The Pros and Cons of Buying an Electric Car

If you’re in the market for a new car, you may be debating whether to invest in a petrol or diesel like a used Mercedes or equivalent, or opt for a brand-new electric car. While petrol and diesel motors have been the go-to for many years, EVs are becoming more popular as drivers take the plunge to go all-electric.

According to Sunday Times Driving, “In 2022, electric cars made up 16.6 per cent of all new cars sold, up from 6.6 per cent in 2020 — a massive 147 per cent increase in total sales in two years.”

If you’re unsure whether now’s the time for you to go electric, we’ve put together some of the pros and cons to help you decide.

Cons of electric cars

1. The upfront cost

Usually, electric vehicles are more expensive to buy than their petrol or diesel counterparts. Higher upfront costs can put some buyers off as they don’t want to fork out initially, but often EVs are cheaper to run and maintain long-term.

2. Grants are gone

You can no longer get a grant from the government to help you buy a private electric car – so you need to cover the whole cost yourself. However, you may be able to take advantage of a grant that helps cover up to 75% of the cost of a charging point at home. Of course, this only works for certain housing types: for example, if your home doesn’t have a guaranteed parking space outside your front door, this may not be viable.

3. Lack of charging points

There aren’t enough charging points available across the UK yet, so more planning is required around when and where you can charge the car during journeys. It also takes longer to charge a car electrically than to fill the tank with petrol or diesel.

4. Distance limitations

Typically, you can’t get as far in an EV as you can in a petrol or diesel car. Some electric models offer a range of 150 miles or less, while others can do 300 or more between charges. If you are interested in an EV, it’s important to look into this before you buy and choose a model that suits the distances you travel regularly.

Pros of electric cars

1. Cut fuel costs

According to EDF Energy, the average electric car will travel 100 miles for around £5 – while a petrol car would cost around £12 for the same journey. This is a significant cost difference!

2. Environmentally friendly

One of the main draws of EVs is that they are more environmentally friendly, as they don’t emit pollutants into the atmosphere. Having said that, the making of EVs creates greenhouse gases – so the manufacturing process would have to change for them to be completely carbon neutral.

3. Less noisy

Another key advantage is that EVs are much less noisy than petrol and diesel cars. The reduction of noise pollution is a massive bonus not only for those in the car but the general population, particularly those living in big cities or near motorways or dual carriageways.

4. Lower maintenance

Typically, EVs are lower maintenance than cars with a petrol or diesel engine. This is because they have fewer parts and fluids, so you don’t need to worry about changing the oil, for example.

With plans in place from the government to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030,  is now the time for you to go electric?