Plug-in hybrid vehicles combine standard petrol or diesel engines with an electric powered motor. The electric battery that powers the motor needs to be charged at an external power supply.

Charging an electric car is very easy. It can be done at home via a standard electrical outlet, via a specially installed charge point, or at a public charging station. The availability of public charge stations is increasing all the time with points available at most supermarkets and shopping centres. 

​Running costs for electric cars vary depending on the make and model, but it is estimated to be around 4p per mile.

The process of regenerative braking harnesses naturally occurring power produced during braking and uses it to recharge the battery.

​The lifespan of a modern hybrid battery is at least 100,000 miles, but they often last for much longer. 

Alternative fuels are non-fossil fuels, such as electricity. 

The maintenance of a hybrid vehicle should cost no more than that of a standard combustion engine vehicle. 

​For most car owners, their car spends most of its time at their home so, of course, it is possible to charge your electric car at home. Speak to the team at Ocean about initiatives to support the installation of a specially designed home charge point. 

​Ocean is incredibly proud to offer our customers some of the best hybrid cars on the market. These include the characteristic MINI Countryman and the best hybrid sports car on the market, the BMW i8. Browse our cars online or visit one of our dealerships. 

​Your hybrid car can be charged quickly and easily by connecting to a compatible home charge point or public charging station.

The availability of high quality used hybrids expands daily. They range from popular hatchbacks like the Toyota Prius to our exciting sports hybrid, the BMW i8.

​Hybrids save energy by using electric power on short journeys. This means they use fewer fossil fuels than standard combustion engines and produce fewer emissions.

​An electric car uses energy stored in rechargeable batteries to power electric motors to run the car. 

​Hybrid cars can be incredibly efficient, but you can extend that further by taking good care of your car. Checking the tyres regularly and removing any additional weight from the car will improve its efficiency. 

​An electric vehicle (EV) uses a large traction battery to power an electric motor. This battery must be plugged into an external power source to maintain its charge. 

​Electric cars can be very efficient. Depending on your electricity tariff, charging them can cost as little as £2 per 100 miles.

Electric vehicles can be much cheaper to run than petrol equivalents but, as with any vehicle, this is affected by how well you care for your car. Better maintained cars achieve better performance which will therefore be more efficient. 

Fully electric cars do not use fossil fuels and produce no CO2 emissions, so they are much better for the environment than standard cars. 

Here at Ocean, our customers’ requirements are always at the forefront of our minds. So, we are thrilled to be able to offer a great selection of electric vehicles including the fully electric MINI 3-door Hatch, the plug-in hybrid MINI Countryman, the fully electric BMW i3, and the incredible BMW i8. We guarantee that you will be impressed, so why not book a test drive with us today? 

The electric revolution is taking over UK roads and it’s easy to understand why. These cars are incredibly efficient, are packed full of innovative technology, have low running costs, low emissions, and are a joy to drive. 

Electric cars tend to have automatic transmissions because they don’t require a clutch as a petrol or diesel vehicle does. Going forward, all new electric vehicles will be manufactured as automatics. 

​The driving range of an electric car depends upon the make and model. The MINI Countryman plug-in hybrid can drive up to 26 miles using electric power alone, before switching to petrol power. While the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid can achieve up to 34 miles. Fully electric cars like the MINI Hatch are capable of far more – up to 145 miles in fact. And the fully electric BMW i3 can achieve up to 188 miles before requiring a recharge.

Most hybrid cars can travel between 30 and 50 miles using electric power alone. Fully electric cars vary much more depending on the make and model, but some can achieve as much as 300 miles before requiring a recharge. 

Charging of an electric car is very simple but the length of the charge depends on the make and model. Plug-in hybrids often take around three hours at 120V and 1.5 hours at 240V. Fully electric cars can take much longer to charge, but it depends greatly on the outlet. We recommend you refer to the manufacturer’s guidance for accurate charging times.