Let’s start with the obvious: Visually identifying electric cars. It’s not hard to tell an electric car from its petrol-powered brethren. The instantly recognizable logo that adorns the back of such vehicles, often in the form of a lightning-bolt, is a dead giveaway that the car is electric. But if that’s not enough for you, there are several other ways to tell if a car is electric.

For instance, electric cars are usually quite loud due to the electric motor. No combustion engine hum here! Electric cars tend to sound a bit like a computer or air conditioner. Plus, if the car you’re looking at has no exhaust pipe, that’s another dead giveaway that it’s electric!

The interiors of electric cars are also quite different. Electric cars often have a luxurious, futuristic feel to them, with displays and buttons galore. In many cases, they’ll even have an infotainment system, like Android Auto or CarPlay, so you can stay connected to your favorite apps while you drive.

Another way to tell if a car is electric is to check the vehicle’s specification. Electric cars can often be classed as “zero-emission” vehicles, as their power source does not produce any harmful gases. However, some electric cars do have some emissions, just not as much as a typical petrol vehicle.

Also, look for vehicles that are designated as “plug-in hybrids”. Plug-in hybrids are cars that use a combination of an electric motor and a petrol engine, and so can travel further distances without needing to be plugged in. They can also produce the same emissions as an average family car and come with tax incentives and the potential for some governments to offer rebates or grants.

Another great way to tell if a car is electric is to investigate the area’s charging infrastructure. Electric cars need to be plugged in to charge their batteries. If you have access to charging points or have a charging station in your neighborhood, it’s likely that electric cars are also available in your area.

So now that you know a few ways of visually identifying electric cars, checking the car’s specification and understanding charging infrastructure, it’s time to summarise what we’ve learned.

First, look for the signature electric car logos on the back of the vehicle. Some electric cars can also sound loud due to their electric motor, so listen out for that too. Also check for an absence of exhaust pipes. Electric cars are also likely to have a futuristic, luxurious design and feel in the inside, along with possibly having infotainment systems such as Android Auto or CarPlay.

In terms of checking the vehicle’s specification and understanding charging infrastructure, look for “zero-emission” vehicles that can also come as plug-in hybrids. In the case of plug-in hybrids, they can produce the same emissions as a typical family car and may also come with tax incentives and the potential for some governments to offer rebates or grants.

Finally, remember to check the charging infrastructure of your local area, as electric cars need to be plugged in to charge their batteries.

We hope this article has provided some guidance on how to tell if a car is electric. It’s not always straightforward, as electric cars have been designed to look similar to typical cars and so can be difficult to distinguish. But as long as you follow the steps in this article and do a bit of research, you should be able to tell the difference between an electric car and gas-powered cars!