In September of this year, the number of electric cars sold in the UK in a single month were close to the sales figures for the whole of 2019. And their prevalence is only set to increase, as the public become more tuned into environmental concerns and the government introduces legislation designed to phase out the production and sale of new diesel and petrol powered vehicles by 2030.
If you know someone who has recently joined this ever increasing number of e-Drivers, here are 4 gift ideas for electric car owners this Christmas.
ECHO AUTO
If you want your loved one to always have company on a road trip, then consider buying them Echo Auto this Christmas. The device works by connecting to the Alexa app on your phone, and plays through the car’s speakers via an auxiliary input jack or via your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection.
Your loved one will be able to keep their hands on the wheel and use their voice to play music, check the weather, anticipate what traffic lies ahead and find out where the nearest charging station is. You can even get Alexa to tell you entertaining jokes for those more boring stretches of road, which, let’s face it, can be even more boring when driving an electric car.
This gift is particularly timely as from 2022, drivers scrolling through their phones, checking social media, playing games or changing playlists (a current loophole in the law) could face a £200 fine and six points on their licence.
Read: 5 IDEAL road safety tips for Christmas.
A PRIVATE NUMBER PLATE
A unique registration plate will help personalise your loved one’s electric vehicle and complement its appearance, which is useful as, currently, e-Cars do tend to lack a bit of personality, aesthetically.
You’ll be happy to learn that you don’t need to spend a fortune on personalised plates, as private number plates are more affordable than you might think – currently, they start at around £150 with the average price sitting at around £600. They’re also simple to order online.
Consider how you want the plate to read, and bear in mind your partner’s personality to choose a registration that will reflect their name, passions, or professional image.
Read: 5 IDEAL reasons to get a personalised number plate
A TRAVEL ESPRESSO MACHINE
All those coffees that your loved one may be buying while charging their electric car on a long distant drive could well be adding up.
Fortunately, there are quite a few portable and lightweight handheld espresso machines out there on the market. Choose from versions with a rechargeable lithium battery or ones that plug into your car’s cigarette lighter port, and your loved one can be enjoying freshly brewed coffee on the road in no time. Most importantly, don’t forget to gift some portable coffee cups, too!
AN ELECTRIC CAR COOLER OR REFRIGERATOR
A portable fridge or an electric powered cooler box that links up to your car’s voltage is the ultimate form of convenience during summer convenience stops.
Top brands to consider when it comes to the best car fridges include Cooluli’s mini fridge, which has a twenty-four hour power reserve in eco-mode, and Vonshef’s electric coolbox, which comes with a 12V DC Car Adapter. Oh, and let’s not forget about the king of coolers, Igloo; a rock solid, dependable choice in its field.
DASH CAM
Sorry to bring up such a depressing fact in a Christmas gift article, but research back in 2018 suggests electric cars are about 40% more likely to hit a pedestrian than a conventional vehicle.
This is largely due to the fact that their engines are so quiet. Indeed, as electric vehicle sales grow, discussions are now turning to noise and safety. Since that 2018 research, a law has been passed which says all vehicles must be fitted with AVAS technology so they make noise.
However, as RNIB’s Courtney-Bodgener told CNBC, “We’re not convinced that if … a vehicle is travelling at, say 13 miles per hour, it would generate, on its own, enough noise for it to be reliably detectable by sound.”
On the other hand, as reported by the Times “research suggests that drivers of electric cars are far less likely to be involved in an accident than those at the wheel of petrol or diesel ones”.
They go on to explain that “Experts believe that this may be because “range anxiety”, the fear that the car will run out of power, makes them drive more cautiously”. Interesting stuff, indeed…
Regardless of those ongoing discussions concerning electric cars, it’s only natural to worry about loved ones on the road, particularly when their personality is somewhat defined by their love of putting the pedal to the metal.
To make sure they’re safe and out of trouble, consider investing in a dashcam. This device has grown significantly in popularity over the past few years as it enables drivers to have a record of what occurs while they’re driving, meaning any accidents can be settled quickly by having evidence on hand.
Not only do dash cams help in the event of an insurance claim, but in some cases, insurance companies will actually lower the cost of your insurance should you have one installed – it’s the gift that keeps on giving, you might say.