Electric cars are fast becoming popular and could totally replace internal combustion engine-powered vehicles in a not-so-distant future. While there are a lot of advantages that electric cars bring to the table, there are even some disadvantages. Here, in this post, we will bring to you the pros and cons of electric cars to help you make an informed decision in case you’re considering bringing an EV home.
Why Drive Green?
Driving an EV is a whole new experience. There’s no engine noise. The acceleration is instant as soon as you press the pedal. And there are zero emissions coming out of the exhaust pipe. The fact that EVs produce zero emissions, and that hybrids also work on electric power around town, means that the air is less polluted. Through new technology and manufacturing methods, eco-cars are a sustainable and cleaner option for the future of motoring.
There are many reasons to consider purchasing an electric car than sticking with a conventional car. Although electric vehicle ownership is on the rise, there are common concerns that may be holding you back from making the leap from a gas-powered vehicle to an electric vehicle. This guide will take you through the numerous benefits of owning an electric car, while also tackling the three main cons of electric vehicles—upfront cost, charging time, and range anxiety.
Pros and Cons of EV cars
Let’s start with the advantages of EV cars
- Higher Efficiency
A vehicle’s energy efficiency is the amount of energy it gets from a fuel source. Battery-powered electric vehicles are known to benefit from an energy efficiency of up to 62 percent, which simply means that a high amount of electric energy is converted into the power source of the vehicle. In comparison, fossil fuel-powered vehicles do not have an energy efficiency of more than 21 percent.
- Zero tailpipe emissions
Because electric vehicles do not utilize fuel for combustion, there are no emissions or gas exhaust. EVs helps in a sizable cut in the vehicular pollution. Vehicles that run on fossil fuels contribute significantly to hazardous gas accumulation in the environment, thus driving an electric car can help contribute to a cleaner environment.
- Higher performance
A characteristic of electric cars is that they produce the maximum torque right from the word go. What this means is that the driver benefits from a strong surge of pulling power as soon as he steps on the gas. This makes the EVs a lot of fun as they offer their users with a very strong acceleration as compared to an ICE-powered vehicle of a similar category.
- Less noise and smoother motion
Driving an electric car is significantly smoother. Because they lack fast-moving elements, they are quieter and produce less noise.
- Low maintenance
Electric cars have fewer moving components as a result wear and tear is less compared to traditional auto parts. Repairs are also simpler and less expensive than combustion engines.
- Cost effective
Electricity is far less expensive than fuels such as gasoline and diesel, which are subject to regular price increases. Battery recharging is cost-effective if we use solar electricity at home.
Disadvantages
- Shorter driving range
The driving range in an electric vehicle (EV) is the distance the vehicle travel on a single charge of battery. When compared to conventional automobiles, electric vehicles have a shorter driving range. As charging stations are less compared to refueling stations, the drivers of EVs stay anxious about running out of battery power. Hence, electric cars are less suitable for long road trips.
- Recharging is time consuming
It takes only a couple of minutes to completely fill the fuel tank of a petrol or a diesel vehicle. On the other hand, even with the fast chargers, it takes at least 30 minutes to achieve an 80 percent charge. Charging through a standard charger can take up to 8 hours to completely replenish the battery.
- Much bigger investment
One of the biggest issues surrounding EVs: are electric cars more expensive than conventional cars? Currently, yes. However, many studies have shown that as technology advances, the costs of owning an EV may be lower than those of gas-powered cars.
- Difficulty in finding charging stations.
People who need to travel long distances are concerned about finding adequate charging stations during their journey, which are not always accessible.
- Battery replacement
Depending on the type and the usage of the battery, EV’s batteries require a change every 5 to 10 years.
- Amount of pollution to manufacture an EV
Electric cars are not 100% emission-free, as it is currently more carbon-heavy to produce an EV compared to an ICE vehicle. The electricity needed for maintenance and to charge the battery fully is also not necessarily generated from renewable energy sources. One can argue that this is an issue of the energy sector, and that overall energy production across the world is becoming greener by the day, yet as EVs are a huge consumer of electricity, their impact must be acknowledged.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the above pros and cons can help you determine if an EV makes sense for your driving needs. Although EV manufacturers must solve the hurdles that are preventing people from purchasing, in future EVs will outlast gas-powered automobiles for sure. Both GM and Nissan declared in January 2021 that they will go all-electric by the 2030s. Other automakers will undoubtedly follow suit.
This can help ease range anxiety because the more the market embraces electric cars, the more innovative and practical electric cars will become. It also means more charging stations will be available, as well.
If it is for your daily commute and you are committed to combating climate change, EV is a great option. To save money, you could also add solar panels to your home, which would further complement an emissions-free lifestyle. For any assistance you can always reach to us at Vehpal
