Electric cars are becoming more and more popular; increasing numbers of people are considering electric vehicles when buying their next new or used car. Car manufacturers' core focus has shifted to creating a better range of electric vehicles to meet the increasing demand. Electric charging points have become more accessible, and there is a much larger variety of electric cars available to buy. The government has announced that they will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030, accelerating this change further.
Carbon emissions
Carbon emissions are a big issue that is contributing heavily to climate change. Petrol and diesel vehicles emit large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Electric cars do not emit any greenhouse gases; they are safer for the environment and can help to minimise the impact of climate change. Fewer emissions mean a lower carbon footprint for individuals and businesses that switch to electric vehicles. Clean air zones require vehicles to pay when they enter based on the vehicle's emissions. Electric cars have zero emissions and are completely free to drive in clean air zones; this can be very beneficial for motorists who regularly travel in and out of clean air zones for work or to reach home.
Silent drive
Electric vehicles are almost silent to drive. A quiet drive provides a different driving experience, usually, one that is more relaxing and less pressured by the engine's noise. This benefit is often forgotten when motorists are considering buying an electric car. When switching to an electric car, it can take time to get used to the silent drive, but once you get used to it, you won't want to go back to a noisy petrol or diesel vehicle again.
Charging not buying fuel
Even when electric prices reach a high level, charging an electric car at home is cheaper than buying petrol and diesel from the pump. Petrol and diesel are more expensive because they require fossil fuels to make them. Fossil fuels are slowly running out, making it more costly to purchase what is remaining. Electric cars use electricity generated using fossil fuels or renewable sources such as wind and solar power. Many electricity providers are switching only to provide energy from renewable sources to help the planet reserve what is left of fossil fuels. If you regularly travel short journeys and can install a charging point at home, you will undoubtedly save money on fuel by driving an electric vehicle. Although electric vehicles can be more expensive to buy up front, the number of second-hand electric cars is growing rapidly, making it more affordable to switch to an electric vehicle.
Less maintenance
Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts in comparison to petrol and diesel vehicles. Fewer moving parts mean less maintenance is required to keep them in the best condition. You can save money on the upkeep of your car and will need to make fewer trips to the garage when driving an electric vehicle.
Automatic transmission
Having fewer things to do whilst driving can make trips more enjoyable and less exhausting. You can concentrate more on watching out for other motorists or pedestrians when driving an electric vehicle because you don't need to worry about changing gear when slowing down or speeding up. It can take a bit of time to get used to driving an automatic vehicle, but you will never want to go back to using gears once you switch.
Choosing a new car is a very personal decision; these are just a few reasons you should consider an electric vehicle as your next choice. However, there are also some drawbacks to buying an electric car. The main disadvantage is the time it takes to charge the vehicle; this depends on the type of charger you are using. Some rapid chargers can take a vehicle to 80% charge in 20 minutes, and other chargers can take hours to charge an electric car fully. This process is much slower than pumping in some petrol or diesel, which can be done in a matter of minutes. When you own an electric car, you need to plan out charging points for longer journeys and allow enough time to charge on your route.
Resources:
- Second Hand Cars - Ameba Ownd
- Used Car Dealerships - The University of Texas at Austin
- Used Cars - IBM
- Second Hand Cars for Sale - Matters
- Used Vans - Navigio
- Used Electric Cars UK - The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology