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In this dynamic world, the introduction of electric cars was inevitable. Electric cars run on electricity from a battery rather than the traditional fuel-based (gas/petrol) engines.
Much like that remote control car an aunt got us for Christmas!
Some of the renowned electric cars I saw today in Utah are the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona, and the Tesla Model S.
More Americans are preferring electric cars over the gas-operated ones than ever in history!
Well, why is that?
Is it because of the fact that they really are better in terms of technology, fuel economy, or emissions?
Or is it going to be another trend that’s going to last just a decade?
As the readers feedback requested if it’s really right to buy an electric car, we set out to search some answers ourselves.
Let’s talk about the pros and cons before you consider buying an electric car!
5 Major Advantages of Electric Cars
1. An Electric Vehicle is Environment Friendly
We all know that the pollution caused by vehicles is damaging to the environment because of the greenhouse gases. Electric cars have a huge advantage that there are no emissions from them as they do not burn fuel.
Reduction in the emission of gases is great for the climate. The people who care a lot about the environment are definitely shifting towards an electric car.
A Conventional vehicle is responsible for the release of damaging compounds in to the air. 21% of nitrogen oxide and 51% of volatile compounds are released in the air which cause smog. These compounds lead to a lot of environmental and health damage.
There are Hybrid vehicles that do emit greenhouse gases but not as much as the conventional cars do. The Toyota Prius Eco is a hybrid car that emits 96.2 grams of greenhouse gases per kilometer. Whereas, the Toyota Corolla which is a conventional gas powered car, and emits 158.4 grams.
2. Electric Cars are Low-maintenance cars
Electric cars save fuel as well as they are low on maintenance. Due to the fact that it is an electric car, the engine does not have to be lubricated by oil. Therefore, electric cars have eliminated the need of oil change for the cars.
Conventional cars need a lot of maintenance, and getting it done is expensive. The brakes of an electric car do not wear off fast, which is why replacement of the pads is not done as often as it is in a normal car.
Manufacturers of the electric cars also give you a warranty on batteries. The minimum they give on an EV battery is 8 years and some give a maximum of lifetime warranty. This also saves you a lot of maintenance costs.
3. Save on Fuel Costs
One of the main advantages of having an electric car is that you save a lot on fuel cost. It costs less to operate a car on electricity than fuel. If we compare, there is a significant difference in the cost per mile of running a car on electricity and running a car on gas.
Moreover, electric cars can be charged easily and at your convenience in your house. You do not need to run to gas stations and get them running.
Nowadays a lot of work places, shopping malls, and even restaurants have build charging stations for electric cars which is a great thing!
4. You get State and Local Incentives with Electric Cars
Other than being reasonable in regards to maintenance, Electric cars provide you with federal tax credits along with other incentives.
Many countries encourage you to buy electric cars. For example, you can easily get a $30,000 Mini Cooper SE in the range of $20,000.
If you want to lease a car, an electric car will be beneficial for you more than a conventional car with an internal combustion engine. There are some leasing companies that pass on the savings to the driver after taking the tax credit. It also helps as a negotiator when the driver wishes to buy the car.
5. Electric Cars have more Storage Space
When there is no engine present in the car, Electric cars have more storage space like larger trunks, a lot of empty space in the front also, as well as bigger dashboards.
The batteries of the electric cars are usually placed below the cars or somewhere low, hence, they are out of the way.
5 Major Cons of Electric Cars
Do I really have to? It’s just that I like them so much!
In any case, as with all decisions there are of course disadvantages you have to weigh in.
And that becomes even more important with an expense like an electric car!
Let’s get into it.
1. Electric Cars need Charging Stations
An important drawback of Electric cars is that when you wish to buy an electric car, you need to buy a charging station for your house too.
Many public places nowadays have installed charging stations for electric cars but as an owner, you will want to have a charging station at home. This way, you will be able to charge the battery at your convenience and at the comfort of your house.
Whatever amount you will save while buying an electric car rather than a conventional car, it will get covered when you install a charging station at home.
Whereas, if you own a gas car you can find a gas station at every corner of the street in United States very easily.
Moreover, because these are cars who rely on charging, they can not travel long distances.
Cities do have charging stations but you will always be stressed out about the fact that if you did not find a charging station when needed, you will have to suffer.
2. Electric Cars have Range Issues
There is an estimated total driving range which is set by the manufacturer and the government for an individual electric car.
The set range is difficult to achieve and may vary. For example, in cold weather the range can drop by 40%. Therefore, it is not preferable for people living in colder regions or for the people who face cold winters to get electric cars.
Furthermore, people who like to drive carefully and gently will get a much higher range than the people who drive with a heavy foot.
The conventional cars who run on gas provide you with a higher total range than electric cars. However, the range an average person needs is easily fulfilled by an electric car.
3. Manufacturing of the Batteries is not Environment Friendly
The batteries used in making electric cars are made up of lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These are rare finite resources. The majority of batteries in use are lithium-ion batteries because of their higher energy density to weight ratio.
The world is producing more and more electric cars which is why batteries are needed as well. With the increased production of lithium batteries, the mining of lithium is also increasing.
Lithium mining is not safe for the environment as it leads to chemical pollution, destruction of habitats, and scarcity of water.
In the process of mining, a good amount of fresh water is used which has an adverse impact on the local communities as they face shortage of water.
4. Charging an Electric Car takes up a lot of Time
While it only is a matter of some minutes to fill up your gas powered vehicle with gas, it takes hours to charge an electric car.
It can take up to 8-10 hours to charge the battery at a 100% with a standard charger. Not every electric vehicle owner would want to buy a fast charger for their car.
By doing this, an electric car will not be a good choice for them as it gets expensive to get all the accessories with the car too.
This also limits the ability of the cars to travel long distances. If the battery runs out, there could be a problem for you.
You will not face this issue with a gas vehicle because there are gas stations literally everywhere in the world.
You can always get a fast charger if you are a person who likes to travel a lot. But, it will add to the expenses and make the car an expensive choice for you.
5. There is no Fun in Driving an Electric Car
Electric cars have heavy batteries due to which the driving experience becomes less exciting. Also, there are people who enjoy the noise of engine which is lacking in an electric car.
Young people enjoy the thrill which only a conventional car provides them with. Moreover, there is no gearbox in an electric car which also takes away the driving fun.
Driving enthusiasts do not prefer driving an electric car as they feel that it is boring. Something new and innovative that does not excite the youth is not going to succeed in the future.
Conclusion
New discoveries that help us save the environment are very important and we should encourage them. Electric cars are beneficial for the drivers as well as the environment.
There are drawbacks of electric cars but the world is moving fast and pretty soon there will be solutions to the issues caused by electric cars.
This article has discussed the pros and cons of electric cars in detail. This will help you and give you clarity if you are having second thoughts about getting a new car.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are electric cars safe?
Yes, research has proven that electric cars are safer than conventional gas and diesel cars.
2. Do electric cars catch fire easily?
Electric cars have a chance of catching fire of .03% while the combustion engine car has a 1.05% chance of catching on fire.
Also, the batteries are designed such that they shut off everything when the temperatures get too high!
Well I’m sold on safety!
3. Is it safe to charge an electric car overnight?
Yes, it is safe to charge your electric car overnight. It may even be the best option to do so.
Charging overnight gives you the benefit of off-peak electric hours (lower-cost). This accounts for quite a bit of savings once you add the costs up over the years.
4. How long do electric cars last?
Most electric car manufacturers give you a battery-warranty of 5 to 8 years. However, it is estimated that an electric car battery will last from 10 to 20 years before it needs replacement.
