AA Cars boss shares low-emissions tips, including things to consider and the best new and used options

The sale of low-emissions is one small bright spot in a tough time for the new car market.

New registrations have been falling month-on-month for more than a year, with alternatively fuelled vehicles such as electric cars and hybrids one of the few segments seeing growth. 

And it’s been rapid growth - EVs were up 243 per cent in February while plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) were up 50 per cent. However they still account for less than six per cent of all new registrations and there remains a lot of confusion about the options available and their suitability for different drivers’ requirements.

For a detailed breakdown of the difference between different low-emissions vehicles read our guide here. 

To address some of the broader questions, we’ve spoken to James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars, about some of the things to think about when looking for a low-emissions vehicle, as well as some of the best new and used options to consider. 

How much will it cost to buy a new hybrid or electric car?

For many, the upfront cost will be the biggest consideration. Thankfully, manufacturers have been investing heavily in hybrid and electric cars in recent years, meaning there are now new low-emission cars to suit many budgets which can be bought with or without car finance.

New hybrid cars typically start from £16,000 upwards and new electric cars range from £20,000 to beyond £100,000. 

How much will it  cost to run a low emission car?

While charging an electric car will increase your electricity bill, depending on the electricity supplier it can work out at as little as 2p per mile, making electric cars better value for money than the cost of fuelling conventional petrol or diesel engines.

The cost is dependent on your energy tariff, the location of the charging point and the size of your car's battery. Recent research has found huge differences between the cost of home charging and using faster public charging networks. 

In general, electric cars require less maintenance than conventional vehicles because there are fewer moving parts, which could also help save money on repairs.

The cost of running a hybrid vehicle will depend on how often you are using and refuelling with petrol or diesel. If you have a plug-in hybrid, this will also require some at-home charging.