and most car makers now offer at least one in their range. More recently, as the technology matures and people begin to really buy into it, more and more existing internal combustion cars are gaining an electric sibling. If that's not feasible then some EV's are built new from the ground up. Some of the prestige makers offer SUV style vehicles powered by electricity. They are obviously more expensive and may not suit all buyers who see the battery electric cars (BEV) as second cars. Not every one needs a massive motor and this applies particularly to town and city or suburban dwellers.

Charging Zones

City charging zones, whereby polluting vehicles are required to pay a daily fee and not an especially cheap one, are on the up. Following quickly behind London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), other metro areas are picking up on the idea. They see it as a way, quite rightly, to reduce harmful emissions in their domains and, of course, they make money out of it. Motorists can expect this sort of thing to increase.

The Joy Of The Small Car

Small EV's are just right for our city streets and there's a good choice.  With the demands of day-to-day driving and work commuting in town, a small BEV offers a number of benefits for drivers over their city-sized petrol powered rivals. They are nippier about town, very easy to drive and considerably more cost efficient. Ruling councils have taken up the challenge of installing charging points in car parks and supermarkets and employee car parks are also making provision. This makes it easier for EV owners to get a charge top up when necessary, always ensuring that their electric car charging cable is on-board. Mostly though, for local town driving, a full overnight charge of a modern vehicle via a home wall charger will be more than sufficient for a days driving. Many of the best small electric cars are also exempt from congestion charges and heavy road taxes and, in the crowded streets with cramped parking bays, they are simple to park.

The Best Small BEVs

As implied above, there are plenty of models to choose from but, to help with decision making, here are our top three small car choices:

Vauxhall Corsa-e

This is a funky new offering from Vauxhall that offers all the attributes any town or city driver could want. A flick of a switch will increase the driver enjoyment via a Sport mode or switch to Eco and boost the range; sensible these days. No gear shifting, but with ample acceleration and, naturally, no noise or fumes. The official range is 209 miles on a single charge, sufficient even to go further afield. Charge up the battery at home through a household socket or use a Wall Box and fill up in eight hours or less. Buy a charging cable for your  Vauxhall Corsa-e from EV Cable Shop here.

Renault Zoe

The well established and popular Zoe drives like any decent small car. With the batteries packed low down, this car is nimble and fun to drive and the latest models offer around 180 miles per full charge. It feels great to drive in the city thanks to light, precise steering and lively acceleration at low speeds. Find high quality Renault Zoe Charging Cable here.

Peugeot e-208

The 208 supermini from the French car maker has been immensely popular for years so it made absolute sense to offer an electric version. The e-208 looks great inside and out. Power comes from a 50kWh battery which has enough capacity to travel up to 211 miles between charges, for busy city driver the extra good news is that this BEV only need thirty minutes to boost the batteries from flat to 80% fully charged using a fast public charge point. You can purchase a Peugeot e208 charging cable online from EV Cable Shop.

Using an electric car around town makes absolute sense and they are all capable of longer trips too. Pedestrians will thank you and you will save money in the longer term. Also, why not give a little love? If you have a friend or family member who already drives an EV, the gift of one of the latest fast charging cables at this seasonal time of year will really be appreciated!