EV Driving Guide

Starting and Driving an Electric Car

If you're used to driving a petrol or diesel car, here's what to expect when you make the switch.

• Powering up: Most EVs turn on with a press of a ‘Start’ or ‘Power’ button. Some, like Teslas or VW ID models, power up automatically when you sit down.
• Gear selection: Forget traditional gear sticks—many EVs use simple selector switches or rotary dials to shift between Drive and Reverse.
• No clutch, no gears: EVs are single-speed. There’s no clutch to press and no gear changes to worry about. That means no stalling and no jerky starts—just smooth, silent acceleration.

What’s It Like to Drive?

Electric cars are incredibly responsive thanks to instant torque from the motor. That means they accelerate quickly (sometimes very quickly), even with a light press of the pedal.

They’re also quiet. At low speeds, you’ll barely hear anything—just a soft whirr. It’s peaceful inside the cabin and makes for a much more relaxed drive.

But a quick heads-up: you might find yourself picking up speed faster than expected. Be gentle on the accelerator until you get used to it.

Regenerative Braking – What Is It?

Most electric cars feature regenerative braking, a system that slows the car and recaptures energy to charge the battery. When you ease off the accelerator, the car starts to slow on its own—no brake pedal required.

Some EVs offer ‘one-pedal’ driving, where lifting off the accelerator slows the car all the way to a stop. It takes some getting used to, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll find it makes stop-start driving effortless.

You can often adjust the strength of the regen braking using:

• Paddles behind the steering wheel
• Buttons near the gear selector
• Or options in the touchscreen menu

How to Maximise Driving Range

Range anxiety is a common concern, but with a few simple habits, you can stretch your EV’s range further:

• Drive smoothly – Avoid harsh acceleration or braking
• Lift off early – Use regenerative braking to slow down
• Pre-condition your car – Warm the cabin and battery while plugged in before you leave
• Reduce energy usage – Use heated seats or steering wheels instead of cabin heating
• Use eco-driving modes – Most EVs offer efficiency-boosting settings

Many EVs come with an app that lets you monitor range, find chargers nearby, and even start pre-conditioning before you set off.

Do EVs Make a Sound?

Yes—by law, new electric cars must emit an artificial noise at low speeds to alert pedestrians. Expect a futuristic hum or whir from speakers outside the vehicle.

But they’re still very quiet overall, especially in town. So take extra care when reversing or driving through pedestrian areas—people might not hear you coming.

Can I Take My Driving Test in an EV?

You can—but with a catch.

• You can take your test in an electric car
• You’ll receive an automatic-only licence, meaning you can’t drive a manual petrol or diesel vehicle unless you take another test later

For most new drivers, that’s no issue—more and more cars are automatic-only these days.

What Else Should I Know?

Before setting off on longer journeys in an EV, route planning is key—especially if you’ll need to charge along the way.

Other things to bear in mind:

• EVs are heavier due to battery weight, which can slightly affect handling in corners.
• Some EVs have rear-mounted motors, leaving extra storage space under the bonnet (known as a frunk).
• Batteries are under the floor, which lowers the centre of gravity and improves ride stability.
• Charging cables are usually stored under the boot floor or in a dedicated bag.

Once you adjust to the differences, driving an electric car becomes second nature—and petrol or diesel cars can feel noisy and unnecessarily complicated by comparison.