The Pros and Cons of Electric Cars
With everyone trying to do their bit for the environment, and the knowledge that traditional petrol and diesel cars are a bit of a resource-drain, electric and hybrid cars are becoming ever more popular. The first ever electric car was built in 1884, and they fell out of use when internal combustion engines came into play: quicker to refuel and cheaper to produce, they replaced the early-stage electric cars for a long time.
But some things know how to make a comeback, and when the California Air Resources Board started pushing for cars that were more fuel-efficient in the early 90s there was a huge response from car manufacturers. There are a lot of electric (and hybrid) cars on the market right now, so here’s the pros and cons of electric cars to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
PROS
1. You can recharge at home - no more panic-runs to the nearest petrol station before an important journey!
2. Electric cars a lot quieter and smoother than cars with a traditional ICE, and still pack a punch with comes to speed.
3. The environmental impact of an electric car is significantly lower than that of cars with petrol and diesel engines - and electric vehicles don’t have a tailpipe, which means a better air quality for your family and ultimately your local community.
4. Electric cars are much cheaper to operate than traditional ICE cars: they operate at a cost of around one third to one quarter based on cost-per-mile, so you can save a lot of money over time especially if you use your car a lot.
5. There are also often great offers available to encourage buyers to consider an electric vehicle, and the road tax is much lower - and sometimes free!
CONS
1. As electric cars are still in the early stages of popularity, charging ports aren’t available everywhere - so if your journey takes longer than expected, you may be caught short and unable to recharge. Car manufacturers who sell electric cars will often have charging ports at their dealerships, and some supermarkets and service stations have them too though you might have to pay a monthly fee to use these.
2. The initial cost of purchasing an electric vehicle is often much higher than that of purchasing a car with a traditional ICE - but there are actually government grants available, and as mentioned about there are other buyer incentives too.
3. The refueling time is fairly longer than just adding petrol or diesel to your car, so this is definitely something to consider - with forward planning and making sure your car is always charging when it’s at home, you should be fine.
4. Currently, as electric cars aren’t so widely available, there isn’t a whole amount of choice in terms of brands and models - but this is sent to change in the near future!
As it is, there seems to be more pros and cons when it comes to look at the electric cars; various countries are actually set to ban more conventional ICE cars in the future, so it’s definitely something worth considering especially if you’re someone who wants to do their bit for the environment, save some money in the long run and experience a smoother, quieter drive.
