Simple ways to customise your electric vehicle

If you’ve recently joined the 660,000 other electric vehicles on UK roads as of 2022, it can be an incredibly exhilarating experience. Not only are you likely to feel better knowing that you’re helping to reduce the number of carbon emissions produced by UK vehicles, but it gives you the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, which is vital for your physical and mental well-being. 

Yet, even if you use your car only three times a week, you want to ensure that it is presentable and comfortable so that journeys are as stress-free as possible (although we can’t make any promises about other drivers or hold-ups!). However, if it’s fresh out of the factory, it’s unlikely to have anything about it that speaks to your personality.

Fortunately, hundreds of accessories are available to make your car look less tedious (without bordering on gaudy) and enhance your driving experience. From purchasing private plates to covering your seats with protective (and stylish!) covers, we outline several simple ways to customise your electric vehicle below.  

Personalised Private Plates 

One of the most popular ways of customising an electric vehicle is by purchasing personalised private plates. As the name suggests, personalised plates are the ultimate way to add character to your car since the alphanumeric combinations available can suggest your birthdate, initials, first or last name, or a job, hobby or interest. 

Ultimately, you can go as far as your creativity takes, making this option helpful in putting your personal touch on your electric vehicle. Yet, if you’re stuck for creativity, you could consider getting inspiration from some of the themed searches from independent private number plate specialists like Regtransfers. 

Head to their website and use their search bar to find private plate recommendations based on your initials, car, date, etc., or more information. Consider reaching out to a team member and see how they could help customise your electric car professionally today. 

Car Refrigerator 

Another way you can customise your electric vehicle without making it look tacky is by installing a refrigerator, which is perfect if you use your car for work or often go camping with your family. You can make your vehicle the coolest by installing a fridge to keep food and drinks cold while on the road. 

However, even though car refrigerators will amp up the ‘wow’ factor on your electric car, like other car accessories, they can drain your battery quickly. Depending on which one you opt for, most car refrigeration units will be equipped with a cigarette socket adapter designed to run on 12V DC. Yet, due to this, it will use power from your car to power the fridge. 

As a result, you might find that your car battery will drain faster, and it may even degrade the battery if you intend to use the refrigeration unit for an extended time. To avoid this, ensure that you limit the use of your car refrigerator for long journeys or camping trips, as this will prevent battery issues in the future and keep your car running for longer. 

Fragrance

Though it might be one of the most cliché ways to personalise your electric vehicle, adding fragrance is another way to add character to your car (on a budget, too!). Not only does it add personalisation to your vehicle, but it also prevents your vehicle from attracting any funny smells while you’re using it, be it wet dog smell, dampness, and much more. 

Fortunately, there are various options on the market for keeping your car smelling fresh, from staple brands like Magic Tree that you can buy in supermarkets to DIY eco-friendly car air fresheners that you can make from the comfort of your own home. 

Regardless of which option you pick, having an air freshener in your car helps maintain that ‘new car’ image (and smell!) even when you’ve been driving it for years, ultimately creating a much more relaxing driving experience for you and any passengers you might have. Plus, it can help add to the visual aesthetics of your car, but more on that below.

Cover Your Dashboard 

If you’ve had your electric vehicle for a while or if you’d like to modify it, you could consider refreshing the dashboard of your motor with a vinyl wrap or hydrographic print. Using these methods, you can quickly take a tired-looking dashboard and turn it into something that looks like it’s been taken from a newer model. 

Whether you opt for a vinyl wrap or a hydrographic print, you can choose from almost any pattern, design, or theme from animal prints, flames, florals, camouflages and much more. Not only are they an excellent way of boosting the aesthetics of your electric vehicle, but they can also protect your vehicle against scratches, dust, and other debris that can damage the material or paintwork. 

Not to mention, if you don’t like the wrap or print you’ve chosen, it can quickly be replaced with another design since hydrographic printing and vinyl wrapping can be completed in as little as one session. Plus, if you decide to sell the vehicle in the future, it can be removed without fuss, making it easier to shift. 

Steering Wheel, Parking Brake, or Gearstick Cover 

Another way you can improve your electric vehicle’s visuals is by adding accessories like a steering wheel, parking brake, or gearstick cover. Many newer models of electric cars can look dull as they are generally all one colour; you can give your vehicle a splash of colour by adding a steering wheel cover, gearstick cover, or parking brake cover in a contrasting colour. 

If colour isn’t your thing, you could consider giving your car a more contemporary, professional look by adding a steering wheel, parking brake, or gearstick cover with a wooden, leather, or woollen texture. Not only can covers add to the aesthetics of your vehicle, but they can also take the chill away from winter drives. 

However, covers have been subject to much speculation over the years, with many drivers pondering whether they are good or bad for drivers to use. Generally, covers are fine to use as long as they are fitted correctly, purchased from a reputable manufacturer, and have the correct steering wheel size. However, ensure you’re familiar with the dangers to avoid them. 

Seat Covers 

Continuing on from our previous point, another popular customisation for electric vehicles is seat covers. Using these can transform your car’s interior within seconds, and the good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune for them to be high-quality, either. 

You can purchase seat covers from online marketplaces like eBay, Amazon or Trade Me, or if you’re willing to spend a little bit extra on the cause, you could consider getting them made to measure. Whether you’d like seat covers with built-in seat warmers or leather-look ones, the sky is the limit when customising them!