Im looking to buy an electric violin. Ive never used an electric instument before, and know little about them, can I use the same bow fpr instance?

Hi Rosie,
Their should be no real difference to how you play a electric violin. The only real differences cab be in the body material. Some are made of fibre or carbon yet others are cut into all sort of weird and wonderful shapes. You can use the same bow on a electric as you will a acoustic.
The only real differences is that with the electric you can reach over the sound output of other electric instruments making band work possible. Also you can play a electric violin through various sound effect pedals or boxes and create some way out sounds to play with. Do be carefull when chosing a electric if you are happy and have got used to the weight of a traditional violin. Some electric violins feel very unnatural due to their fantasy like designs. If you want the cheap option then buy a real good quality pickup for your violin and use that, this could save you money yet at the same time give you a good electric range.
Oh yeah the other thing, you can also get 6 or 5 string electric violins but again care is needed because they can be much more bulky than the traditional shape.