Electric cars have been around long enough to stand the test of time. One thing’s clear: they’re here to stay, and we’re all likely to have one sitting in our driveway someday soon. Still, like all things in life, even EVs have their fair share of benefits and drawbacks that are worth considering before you buy one for yourself.
Electric vehicles are undoubtedly more environmentally friendly than even the most recent combustion-engine vehicles. They cut down on your operating costs and generate little pollution as well. Also, local governments almost everywhere are offering financial incentives to support purchasing EVs. Unfortunately, EVs have a limited range, take a long time to charge up, and cost more upfront. Currently, there are a limited number of brands and models available.
In this article, we’re going to explore EVs pros and cons to give you a balanced picture whether electric vehicles should be a part of your household or not. By the end of this short read, you’ll be able to buy smartly based on your individual needs.
The Advantages of EVs
At a glance, electric vehicles are:
- Environmentally Friendly
- Lower Operating Costs
- Little or No Noise
- Financial Incentives
Environmentally Friendly
One of the most significant selling points and benefits of electric cars is that it is environmentally friendly. Of course, that isn’t just a phrase used in marketing, but there are some real-world positive effects for choosing electric cars over their combustion-engine counterparts.
For starters, having more EVs on the road means that the demand for fossil fuels will decrease over time.
Still, it's not all about what goes into the gas tank but also what comes out of the exhaust. Without a combustion engine, cars will stop producing harmful emissions that hurt the environment.
Lower Operating Costs
Electric vehicles also lead to lower operating costs overall. Rather than be tied to the cost of petrol or diesel, electric cars are tied to the price of electricity. Depending on where you live and the local cost of power, it could mean significant savings in the long run.
If, for instance, your home was running purely on solar energy or something equally renewable, you could effectively charge up your electric cars for free.
Little or No Noise
People have become so accustomed to the sound of combustion-engine vehicles that it’s hard to imagine a car that doesn’t generate much noise when it’s moving. But that’s the case with electric vehicles.
EVs produce almost no noise, especially if you’re standing a fair distance from them. Sure, if you stick your ear up against the car, you’ll hear the humming of the electric motors inside. However, that’s nothing compared to the noise generated by the cars we drive today.
Streets, highways, neighbourhoods, and entire cities will gradually become quieter as more people buy EVs.
Financial Incentives
Local governments are constantly offering financial incentives for people to embrace electric vehicles. Those incentives come in the form of grants, subsidies, tax rebates, and so much more.
So, whether you’re thinking of buying EVs for your household or your company fleet, you could enjoy plenty of these excellent financial benefits.
The Disadvantages of EVs
At a glance:
- Range Limits
- Long Charging Times
- Higher Upfront Cost
- Limited Options
Range Limits
Range is not something that you’d ever have to worry about with a combustion engine car, but it certainly is on an electric vehicle.
Why is range never a concern in a combustion engine vehicle? Well, it's because you can trust that whenever you run out of fuel, you can stop at a petrol station and get more. Better yet, the refuelling process only takes a full minute before you're on the road again.
That's not the case with an electric car. When you're out of 'fuel' (in this case, battery power), you'll need to find a place to recharge your vehicle. Even if you do, you'll still need at least a few hours to get a full charge before you can get back on the road.
Long Charging Times
As mentioned in the previous point, charging an electric car to its full battery capacity can take hours. Quick chargers (or rapid chargers) are a useful option because they can charge your car faster, but they’ll still take much longer than you’d spend at a petrol station refuelling a combustion engine vehicle.
Higher Upfront Cost
Electric cars are cheaper today than they were two years ago, there's no denying that. Unfortunately, the most affordable EVs still cost a lot more than the cheapest brand new combustion engine vehicle.
Despite all the advantages of EVs and the benefit to the environment, the everyday driver will still opt for what they can afford. In most cases, combustion engine cars are still the most affordable option for most people around Australia.
Limited Options
Lastly, you don't have many options when it comes to electric vehicles. There is still a severe lack of diversity in options for carmakers and the EV models available on the market.
Bottom Line: Are Electric Vehicles Really Worth It?
Considering the pros and cons, are electric vehicles worth it?
Yes, they are, but only if you can comfortably afford them. Electric cars are here to stay, and there’s no turning back with that. However, EVs are still expensive for the regular car owner, which explains the slow uptake.
Even with the financial incentives offered to entice prospective EV buyers, non-electric vehicles are still the more affordable option. Besides, the most recent IC-engine models have become more fuel-efficient than they’ve ever been.
There’s no doubt that electric cars will continue to improve over time, and their prices will also keep dropping. One day they’ll be affordable enough for anyone to buy even as a first car, but until then, the good ‘ol combustion engine car remains the go-to car for most people.
Find Out More Topics about Cars and Car Parts!
To learn more about electric vehicles and their pros and cons, check out the blog at carpart.com.au. There, you’ll discover plenty of informative articles to help you make better choices in the automotive marketplace.
By Ray Hasbollah