Owning an EV has benefits and drawbacks
Owning an EV has benefits and drawbacks
When you’re looking for a new car, it’s difficult to know which one to choose. But with zero emissions and rapid progress being made with new technologies, electric cars really are the future. Why not take a quick look?
Cheaper to operate
Fuelling an electrical vehicle is much cheaper than fuelling a traditional car. Can you imagine not having to spend money on petrol every week? That seems like an impossible dream! If you thought it couldn’t get any better, driving an electric car means that you don’t pay any road tax and also your insurance will be a lot cheaper. An added benefit is that there are free charging stations as well as free parking in many city centres in the UK.
Quiet and fast
The electric car is quiet, as it doesn’t have to contend with the vibration caused by a petrol engine. They’re also incredibly smooth and relaxing to drive. What more could you ask for? Well, speed of course! While electric engines used to be a little slower than their petrol and diesel counterparts, they’ve seriously caught up in recent years. The BMW i3, for example, can get from 0–60mph in just 7 seconds; that’s twice as fast as a Vauxhall Corsa!
Good for the environment
These vehicles are 100% eco-friendly. Fully electric cars don’t give off any harmful emissions at all. This means you won’t have any negative impact on public health and global warming.
Range anxiety
Many of those tempted to buy an electric vehicle are put off by how long the electricity will last. This is known as ‘range anxiety’. However, there are many ways to reduce range anxiety. For example, you can plan routes and make sure charge is at maximum capacity when you set off, or park in places with electricity charging points.
Silence is not always golden
Traditional cars are loud enough for people around them to hear the sound of the engine. As electric cars are quiet, this can be dangerous to pedestrians and other cars, as they do not hear the car coming towards them, which could cause potential accidents.
Time to re-charge
In this busy world, we don’t have a lot of time to spare, and with some electric cars it can take up to 5/6 hours to recharge to full capacity. This could be inconvenient for many and could cause ‘range anxiety’ if you have a long journey ahead of you and the vehicle is not fully charged. Electric vehicles are better suited to drivers who often cover short distances rather than those who frequently have long distances to travel.
Purchase price
The purchase price of electric cars is often higher than a petrol or diesel car. This can be off-putting - however, over time, they save you a lot of money, as running costs are either low or non-existent.
