If experts and the government are to be believed the UK looks set to get ready to fully embrace an electric car (EV) revolution. Improvements in the battery range of electric cars low list prices, as well as the expanding charging infrastructure suggest that 2020 will be the greatest year to get an EV. But there are numerous obstacles that must be overcome to run a completely electric vehicle. So we’ve compiled this guide to determine if an EV is the right option for you.
The history of the EV dates back to the creation of the motor car around the start of the 20th century. However, it was the combustion engine that swiftly was the main power source for personal vehicles, and eventually the EV turned into a niche option over the course of many decades, powering a few oddball city car concepts through the years, and of course the traditional milk float.
It’s today’s 21st Century, and electricity is becoming an energy source that is widely used by vehicles, vans, and trucks of any size. This is because regional laws are making it more difficult for vehicle makers to meet ever tighter emissions requirements with just diesel or petrol models by themselves. As a result, manufacturers are looking into alternative fuel sources, in order to cut down on pollution while offering the sort of all-round performance and range capability that customers have become used to through internal combustion engines.
Pure electric cars constitute a small proportion of all vehicles sold in UK but the demand is rapidly increasing. The most dramatic increase of plug-in vehicles could be attributed to the rising number of hybrids powered by plug-ins that are now on sale. These vehicles have electric drive and an internal combustion engine they can’t claim to deliver zero emissions like a pure EV, but they are a useful temporary solution that offers the kind of driving range consumers expect, and also the ability to drive in an electric vehicle that emits no emissions after the battery has been fully charged.
Another option on the market that is a niche one than an EV one is a hydrogen-powered vehicle. They’re as safe as EVs as they utilize the hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity for an electric motor, and the only byproduct is water. Hydrogen cars are equally quick to fill as conventional vehicles and also have a range that’s similar in terms of distance, but the absence of refueling stations as well as the price of these cars makes them have limited appeal.
But the problem we’re trying answer this time is: how can an electric vehicle fit in your daily routine? We consider the pros and cons of driving with zero emissions so you can decide whether an electric car is the right vehicle for you.
Electric automobiles: the advantages
Zero emissions
The big attraction of an electric vehicle is that you are doing mile after mile of emissions-free driving. When you’re out and about you’ll notice that the EV system operates as a closed loop’. That means it is powered by the battery that drives the electric motor and powers all of the on-board electrics however it doesn’t generate any waste products.
The only time that an EV pollutes , other than when the time comes to remove it when it’s being charged and even then the emissions are traced through the National Grid to the power source. If that happens to be renewable energy source (solar panels, wind farm or wave power) it is possible that you will truly be contributing to less pollution levels to the environment. Even if power is sourced from nuclear, gas or coal sources, the amount produced for charging your car are only a fraction of the power station’s total emissions.
Buying incentives
Although electric vehicles are expensive when compared to similarly size diesel and petrol cars, there are plenty of incentives to get you on the road. The most prominent of these is the government’s Plug-In Vehicle Grant (PICG). The PICG was once a value of PS5,000 for every vehicle with a low emission However, today, it only is available to electric vehicles that are pure.
For pure electric vehicles the amount of grant is P3,000 however only vehicles with a price list less than PS50,000 are eligible. In the theory of things, plug-in hybrids can be eligible for the grant since it’s available to all vehicles that has CO2 emissions less than 50g/km. It can also travel at least 70 miles in a zero emission mode. However, no current plug-in hybrid can meet the requirements. If you’re considering a plug-in hybrid, there’s no discount offered and there are no models that would qualify for the grant being considered at the moment.
Electric scooters and electric motorcycles are eligible for an offer of PS1,500. commercial vehicles and vans with emissions less than 75g/km may have discounts of up to PS8,000 from their retail price.
Additionally numerous car makers provide attractive financing rates on EVs to convince customers to consider a leap of faith. Zero per cent finance as well as free wallbox charger installations are available to get you get started on the electric driving experience. There is also a grant available to help with the cost of fitting the charging points at your home.
Low operating costs
After you’ve purchased an EV that you can run on a daily basis, the costs are significantly lower that they would be for a petrol or diesel model. It’s typical for an EV to be charged overnight and ready for use throughout the day, so you will use energy at a lower cost than you would throughout the time of the day. It’s estimated that the total cost to recharge your EV at home is just a few Pounds more than it will cost to fuel a car for the same distance. The cost of charging will differ based on when, how it is charged and the location, the same as filling up your petrol car at different fuel stations However, it’ll be more than a tenth of what you would pay for gasoline or diesel.
Tax benefits
If you’re buying privately, an electric vehicle that costs less than PS40,000 qualifies for road tax free. Vehicles that cost more than that amount will cost PS340 a year on road taxes for the first five years, but after that, they’re exempt from tax on roads.
From April 6th 2020, the business user will also have to pay no Benefit In Kind (BIK) company car tax for electric vehicles that are pure and pure, while the PICG remains in force for company vehicles. For comparison, a petrol car that produces 100g/km CO2 will have a BIK tax rate of 23 percent, while diesels are four percent more expensive than petrol all over.
It’s important to remember the fact that all pure EVs are exempt from The London Congestion Charge and it’s likely that other cities will implement similar schemes in the years to come.
Comfort
Because an electric motor generates a slight whirring sound it is not one of the main strengths of electric vehicles. You only really have to contend with tyres, road noise and wind on the move or in town , these three will be minimal. Actually, EVs are so quiet that some manufacturers are installing noise generators to ensure that motorists and pedestrians are conscious of their presence when driving.
A lot of EVs are made to make it easy to navigate the city, so while the suspension needs to be firmly sprung to support the battery’s weight, there’s a degree of comfort to the ride which goes hand-in-hand with the silence. Additionally, since the batteries are typically mounted low in the car and the motor is smaller than an engine, the cabin can be more spacious than a comparable petrol car.
Acceleration
With the instant delivery of torque from an electric motor, the majority of EVs are surprisingly fast from the light. Simply press the accelerator, and the car is able to sprint forward with a blast of torque. A majority of EVs will exhaust their steam once you’re up to the speed limit – and the driving range will take a hit, too – but cars like the Tesla Model S can deliver the quickest 0-60 time of less than 3 seconds when they are in their most powerful guises.
Electric cars: the disadvantages
Charging points
The most significant drawback of owning an electric car is having to charge it up. Each EV that’s on sale comes with a three-pin domestic plug to allow you to charge it from the mains outlet some companies also offer an instant-charging wallbox when you buy an EV. The wallbox will be connected directly to the main power supply, and can charge an EV at a higher speed than the one that’s connected into your house.
Naturally, in order to do this you need somewhere to park your car that’s near to an electrical outlet. Studies show that the majority (over 80%) of home garages are hardly ever used to store cars however, a large majority of people will not be able to park off-street as a part of their homes, particularly in areas with built-up structures. Add in the fact that around 40 per cent of the population live in rented housing, which restricts the capacity of fast charging points, while 20% of people reside in flats, which makes even more difficult to set up the domestic charging points – and you’ve got yourself a huge EV issue.
The car makers are doing their bit to support EV charging. Tesla currently has Supercharger stations throughout the UK offering fast-charging although it’s only for Tesla models. Elsewhere, Nissan and Renault EV dealerships can charge Tesla owners who are on site, but that only really helps in the event that you’re within a few miles of one of these sites, which are usually in industrial estates located on the outskirts of major cities.
Another alternative is to sign up to a charge scheme, for example, Polar EV Network, Ecotricity or Pod Point. With a monthly subscription that grants accessibility to charging stations and designated parking spaces – both on the street as well as multi-storey throughout the UK. Paying with contactless is also increasing in popularity on all major networks.
There are a number of these charging stations in major cities – London is not without charging stations, however there are plenty located throughout Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bristol – while firms have begun to offer charging points at pubs, supermarkets, and even at highway service station. The network is constantly growing every day.
Time to charge
Drivers are used to the routine of filling a car up with gasoline as and when they need. However, you cannot apply the same regime on an EV. In the event that you try, you’ll end up having to endure longer travel times as you stop to charge your electric vehicle over a longer period. It’s an attitude towards EVs the public has that has to be altered, rather than the car itself.
Since an EV is a new experience, it requires you to adopt a brand new routine, which is something you’re acquainted with if you own smartphones. In essence, it requires some ahead-of-the-game planning. As long you have your electric vehicle powered up every time you’re parked, especially overnight, it should be able for you to reach the destination you want to go.
For the latest electric car news check out this auto blog.
Battery range
Another factor that can hinder many from driving a pure EV is anxiety about range, the worry that you will not reach your destination without having to charge your vehicle or be in a position to charge your vehicle when you get there.
Current form means that an advanced EV can be used for a range of between 150 and 200 miles. However, car manufacturers have their sights set on the next-generation of EVs that can cover 300 miles between charges.
If you’re able to plug in an electric vehicle every time you park, then range anxiety shouldn’t pose a problem. The typical driving distance for drivers in the UK is about 10 miles, so an EV is capable of getting you there and back without needing be charged. Naturally, the bigger problem comes when you’re planning longer distances. However, some manufacturers such as BMW provide plans that permit the use of a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle if you require one for a big journey. If you’re worried about electric range, then the latest plug-in hybrids could be worth taking a look.
Purchase cost
Electric cars aren’t the least bit expensive, and come with a cost of PS10k over an equivalently sized diesel or petrol powered car. In the end, the PICG helps cut costs a bit, especially for the cheapest models available on sale, but they’re relatively expensive when you consider their limited options.
The issue of depreciation was a problem in the past too and several EV models losing significant chunks of value when the time came to sell. This is not a problem today with limited supply of some desirable electric vehicles helping boost the value of used cars.
Driving is fun
There’s no escaping that the heavy batteries of an electric vehicle slow down the experience of driving. Additionally, the absence of sound from the electric motor snuffs out some of the thrill of driving for those who love to take part in the experience they’re doing. In addition, the direct drive and lack of gearbox also detracts from the fun of driving, making EV fans feel bored by the idea of EV driving.