For many of us, the pandemic awoke a need to start fresh in many areas of our lives. One of the most popular changes we all made was to our vehicles, with car dealerships seeing a considerable increase in demand for new cars. And it comes as no surprise that a large proportion of these changes were from the traditional petrol or diesel model to an electric vehicle (EV). Still, many sit on the fence about whether or not to make their next car electric. In case you fall into this category, read on to discover five reasons why making the switch to an EV is the correct move.
They’re Cheaper to Run
In light of the Cost of Living Crisis, life is becoming increasingly expensive, and we are all trying to find methods to save money in whatever way we can. Naturally, having a car that takes either petrol or diesel will cost you. With an EV, that cost lowers significantly, with the only expense to pay for being the electricity units used when the car is being charged – estimated to cost just a few pounds for a full charge. If you elect to have a home charging point installed, you would be able to fully charge your electric car for the minimal cost of £4.80 using a 40kW battery.
Depending on where you charge your car, the price can fluctuate, in the same way, that it does per petrol station. Still, compared to filling your vehicle with a full tank of fuel, the cost of charging an EV is far lower and covers a similar mileage range to a petrol or diesel model. So, if you want to cut your expenses around your car, an electric vehicle may just be the way to go!
Plenty of Mileage
Many consumers feel that an EV isn’t worth it as they don’t take you very far. But recent stats show that on only one charge, the average mileage range of an EV is 313 km or 194 miles- roughly the drive from Leeds to London.
As technology constantly evolves, EVs are set to take you even further. The Nissan LEAF e+ provides up to 239 miles with one sole charge, meaning you can do an entire return journey from Bristol to London and vice versa with miles left over.
It’s worth considering that just as you wouldn’t allow your car to die without petrol, you would not let it die of no charge either. Just like remembering to charge your phone, whenever you’re parked up, simply plug in your car and leave it to restore full charge. By the morning, you’ll have yourself a full battery once again and be ready to take on another long journey.
An Altogether Smoother Drive
You can wave goodbye to the deafening sound of your diesel engine when it takes off; other than the faint sound of whirring and the noise of the tyre, driving an EV is a pretty silent experience. In fact, the noise from electric cars is so minimal that manufacturers are actually inserting sound generators so that pedestrians and other road users are not ignorant of their presence when they’re around.
Aside from the auditory benefits, EVs are generally designed to maximise comfort. There is usually firm suspension to hold the heavier batteries of an EV, and these tend to be situated lower in the car. Moreover, the electric motor uses less space than the engine, meaning the passenger compartment tends to be roomier than that of a similar-sized petrol/diesel car.
You will be Taking a Vital Step in Protecting the Planet
While this may be lower on people’s agenda when choosing a car, protecting the planet is something we consider to be a number one priority. And we aren’t alone, with London abolishing the congestion charge for those who go electric and other cities likely introducing similar schemes over the coming years to fuel the incentive to switch to an EV.
EVs give off zero emissions when on the road, which will ultimately help reduce CO2 and other harmful greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere in towns and cities, promoting cleaner air quality. It has also been found that fine particles emitted through car exhausts are harmful to health, so no exhausts mean better health and no pollution – why wouldn’t you consider the switch?
Charging is Cheap and Convenient
As discussed earlier, fitting a charging point outside your home will be a huge convenience if you invest in an EV. You can easily use a handy electric app, charge your car in whatever weather conditions and leave it to garner charge as you go about your day or evening at home.
If you decide against having a home charging installation, that’s fine too. Nowadays, virtually all UK motorway service stations have rapid car charging stations, which allow most EVs to reach 80% battery in as little as an hour. A fully charged electric vehicle could take you up to 250 miles, which is double the range expected a couple of years ago.
Convinced Yet?
If you aren’t already making your way to a showroom or googling the best electric cars on the market, we hope we have at least compelled you a little to consider investing in an EV for your next whip. After all, they are the future- and why not start the future now?
