What is a ULEV?

A ULEV (Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle) is a vehicle that emits 75g or less of CO₂ per kilometre. There are two main types:

• Electric vehicles (EVs) – these are solely electric and run off an electric motor using electrical energy stored in their batteries (or another energy storage device). With a standard range of up to 100 miles, these cars are most suitable for short journeys, such as commuting to work and doing the school run.
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) – these vehicles run off both a traditional engine and an electric motor. They can be driven on both the engine and motor at the same time or individually – a great design that suits most lifestyle needs. On average you can drive around 30 miles on electric before moving onto the engine. The driver has the option to choose whether to drive electric, use the fuel engine or a combination of both.

There are also others which are referred to as ‘mild hybrid’ which means the battery charges as the car is driven and can reduce fuel consumption. These cars usually have lower emissions but are not always classed as ULEVs because their emissions are over 75g CO₂/Km