Car Insurance For Electric Vehicles Explained

20 November 2018

You’ve taken the leap into electric vehicles, leaving behind petrol fumes and high bills at the forecourt lured by the prospect of low running costs, no vehicle tax, and low emissions. Or maybe you’re just considering ditching fuel tanks for plugs and are doing the maths, calculating whether the savings you can rack up with an EV, from the government’s rebate to lower servicing charges, can offset the higher initial outlay.

While electric vehicles are exempt from vehicle tax and from charges in London’s congestion zone, and you can rack up discounts on parking permits from many councils, you can’t avoid some of the standard costs of owning a vehicle. A major, unavoidable expense is for car insurance, which is a legal requirement for any vehicle using or even parked on public roads in the UK. If you’ve never sought out or arranged insurance for an electric vehicle, you might be baffled about where to start.

Cost and Providers:

You may heard electric vehicles are significantly more expensive to insure and that you’ll need to see out a specialist provider. It’s true that the market for electric vehicles, and therefore for insurance for electric vehicles, is still in its infancy. As of the end of September 2018, there are just 178,000 plug-in vehicles (including fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids) registered in the UK, out of a total of 37.3m vehicles on our roads. But the number is rising quickly: there were 5,000 new registrations of plug-in vehicles each month of 2018, while in 2014 just 400 new plug-in vehicles were being driven off lots.

With the increasing uptake of EVs and hybrids, especially in the run up to the 2040 ban on petrol and diesel vehicles, the cost and complication of insuring them will fall. Electric vehicle insurance policies will become standard fare from mainstream insurers.

Today, the higher purchase price of EVs drives up insurance premiums for them, as insurers need to consider to cost of replacing your vehicle if it’s stolen or damaged beyond repair.

But even now you might find insuring an electric vehicle might be comparable to, or even cheaper, than insuring a petrol- or diesel-powered car, owing to the small size and less powerful engines on EVs and the discounts some insurers can give you for driving environmentally-friendly cars.

However, the process of obtaining insurance quotes and policies for an electric vehicle is different than that for EVs and a rundown will be helpful as you start your electrically-powered journey.

What Impacts Cost of Insurance for Electric Vehicles:

You’re probably familiar with the features of a standard vehicle that can inflate, or reduce, your monthly premiums for its insurance, including its car insurance group, the size of its engine, and purchase price. For insuring electric vehicles, there’s a new calculus, accounting for who owns the battery and the risk posed by (not kidding) power cables.

leased batteries:

Some EV manufacturers like Renault and Clio offer motorists the option of buying the vehicle outright but leasing its battery, with a monthly fee and mileage agreement. These arrangements spare you the steep cost of replacing batteries when they lose functionality after a few years. But if you’re leasing the battery, you’ll need to inform your insurer when obtaining quotes, as a leased battery will affect who needs to be paid if your electric vehicle is written off. Additionally, some policies may not cover leased batteries.

power cables and liability:

Much like your smartphone, your electric vehicle will need to be charged, just with a very big cord. If you’re charging in your driveway or garage, you won’t have to worry about the cord trailing large distances. But if you’re charging your vehicle while it’s parked on the street or at a public charging station, that cord could pose a tripping hazard. When obtaining an insurance policy for your electric vehicle, you should ensure it provides enough liability cover to protect you if a member of the public face-plants over your cable.

fires from at-home charging:

If your electric vehicle or cable fire while plugged in in your driveway or garage you might wonder which insurance policy will pay out: your home insurance policy or the one for your car. That ultimately depends on where the fire originates, but the risk of an electric fault within your vehicle causing a fire that then destroys you home can push up premiums for car insurance for EVs.

green discounts:

Some insurers will offer discounts of up to 5% on your annual premiums as a reward for you driving an environmentally-friendly car. Others will make charitable donations to green causes in your name from your premiums or plant a certain number of trees.

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How Crane Trucks Can Drastically Improve Project Efficiency

It’s likely you never understood the full benefit of a crane truck until the first time you made use of one. It’s astounding to realize how much of the work that comes out of the construction industry relies on these devices. Having a crane truck on a construction site is said to improve productivity by almost double. That is why hiring a crane truck from a crane services company is beneficial as they will provide the highest level of service to the clients and community at an exceptional value. This means you could see your project in completion almost twice as fast just by bringing one of these gentle giants onto the scene. Let’s help you understand the niche so you know what to pick for your next project. What Are Crane Trucks? Full-sized cranes take up a lot of space and have to be fixed to a specific point in the ground for the duration of a project. They are simply too large and heavy to be moved around at any point in the project’s duration. For this reason, contractors bring in what are known as crane trucks. Crane tracks are essentially the portable version of the full-sized fixed cranes. Instead of being bolted to the ground, the crane operates from a truck that forms the entirety of the base. Crane trucks are handy because not only can they accommodate great weights, they can also be moved around a site as needed. They have the ability to be used for a multitude of jobs around the space. There are different-sized crane trucks available to suit the nature of the task at hand. Some tasks will require heavier lifting than others; In these cases, more heavy-duty crane trucks will be brought in. What Are Tilt Trays? Tilt trays can usually be hired from the same companies that supply crane trucks. In a similar way, tilt trays also do the heavy lifting—but from ground level, as opposed to from above. Tilt trays are massive flat surfaces that are attached to trucks. The surface has the ability to tilt and slide outward & toward the ground simultaneously. The result is a slanted surface on which objects can be easy on and offloaded. You might recognize tilt trays as the vehicles used to transport boats, cars, and other forklift-type devices. Who Might Need One? Most construction-based sites can make use of a crane truck or tilt tray in one way or another. They come in handy a lot more often than you might think. Heavy lifting isn’t something that can often be accomplished by manpower alone. Sometimes we need to turn to machinery to get the job done and get it done quickly! Keeping this in mind, there are always going to be some construction jobs that require more of a full force unit, and a full-sized, permanent crane system may be needed. The good news: Crane trucks and tilt trays are the perfect balance between gantry cranes & full-sized units. When hiring any of these units, always keep industry regulations for tilt trays and crane trucks in mind. Ensure you’re purchasing safe, standardized machinery. This will keep both you and anyone else in the vicinity safe & ensure safe completion of the project at hand. Benefits of Crane Trucks & Tilt Trays There are many benefits to making use of these pieces of machinery that far outweigh the already increased productivity of your team. Effortless: Crane trucks and tilt trays require little to no effort to enter & exit a space. Full-sized cranes need to be brought in, built up, and bolted down before they can be used. They then need to be fully dismantled before they can be taken away. These trucks simply get driven in, put to use, and driven out. No harm, no fuss! Affordability: When it comes to saving money, crane trucks are one-way tickets to a happy bank account. This is due to the elimination of the “not in use” fee that usually comes with crane hire. When cranes are permanently put onto a site, there’s a daily charge even for times when the unit isn’t needed. Crane trucks eliminate the fee because they can be driven back to their owners on days when they’ll not be needed. You’ll only be paying for what you use! Less Responsibility: Another great thing about both crane trucks and tilt trays is that your business doesn’t absorb as much responsibility for the units as you would more permanent installations. When the construction day comes to an end, the trucks can be parked somewhere enclosed or sent back to the hiring company. No additional security needs to be implemented to watch over the units by night to make sure they are safe. Versatility: Any device built onto a truck is automatically more efficient and versatile than something that is fixed to the ground. Being able to maneuver a crane around the premises as needed is hugely beneficial. You could start the workday with the crane performing tasks on one end of the site and end the day with it somewhere else getting completely new tasks done. The versatility of both crane trucks and tilt trays is hugely notable & a big reason why most companies opt for these before they agree to any fixed forms of lifting. Conclusion: As you can see, the reasons why a crane truck can’t make your business more efficient would probably have been a shorter list to dive into. When it comes to construction, efficiency and productivity are what will set your business apart from the rest. Your machinery needs to work with you in order to do this! Read Also: How To Ship A Car Made Easy: 5 Tips To Keep In Mind 8 Factors To Consider When Purchasing A Bed Liner For Your Truck 10 Reasons To Purchase A Used Car

Car Care for Newbies

Car shows are pretty popular. We love to watch people ‘pimping their rides’ and getting car make-overs. Meanwhile, our own vehicles are lucky if they get a weekly car wash. For many drivers, fuel is the only maintenance their car receives. And even this becomes a problem because they ignore their fuel indicator light until the last possible minute. For the record, you should never dismiss your car’s lights or sounds. They were put there for a reason, and if you’re unclear, you could always Google it. Check your car’s user manual, and if it’s too dry and boring to hold your interest, spend some time on WikiHow and YouTube. You can find some pretty detailed, user-friendly tips for your car model. But what exactly does car maintenance involve? Wash your car two or three times a week, or opt for a deep detail. These are offered by mobile car wash services that will drive right to your door and clean your car without it ever leaving your driveway. These detailers may suggest additional car care options, like defogging lights, deodorising car smells and protecting your paint job. Do a manual check Apart from cleaning the car, you should do a cursory inspection each time you step out of the car. It’s that thing guys do when they squat beside the car, kick the tyres and raise the bonnet, except it’s never quite clear what they’re looking for. Here are some suggestions. Stroll around the car and peek underneath, checking for any water puddles or oil spills. Rev the engine and listen to it. If you’ve been driving the car long enough, you can tell when the engine sounds ‘off’, even if you can’t detect the exact problem. If possible, you can use your phone to record the unsettling sound, then you can text it to your mechanic and see what they think. It may be something simple like loose ball joints, or it could be a worn-out clutch plate! On that note, get your car regularly serviced. It’ll only spend a few hours at the garage, and some mechanics will even give you a substitute vehicle to use in the meantime. Back to your car check, kicking the tyres has two goals. One, you’re assessing tyre pressure, in case you need an air refill. Two, you’re inspecting your tyre treads – it may be time for a new set of wheels. Top up your car fluids Your car does not live on fuel alone. You have lots of other car fluid, such as brake fluid, engine oil, lubricant, radiator water, and steering fluid for automatic cars. These need to be refilled at regular intervals, and your car owner’s manual (or YouTube) can guide you on what to check, where it’s located on the car, and how often you need to top up. This keeps your car running. Think of your car like your body. Some days, you wake up off-kilter. You’re not always sure what’s wrong, but you don’t feel like yourself. Put the same amount of focus on your car. As you drive, pay attention to smooth shifting, strange shudders, squeaks, rumbles, or vibrations. Learn what’s normal and what’s not, so that you know when it’s time to call the garage. Read Also: 7 Important Car Driving Safety Tips You Should Not Skip! Washing Your Car: 7 Dos And Don’ts What Do You Need To Change Car Rims?

A Set Of The Best Exercises For Truck Drivers

In order to stay fit, HMD Trucking strongly recommends all truck drivers exercise. You don't need to do anything extraordinary, it's the same classic set: running, planking, push-ups and squats, and rock climbing. Each of these exercises can be done without additional weight and they will help to stay toned for a long time on the road. If you are interested in this topic, you can read more here: https://www.hmdtrucking.com/blog/truck-driver-exercises-workout/. And remember that a regular exercise regimen will make a tangible difference in your quality of life, no matter how many years you've been driving a truck. 1. Running Running has been and still is one of the most effective ways to exercise all sections of the muscles, and it is also quite successful at burning calories. Running is available at any time and no matter where you are. You only need a pair of running shoes to get a good workout. Running strengthens the cardiovascular system and reduces the chance of stroke and other heart diseases. Professionals argue a lot about different styles of running, but the most important thing is to learn how to distribute the load so you don't hurt yourself. Running too often and for too long can lead to foot pain, joint pain, and more serious injuries. As with other healthy activities, you should start running slowly and based on your current fitness. 2. Planks The plank is a great exercise for beginning truck drivers. It helps develop stability and core strength, and at the same time builds up the lower back and abs. This will help reduce fatigue on long trips. Planks are performed in approaches of one minute or more. Try timing to see how long you can stand. To do the plank, lie face down on the floor, lift your body up and lean on your forearms and toes. Try to hold this position for as long as you can. Very soon you will feel the tension in your abs and want to lower your lower back to the ground. When doing this exercise, make sure your back stays stiff, or you will eventually get injured. 3. Push-ups Like most other exercises, push-ups also strengthen the core. But they also help strengthen your arms, back, and chest. Push-ups can successfully replace the bench press at the gym because they load the same muscle group. In order to do the push-ups correctly, place your hands on the floor at shoulder width. If you want to give your triceps an extra load you can pull your elbows up against your body. Try to keep your body straight and parallel to the ground. Then slowly bend your elbows and lower yourself to the ground. Do push-ups until your forearms are fully extended. The slower you perform this exercise, the more effective it will be. Repeat the push-ups as a series of 10 times. 4. Squats Squats can also be performed anywhere and at any time. After hours of driving, truck drivers can feel swelling in their legs. The sedentary posture restricts blood flow and your legs need movement to keep them from getting stiff. Regular squats strengthen the quadriceps and hamstrings and work on core strength and balance. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and put the weight of your body on your heels. Bend your knees, sitting smoothly backward, until your hips are parallel to the ground. Then straighten up without taking your feet off the ground. Repeat the exercise until you feel a burning sensation in your leg muscles. Improving The Best Exercises For Truck Drivers No matter who you are or what your body type is, a simple regular workout can seriously improve your health. Truckers are highly susceptible to gaining excess weight and related illnesses because of the stress their bodies are under. But in today's digital world, there are ways to remind you to exercise even when you're on the road. There are many devices like heart rate monitors and fitness trackers that can help you determine when and how you should get your body moving. And your cell phone is full of endless apps to help you exercise and keep fit even during long flights. Perfecting the exercises that are best for truck drivers can take a lot of time and effort, and it's no easy task. The exercises mentioned above are specifically for truck drivers because they are low impact, simple, and require no additional equipment or gear. If you want to increase the effectiveness of the exercises, feel free to take free weights with you on the road or just use whatever is in your cab. Get creative and try new things. Read Also: Get Cheap Car Insurance For Young Drivers2022 Car Models Drivers Crave – What’s on Your Radar?10 Tips to Prevent Truck Accidents: The Complete Guide for Truck Drivers

Car Insurance For Electric Vehicles Explained

Cost and Providers: