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Should I Buy an Electric Car?

Are you wondering whether to invest in an electric car? Electric vehicles (EVs) are vehicles powered by an electric motor rather than a gasoline engine, and run using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. EVs are becoming more and more popular, due to their lack of pollution and the increasing desire for us to be more environmentally friendly. If you’re on the fence about buying an EV, consider some of these advantages and disadvantages of owning an electric car:

Advantages

1) Lower Maintenance Costs

A huge benefit of owning an EV is no longer having to fill up. As EVs do not run on petrol, you no longer have to spend time and money on gas. Although you have to pay for electricity to run the car, it is generally cheaper than gas, especially since fuel prices are continually on the rise. There are also maintenance cost savings, as EVs do not use oil to lubricate the engine you do not need to worry about changing oil. Brakes in an EV wear slower than a normal car, meaning you won’t have to replace the brake pads as often.

2) Green

Electric vehicles have 0 emissions, meaning they do not pollute the environment with CO2 when you are driving them. EVs can be powered by electricity produced from several renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and hydro.

3) Quiet & Smooth

An electric car is very quiet, some are almost silent. They are also extremely smooth to drive.

4) Power & Performance

EVs are renowned for being fast and powerful. Take the BMW i3, for example, which can go from 0 to 37mph in under 4 seconds and to 62 mph in only 7.2 seconds. Electric cars offer a quick and impressive driving experience, similar to that of a sports car.

5) Warm Up

Many owners of EVs have commented on how quickly electric cars heat up, even on the coldest winter mornings.

6) Image

Many drivers like the fact that with their EV they can show the world what they are doing for the environment. Driving an economically friendly car can now be seen as fashionable.

Disadvantages

1) Battery Charging Points

EV batteries need to be recharged every 80 to 260 miles, depending on the make and model. This means that drivers need to plan longer trips carefully, ensuring they know where the nearest available charging points are. The Nissan Leaf, for example, can drive up to 124 miles on a full charge – perfect for everyday use but longer journeys will of course require extra planning. New charging points are being added every day in the UK, with the current number of charging points standing at 7043. Drivers can use Zap-Map to find their nearest point.

2) Battery Charging Time

The time to fully charge an EV’s battery ranges from around 6 to 8 hours, so drivers will have to take this into account before and during journeys.

3) Cost

The cost of buying a new electric car upfront is more than a new gas motor car. However, money can be saved long-term if you can afford to invest. With models such as the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 costing around £25,000 new, it’s easy to see why some people are put off.

4) Replacing the Battery

One of the biggest disadvantages of owning an electric car is that the batter will need to be replaced at some point. How long the battery will last will depend on the make and model of the car and its usage. For example, the lithium-ion battery pack in the Tesla Roadster is estimated to have a lifespan of around 5 years or 100,000 miles, whereas Nissan predicts that the battery in the Leaf will last for 10 years. Exact costs of a new battery are as yet unknown, but could cost up to a huge £19,000.

If you’re thinking about buying an electric car, you may want to sell your old one. Visit our site for a free car valuation now or call us on 077 4035 4035 to discuss a price for your vehicle.