With the UK’s Government plan to ban petrol and diesel cars from our roads by 2040 we are potentially just 22 short years away from all electric journeys. Now that might seem a while away but 22 years ago was 1995….we bet you can remember that like it was yesterday?
So is it worth joining the electric revolution sooner than later?
We’ve rounded up some of the key facts to consider when thinking of ‘going green.’
Pure electric cars still only make up a small percentage of vehicles on the UK’s roads in 2017 - although it has risen from one to two per cent in the past two years which can be attributed to the increased number of hybrid cars on sale. A hybrid offers electric drive and an internal combustion engine, so whilst they don’t deliver zero emissions they are a useful ‘half way house’ and many people like the ‘best of both worlds’ that they offer.
What are the pros and cons of driving an electric car?
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PROS
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CONS
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Zero emissions
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Charging points
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Low running costs
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Charging time
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Tax benefits
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Battery range
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Comfort
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Driving fun
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Accelerations
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The Pros
Zero Emissions
One of the biggest ‘pros’ of driving an electric car is zero-emissions! Some might say that an electric car is not purely ‘green’ because you of course have to charge it and that unless you a charging from a renewable source (solar panels/wind farm/wave power), then you can’t claim to be contributing to lowering harmful emissions into the environment.
However, even if power is sourced from nuclear, gas or coal sources, the levels produced for charging your car will be a mere fraction of the power station's overall pollution output.
Low running costs
The day-to-day running costs of an electric car are significantly lower than they are for a petrol or diesel model. Most people charge their car overnight ready for a day's use and this means you’ll be using electricity at a lower unit rate than you would during the day.
Fully charge an electric car at home is thought to cost around the £1.50 mark, this cost will vary depending on how and where you charge, just like filling a petrol car at different fuel stations, but it will still be over a tenth of what you would pay for petrol or diesel.
Comfort
As an electric motor only makes a faint whirring noise, cabin comfort is a big plus! You only really have to contend with tyre, wind and road noise on the move, and if you're around town all three of these will be pretty minimal. In fact, some electric cars are so quiet that some makers are fitting sound generators to ensure pedestrians and other road users are aware of their presence when driving!!
Batteries are normally mounted low in the car, and the electric motor takes up less space than an engine,so the passenger compartment will offer more space than a similarly sized petrol car.
The Cons
Like anything, it’s not all positives.
The biggest drawback to owning an electric car is having to charge it up. Every EV on sale is available with a three-pin domestic plug so that you can charge it via the mains but fast charging ‘wall boxes’ are also available are connected directly to your mains power supply.
To charge your car you’ll need to be able to park close to an electrical supply and this isn’t always easy.
Research has shown that the majority of domestic garages are hardly ever used to park a car, while many people won't have off-street parking as part of their property, especially in built-up areas. Add in the fact that almost 20 per cent of the population live in flats, it can be hard to simply ‘plug in’
Of course as the electric revoluation speeds up, this charging issue will need to be rectified and car makers are doing their bit to help with more charging points appearing in dealerships, car parks, service stations etc.
Also paid for charging points are becoming more popular – these are usually located in major cities - London nearly has as many charging points as the rest of the country combined! These are set to increase.
Charging time
As an electric driver you’ll need to be organised! You can’t just ‘fill up’ when you need to so ensuring you’re well routined in plugging in overnight is essential!
Battery range
Another limiting factor that will stop many people from driving a pure electric vehicle is concern about your cars range and the fear that you won't get to your destination without having to charge your car up, or that you won't be able to charge your car when you get there for your journey home.
Modern electric cars have a range of around 120-150 miles, but car makers are hopeful that the next-generation will be be able to cover around 300 miles between charges.
This is why hybrid vehicles remain popular – a bit of a security blanket!
Price
If you were looking to buy an electric or hybrid car then they’re carrying a premium of around £10k over an equivalently sized petrol or diesel powered car. Depreciation takes a massive hit on electric cars, with even the most desirable models such as the BMW i3 losing half their list price.
Of course if you choose to lease an electric car you don’t need to worry about depreciation or a high purchase and this is a why more and more people are choosing leasing as an option.
If you’re thinking of plugging in we hope this round up of the pros and cons has been helpful. Our team are on hand to answer any questions you may have and remember we can quote on any vehicle so if you can’t find what you had in mind give us a call on 01491 615 500.