Electric vehicles
Electricity Providers
Selecting electricity providers that use high percentages of renewably generated energy will also reduce the CO2 emissions from charging and reduce the global warming impact.
Motorcycling
Most motorcycles are more eco-friendly than cars. Production requires fewer resources, and they require less fuel.
To ride on public roads you first need to get a provisional licence and then complete compulsory basic training (CBT) to get a certificate. You must pass both parts of your practical test within 2 years of taking the theory test. If you do not, you'll have to start the process again.
Motorcycles
There are different categories of motorbike - you'll need to get the right entitlement on your licence and be old enough to do so.
Mopeds
The way moped entitlements are shown on your licence have changed, but you still need to be 16 to ride one.
The rules are different if you already have a car driving licence.
Information on the rules and safety for motorcyclists can be found at:
Rules for motorcyclists (83 to 88) - The Highway Code - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Safe and energy efficient travel
Efficient driving is a driving style that reduces fuel bills, cuts carbon emissions and lowers accident rates. It is about becoming a better driver, rather than sacrificing the performance or enjoyment of driving. For electric vehicles (EVs), efficient driving also brings greater vehicle range. The Energy Saving Trust gives advice on efficient driving
Electric vehicles will play a major part in the future of car travel - the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will stop in 2030, with hybrid vehicles following in 2035. While EVs are more expensive to buy than fossil fueled equivalents, they are considerably cheaper to run. A 200 mile electric charge can cost as little as £2.50 on an off peak rate, with lower CO2 emissions than peak electricity. Servicing is also cheaper than for an equivalent combustion engine model. While the EV batteries are expensive to replace, many manufactures guarantee the batteries for up to 8yrs to 80% capacity of their original capacity. Recycling streams for the batteries are being improved and expanded. EVs do not produce any emissions while running or contribute to poor air quality, unlike fossil fueled vehicles which emit are number of toxic gases and particulates from the engine which are detrimental to public health.
You can discover more about electric vehicles in general from Smart Move for Northamptonshire's webpage.
Electric Vehicles | Northamptonshire County Council (smartmovenorthamptonshire.net)
You can currently get a discount on the price of brand new low-emission vehicle through a grant the government gives to vehicle dealerships and manufacturers. The dealer will include the value of the grant in the vehicle's price. The maximum grant available for cars is £1,500. Se Government website for details
https://www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants
Home Charging Points
Home Chargers will need to be 'smart type' electric car charger which share their real-time data with a centralised, cloud-based platform. The charging operator then works out how much energy your car needs, and how much is available. This means that instead of charging as soon as you plug your car in, the brainy charger figures out the best time to start. To qualify for a government grant towards installation costs, chargepoints should be on the EVHS approved chargepoint model list at the time of installation. Home Charger Installers should be registered with the governments Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electric-vehicle-homecharge-scheme-authorised-installers
Public Charging Infrastructure
Zap-Map website is a comprehensive resource for EV information and provides a mobile app for locating charging points.
https://www.zap-map.com/
with information on:
Guide to EV charging - https://www.zap-map.com/charge-points/
EV connector types -
https://www.zap-map.com/charge-points/connectors-speeds/
Public charging networks -
https://www.zap-map.com/charge-points/public-charging-point-networks/
EV benefits - https://www.zap-map.com/electric-vehicles/ev-benefits/
Similar information can be found using CarWow website https://www.carwow.co.uk/electric-cars/charging-points
How to protect your plug-in EV cable from theft. Cables are an expensive accessory to replace and no motorists need that kind of unjustified expense and hassle these days, so it's better to protect the cable from the outset than to regret it later.
https://www.evcableshop.co.uk/how-to-protect-your-ev-charging-cable-from-theft/