Over the past decade, driving lessons have changed significantly as the needs of the average young driver have changed, and by the end of the decade, an entire generation of new drivers will be learning to drive cars that are very different to the ones driven a decade ago.
In particular, the phasing out of new petrol and diesel cars is set to begin at the end of the decade, meaning that many learner drivers will be primarily learning to drive electric or hybrid cars.
Given that the second energy crisis this decade has led to a significant global shift towards EVs, there is a good chance that many new drivers looking to get their licence from 2030 onwards will be learning and taking their test in an EV.
How will this change learning to drive? What skills will become most vital? And what could potentially be lost in the transition?
Can I Learn To Drive In An Electric Car?
You absolutely can learn to drive and even take your test in an EV; many instructors have offered this for years, and the vast majority of cars can be used to take your test.
As a study cited by EV manufacturer BYD notes, a lot of younger drivers, particularly those considered to be either millennials or Gen Z, are keen to learn to drive electric because they plan to drive an EV in the future.
Instructors are trained to help you learn all of the skills you need to drive an EV safely and demonstrate those during a practical test, and some young drivers find it desirable or even slightly more intuitive to drive an EV for reasons we will get into.
If I Pass My Driving Test In an EV, Can I Only Drive Electric Cars?
If you pass your test in an EV, you are not limited to driving only electric cars.
However, because EVs and hybrids do not have gears or clutches, you are only licensed to drive automatic or semi-automatic cars, which can be limiting when choosing a car from the used market, even once new petrol and diesel cars are phased out of the market.
For some drivers, this will largely be irrelevant, but if you want a particularly cheap car or have an interest in classic cars, not having a licence to drive manual cars can be somewhat limiting.
What Driving Skills Will Be Prioritised When Driving An Electric Car?
An electric car will often feel significantly different to a petrol or diesel car, and these changes can be enough to shift which skills become most important whilst on the road, and what instructors will prioritise whilst driving.
Whilst there are a lot of differences, here are the most significant and how they will affect you as a learner driver.
No Clutch Or Gearbox
The most obvious change is that electric cars do not have a real gearbox in a traditional sense.
Some EVs have a semi-automatic gearbox, which uses paddles or an electric gearstick to simulate the effects of a gearbox, whilst others will only have neutral, reverse and drive options instead.
This can make it easier for beginners to learn to drive, as the lack of a gearbox means it is far more difficult to stall the car.
Smooth Acceleration
Because there is no gearbox, there are also no gear ratios, which are the variable rates of acceleration usually experienced when driving a manual transmission and why a car will often slow down when changing gears.
Given that an electric car has essentially one gear, it is far easier to control the throttle; press down harder to accelerate and ease up to decelerate.
Regenerative Braking
Almost every EV has regenerative braking, which turns the motor into a dynamo which provides additional power to the battery. Whilst it is not a huge amount, it adds up given how many times you brake on an average journey.
A consequence of this is that your brakes feel significantly stronger, and even lifting off the throttle can feel like activating the brakes. It can take some getting used to, especially if you are used to driving a petrol or diesel car.
Lower Centre Of Gravity
An electric car has a significantly different weight distribution compared to a typical petrol or diesel car; whilst they tend to have the engine placed at the front, an EV has the majority of its weight on the underside of the car, as this is where the large, long battery packs are located.
This can take some getting used to, and can sometimes make an EV feel different when accelerating and braking.