Dolmens Climate Action Network held an Electric Car event at the Burrendale on Thursday 1st May 2025 where devotees and sceptics were introduced to the world of electric vehicles by Mark McCall and Darren Henderson from the Electric Vehicle Association NI (EVANI). EVANI is a not-for-profit community interest company made up of volunteers who represent electric vehicle drivers and those who wish to find out more information.
We know that Electric Vehicles and the transition from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) is not without controversy and with many sceptics and a lot of accusations of misinformation. This event was created to help cut through the noise and get to some real information about how they perform and what they cost.
Participants heard how the world of EV is now taking on its own momentum and last year in Northern Ireland one in four new vehicle sales was EV. Worldwide there are now some 130 battery electric vehicles (EV) to choose from – including offerings from all the major manufacturers. Costs start from £15k for a new vehicle and under £10k for second hand and Autotrader reported the cheapest used electric car was under £2k. Mark explained that: ‘New cars come with an 8 year battery guarantee. But most people buy second hand, and the worry around the battery life is exaggerated. Batteries now last the age of the car, and batteries can be repaired by replacing individual cells’. He went on to say: ‘The used EV market grew 57.4% in 2024 and according to Autotrader, 3-5 year old EVs sold faster than every other segment including petrol or diesel cars.’
Servicing costs are extremely low with very few parts needing changing during the life of the vehicle. ‘But what about charging?’ asked one member of the audience. Mark explained that ‘most people charge at home, and in Northern Ireland 80% of houses have driveways which makes that easier.’ ‘However you do need to install a charger and they cost from £400. Depending on your tariff, it can cost 7-14p per kWh but going to a public charger can cost up to 49p per kWH’. (A typical home charge will cost around £7). The EV charging network across Northern Ireland is exploding after a very slow start, with dozens of new and faster charging stations being added every year, offering a range of pricing, charging speeds and peace of mind to those needing a quick charge to get them home.
The Climate Change Committee has stated that ‘the full transition to EVs will be one of the most important actions to achieve the UK’s Net Zero target’. It was agreed that there are other benefits of the transition to EVs which will radically improve air quality, especially in cities.
‘Do you have to be super organised to own an electric vehicle?’ was another great question from the audience. It was agreed that there first few weeks, like anything it needs a period of getting used to the change. ‘But if you plan a route with an EV car, it tells you where you can stop to top up, so it looks after you to some extent’ explained one of the EV drivers. ‘And 94% of EV drivers would not go back’.
The audience was left with the sense that the EV market is growing because of Government targets on car companies to see quotas of EVs and increasingly by consumer choice. Some of the impressive range of EVs were available for people to go check out including the new Kia, to the cute Zoe and VW Up, and the Nissen Leaf. The audience thanked the speakers and EV owners for a very informative event.