I switched from an automatic diesel car to a Peugeot 508 hybrid and would never go back. As a low mileage user the hybrid is perfect for me and took very little getting used to…unless you set the car to work in sport mode which uses the petrol engine it defaults to using battery power where possible so you do not have to constantly change settings. The battery power is ideal for driving around the town and short motorway trips, with the petrol engine kicking in when you need to perform a quick but safe overtake.

As well as saving on Company Car Tax I have saved over £1,200 on running costs in the past 12 months. In fact for 3 months I didn’t have to put any petrol in the car at all so I feel that I am doing by bit towards having a cleaner environment.

We have recently purchased our first electric car, a vertigo blue Peugeot e2008 GT from Sherwood’s of Durham. We have driven Peugeots for 13 years and our new acquisition replaces our beloved 10-year-old blue 308CC and joins our 5008 GT line and RCZ.

We thought that it was the right time to consider “going electric”. We have just retired and wanted the new car to fit in with our new lifestyle. We are fortunate to live in a house with solar PV panels, so an electric car made sense, especially as we have had a rapid charging point installed as part of the deal to buy the car.

The e2008 made perfect sense. Most of our car journeys are now shorter but more frequent as we have 4 small granddaughters to visit. It is the right size to accommodate us, at least 2 granddaughters and our large dog who insists on going everywhere with us. It is roomy, comfortable, extremely easy to drive and much easier to get our ageing bodies into, unlike our RCZ and 308CC!

Did we look at any other electric cars? Yes, but Sherwood’s made it extremely easy to learn about electric cars when they invited us to the launch event of the e208 and e2008 and were helpful and trusting when they let us test drive their demonstration models without supervision. We found the whole experience of buying a car from Sherwood’s extremely easy. James and the rest of the sales team were truly knowledgeable and supportive in the choices we made and helping us arrange installation of our charging point.

We have now had our electric car for 3 months. We are very happy with it and am sure we have made the correct decision. It is our go to runabout and has turned out to be extremely economical to run as we have been able to change to a specific tariff with our electricity provider that allows you to charge your car at cheaper rates.

Are there any drawbacks to owning an electric car? Not really once you get accustomed to plugging it in overnight when it needs charging and overcoming ‘range anxiety’ about how far you can safely drive without looking for a recharging point. Longer journeys do have to be planned and more time allowed. We are still learning and look forward to many years of electric motoring.

Thank you Sherwoods.

A hybrid vehicle uses more than one way of propulsion. For example, it will have an electric motor and petrol engine. This means you don’t have to worry about plugging the vehicle in as it charges Itself when driving.

An Electric vehicle is power 100% by an electric motor. You must charge your vehicle by plugging it in at a charging point. You can also get chargers that work on your home electrics.

A plug-in Hybrid is a mix between a hybrid and fully electric vehicle. It will have an electric motor and a petrol/diesel Engine. You can still charge these by plugging them in at a charger. These vehicles offer an electric vehicle but with the backup of a conventional engine for longer journeys.

A reputable AA dealer will have AA approved branding such as flags around the site as well as AA information on their website, indicating it.

There are many benefits to buying an electric car. Some of these are: The cost of electricity is normally cheaper than petrol or diesel, they are cheaper to maintain, they are better for the environment and in some cases, they have free road tax.

Each brand and model have different ranges when it comes to electric vehicles. On average, the range is about 200 miles per charge. This depends on the way you drive the vehicle though.

Yes, the AA do carry our pre purchase inspections.

This depends on the type of vehicle you have. If you have a Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid you can simply switch to Engine mode and you can drive to the nearest charge point using the backup engine. If you have an 100% electric vehicle you will have to get the vehicle towed to the nearest charging point.

This is different for every model and make. For the most accurate information please contact us.

This depends on your type of driving. If you do not do many miles and you are driving around town an electric car might be the best for you. If you drive on motorways and do heavy millage a Hybrid/Plug-In Hybrid might be best for you. It all comes down to your driving style and what you want in a car.

Yes, with the advance in technology electric vehicles can now charge themselves when driving, this is called regenerated breaking. When you are coming to a stop the motor will charge the battery of your vehicle this helps with maintaining a good charge and supports preserving your brake pads.

An electric vehicle is cheaper to main because of the fewer moving parts. Compared to a petrol vehicle an electric vehicle does not have as many moving parts and filters that need changing. This means a cheaper maintenance cost.