With many people becoming more aware and responsible for their carbon footprint interest in electric vehicles(EV's) is unsurprisingly on the rise. Just as with conventional vehicles, electric cars - despite parking and congestion-charge exemptions and however green they may be - obviously still have to be insured for use on British roads. So how can you get the car insurance cover you need to protect your eco-friendly motor?

What is electric car insurance?

Basically, electric car insurance is the same as insurance for any car - they are both designed to help drivers cover the costs of accident related damages and injuries (subject to policy exclusions) and three levels of cover are typically available:

- Third party only: Covers liability for injuries to third parties, damage to their property and liability while towing a caravan or trailer.

- Third party, fire and theft: Third party cover plus protection for your own vehicle from theft, attempted theft and fire damage.

- Comprehensive: Third party fire and theft cover, plus cover for the cost of repairs to your own vehicle (subject to policy exclusions). Depending on the policy you choose you may also benefit from features such as accidental damage cover, windscreen cover and medical expenses cover.

However, where electric vehicle insurance is different is that it is a lot more difficult to find. Whereas there are more than 120 car insurance providers in the UK, only a small number will offer cover for electric cars because of the new technologies and advanced components involved.

Does this mean you'll pay more to insure an electric car?

While your options may be more limited, the good news is that you might not have to pay more for electric car insurance.

There are some insurers that recognise that electric cars are typically driven short distances due to their limited range and that electric car drivers are likely to take extra care of their vehicles and drive them responsibly. After all, despite the blistering pace of vehicles like the Tesla Roadster, electric car drivers aren't generally known as speed demons.

In fact, it could even be argued that electric cars are safer to drive than conventional vehicles. For starters, there's no messing around with gear sticks and a clutch which avoids multi-tasking at critical junctions - and having only the accelerator to depress definitely frees up the mind. And of course the almost unrivalled acceleration and torque available from a standing start means, for instance, that jumping into a tight gap in fast-moving traffic can be a far less stressful and risky manoeuvre.

Electric vehicles carrying more weight also makes them safer as, according to Vehicle Weight, Fatality Risk and Crash Compatibility of Model Year 1991-99 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in October 2003, an accident in a 2,000lb vehicle will, on average, cause 50 per cent more injuries to its occupants than a crash in a 3,000lb vehicle. As the high density and weight of electric batteries usually results in them being heavier than conventional models, this could be seen as an advantage.

Thankfully there are insurance companies that recognise these potential benefits and may even offer discounts to drivers of electric and hybrid cars.

So where can you get insurance for an electric car?

While electric car insurance specialists are well worth considering, don't overlook conventional insurance companies too - as electric cars become more popular and vehicles like the Nissan LEAF, Peugeot i0n and Volvo C30 Electric become available more and more insurers should be willing to offer quotes with repair centres that are better equipped to deal with any problems. So use a comparison website to compare the deals available.

You may also wish to consider a green car insurance policy from the likes of The Green Car Insurance Company and ibuyeco. These policies usually offer carbon offsetting schemes to drivers of cars with internal combustion engines, but there are environmental incentives for electric car drivers too - some companies may dedicate a portion of their premiums to eco-charities; others offer discounts to electric drivers; and some insurers even commit to using recycled parts (where possible) during their repair process. However, don't assume that because these policies are 'green' and you have an environmental conscience you should definitely sign up for one of these deals. You should still compare premiums and the levels of cover available from as many companies as possible first.

How to save money on electric car insurance

Insurance companies base premiums on risk and so reducing the risk of making a claim - such as by increasing your voluntary excess or fitting security devices will usually lower your premiums. However, there are some ways to not only save money but do your bit for the environment too, such as:

- Agree to a mileage limit: Simply put, the fewer miles you drive the cheaper your insurance should be - ideal for drivers of electric cars with a limited range.

- Buy online: Most insurance companies offer their cheapest deals online due to the savings they make on overheads - and with less paperwork you're helping the environment too.

- Drive safely: Considerate driving helps the environment no matter what car you driver and many insurance companies also offer no-claims discounts if you stay claims free, which could be worth as much as 60 per cent off your premiums after four or more years.

- Pay annually: Avoid monthly interest charges and reduce the number of paper statements you receive by paying premiums annually.