How Do You Drive an Electric Car? UK Beginner Guide
EV Charger Guidance • Page 30

How Do You Drive
an Electric Car?

Mostly like an automatic but with one-pedal driving. UK EVs have only two pedals (accelerator and brake) and selectors for Drive, Reverse, Neutral and Park. The big difference is regenerative braking which lets you slow significantly without touching the brake pedal. Here is the UK driver's guide to your first EV experience.

Authored by: NAPIT Approved Engineers
Reviewed: April 2026
Coverage: Bedford, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Luton
Quick answer

Like an automatic with one-pedal driving capability. UK EVs have two pedals (accelerator and brake) and a Drive/Reverse/Park selector. Press the brake, select Drive and press the accelerator to go. Lift off the accelerator and regenerative braking slows the car significantly. Most modern EVs allow 'one-pedal' driving where you only need the brake for emergency stops. The driving experience is smooth, quiet and immediately intuitive for any UK driver familiar with an automatic petrol car.

2pedals

EV Pedal Count

All UK EVs have just two pedals (accelerator and brake). No clutch pedal even on performance models.

1-pedalmode

Most Common Setting

Most UK EV drivers use one-pedal driving where regenerative braking does most of the slowing. Brake pedal only for emergencies.

10min learning

Typical Adjustment

Experienced petrol drivers usually adapt to EV driving within 10 minutes. The learning curve is much shorter than going from manual to automatic.

0stalls

Stalling Risk

EVs cannot stall because there is no engine to cut out. Hill starts and stop-start traffic are easier than in any petrol car.

In this guide

What this page covers

01How to start and move 02Regenerative braking explained 03Drive modes and settings 04Charging on the go

What driving an electric car actually feels like

The first time you sit in a UK EV the dashboard layout is mostly familiar. There is a steering wheel, two pedals, a selector for D/R/N/P (often a stalk on the steering column or a rotary dial), an electronic parking brake button and the usual lights and infotainment.

Starting and moving

Most modern EVs detect your key fob automatically and the dashboard wakes up when you sit down. Press the brake pedal and either press a 'start' button or some EVs simply select Drive when you select D on the gear selector. There is no engine starting up, no idle vibration, no engine note. The car is ready when the dash shows it.

Press the accelerator and the car moves smoothly off. The acceleration is linear and surprisingly responsive even in basic EVs. There is no kickdown delay, no gearbox hunting and no engine revving up before peak torque arrives. The car just goes.

Regenerative braking and one-pedal driving

The biggest difference from a petrol car is what happens when you lift off the accelerator. In a petrol auto the car coasts. In an EV with regen on, the car decelerates noticeably as the motor acts as a generator, slowing the wheels and recovering energy back into the battery. Modern EVs offer adjustable regen strength.

On strongest regen settings (Tesla 'Hold' mode, Nissan Leaf 'e-Pedal', Hyundai 'i-Pedal') the car slows all the way to a complete stop without touching the brake pedal. This is one-pedal driving and most UK EV owners come to prefer it. In stop-start traffic you barely use the brake pedal at all.

Drive modes

Most UK EVs offer drive modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport) that change throttle response, regen strength and sometimes climate control aggressiveness. Eco mode maximises range by softening throttle response and turning down climate. Sport mode sharpens throttle response and disables some range-extending features. Most drivers leave the car in Comfort or Eco for daily use.

Charging while out and about

UK public charging follows a few common patterns. Slow chargers (3 to 7 kW) at car parks and supermarkets need 5 to 8 hours for a full charge. Fast chargers (22 kW) at workplaces need 1 to 3 hours. Rapid chargers (50 to 150 kW) at motorway services need 30 to 45 minutes for 10 to 80 percent. Ultra-rapid chargers (150 to 350 kW) need 15 to 25 minutes for the same charge. Plan rapid stops to align with breaks rather than as separate journeys.

Authoritative context

UK driving licence categories administered by the DVSA classify EVs as automatic vehicles. Drivers with manual category B licences can drive any EV. Drivers with automatic-only licences (code 78) can also drive any EV. The DVSA Highway Code includes EV-specific guidance on charging etiquette and one-pedal driving safety. Manufacturer driver training videos are widely available on YouTube and through dealer onboarding programmes. UK driving instructors are increasingly offering EV-specific tuition for new drivers and converting petrol drivers.

Common UK EV charging speeds and times

Slow charging (3 to 7 kW)
Home wallbox or public slow points at car parks. Suitable for overnight or full day stops.
5-8 hrs
Rapid charging (50 to 150 kW)
Motorway services and dedicated charging hubs. Suitable for on-route stops during long journeys.
30-45 min
Ultra-rapid charging (150 to 350 kW)
Newest IONITY, Gridserve, Tesla Supercharger and similar hubs. Fastest available charging in UK.
15-25 min

Typical first UK EV drive sequence

1

Sit down and wake the car

Most EVs detect your key fob automatically. Dashboard powers up. Press brake pedal to enable Drive selection.

2

Select Drive

Move the gear selector (rotary dial, stalk or button depending on model) to D. The car is ready to move.

3

Release brake and accelerate

Press the accelerator. The car moves smoothly. No engine starting up. No vibration. Acceleration is linear and responsive.

4

Practice one-pedal driving

Lift off the accelerator and feel the regenerative braking. Find the regen strength setting that suits your driving style.

What new UK EV drivers should know

Two pedals only

No clutch pedal even on performance EVs. Right foot accelerator, right foot brake. The same as any UK automatic.

One-pedal driving is brilliant

Most UK EV owners use strong regen and barely touch the brake pedal. Less wear on brakes and smoother stop-start traffic.

Plan charging stops on long trips

Use ABRP, Octopus Electroverse or the Tesla planner to schedule rapid charging stops. Plan around natural breaks for coffee and food.

EV cannot stall

Hill starts are trivially easy. Stop-start traffic causes no fatigue. Bay parking is far simpler than in a manual petrol.

Driving a manual petrol

  • Three pedals (clutch, brake, accelerator)
  • Manual gear shifts
  • Engine can stall on hills
  • Engine note and vibration
  • Lift-off coasts unless engine braking
  • Refuel: 5 minutes anywhere

Driving an EV

  • Two pedals (brake, accelerator)
  • No gear shifts
  • Cannot stall
  • Quiet and smooth
  • Lift-off triggers regen braking
  • Recharge: 15 mins to 8 hrs depending on charger

The driving experience is one of the things UK drivers love about EVs. The wider EV Charger Guidance hub covers home charger install, running cost, battery questions and the dozens of practical questions UK drivers ask before switching from petrol.

If the transmission question is on your mind, our guide on are all electric cars automatic covers it. The mechanical detail is in how does an electric car work. For manual EV options see can you get manual electric cars.

Transmission

Are all electric cars automatic

 Mechanics

How does an electric car work

 Manual EVs

Can you get manual electric cars
Frequently asked

Common questions

Is driving an EV harder than a petrol car?
No, easier in most cases. There is no clutch to balance, no gears to select, no engine to stall. Acceleration is smoother and more predictable than petrol. Hill starts are trivially easy. Stop-start traffic is less tiring. Most UK petrol drivers find the transition to EV takes around 10 minutes to feel natural. Drivers experienced with automatic petrol cars adapt almost instantly.
Do I need a different licence to drive an EV?
No. UK drivers with full category B licences can drive any EV. Drivers with automatic-only licences (code 78) can also drive any EV because EVs are classified as automatics. Drivers learning to drive in an EV automatically get the automatic-only licence type unless they take their test in a manual vehicle. Either licence type covers EV driving.
Can I switch off regen if I do not like it?
Most modern EVs let you reduce regen to a low or even creep-only setting. Some allow it to be effectively turned off in 'sail' mode. New EV drivers sometimes turn regen down initially while learning then increase it as they get comfortable. The strongest one-pedal settings take a few hours of driving to feel natural and most drivers come to prefer them.
What if I run out of charge on the road?
First, the dashboard warning gives plenty of notice (typically below 30 miles range remaining triggers warnings). Second, you can usually drive at reduced power for the last few miles. Third, UK roadside recovery (AA, RAC, Green Flag) all support EV recovery and most carry portable chargers that can give enough range to reach a proper charging point. Plan charging stops in advance to avoid the situation entirely.
Are EVs harder to drive in the rain?
No, generally easier. The lower centre of gravity (battery in the floor) gives better grip in wet conditions than petrol SUVs with engines high and forward. Traction control is sophisticated and works well with the instant-torque motor. Regenerative braking is particularly effective in wet conditions because it works through the wheels naturally without involving the brake pads. UK EV drivers consistently report better wet-weather handling than equivalent petrol cars.

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