Why Should I Buy an Electric Car?

If you're thinking about buying an electric car, you need to know the positives and negatives to make an informed decision. Most importantly, you need to know whether owning an electric car is the right choice for you.

 

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of all-electric cars to help you decide.

 

Advantages & Benefits of an Electric Car

Less Maintenance

Electric cars (EV) need less maintenance than petrol or diesel cars (ICE). While you still need a yearly service and MOT, an EV doesn’t use oils, fuel filters or as many fluids as an ICE. This reduces your need for many other garage appointments.

 

What’s more, ‘regenerative braking’ puts less stress on brake pads and discs so they last longer. In an ICE, you may have to change these every 25,000 miles; in an EV, a set can last up to twice as long.

 

Zero Emissions

Electric cars are a sustainable mode of transport. There are no fossil fuels burned, so no CO2 or other exhaust gases are produced. This makes an EV much more environmentally friendly than an ICE.

 

No Road Tax, Congestion Charge or LEZ/ULEZ Fees

All ICE vehicles have to pay the Congestion Charge in London. The most polluting also have to pay extra fees when driving through Clean Air, Low-Emission (LEZ) and Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) in several UK cities.

 

Electric cars don’t pay these charges because they don’t contribute to poor air quality. This makes them perfect for driving around towns and cities.

 

Cheaper to Charge

Fuel prices are very volatile and far exceed the price of electricity. This is because oil is a finite resource and requires more processing to be usable.

 

The average price of petrol is usually around 190p per litre, while electricity usually costs 44p per/kWh (Kilowatt hour) at a public 50kWh charger. This allows you to add 100 miles of range for just £11 whereas the average tank of fuel costs around £82, as of March 2023 (based on a 55L petrol tank).

 

Convenient Charging

As of January 2024, there are over 55,000 devices at over 31,000 locations. This wide-reaching network is making it easier for EV drivers to charge their vehicles on the go.

 

On top of that, you can also install a charging point at home. This makes recharging far more convenient than refuelling an ICE, especially if there aren’t many petrol stations near you.

 

Noise

Electric cars are much quieter than ICEs. Battery power is virtually silent, and most of the cabin noise is the tyres passing over the road surface. If you don’t enjoy listening to a revving engine, an electric car removes the noise completely.

 

Instant Acceleration

Battery power provides more torque at a low speed, meaning electric cars accelerate faster than ICEs. It also removes the need for traditional transmission (so there are no gear changes) and creates a smoother driving experience.

 

Disadvantages of an Electric Car

More Expensive

The cheapest electric car costs almost 3x as much as the cheapest ICE. The batteries that power electric cars are hard to source and produce which currently inflates the cost of the car.

 

However, the price of electric cars is likely to come down as they become more popular.

 

Range & Refuelling

ICEs travel much further than electric cars, especially if you do a lot of motorway driving. What’s more, adding 100 miles of range to an electric car at a public charger takes around 35 minutes, while filling up an ICE takes less than 5. It also takes around 9 hours on average to recharge an electric car using a standard home charger.

 

If you cover a high number of miles every week and spend a lot of time away from home, you will spend a lot of time waiting for your EV to recharge.

 

Fewer Garage Options

An electric car service requires specialist knowledge, skills and equipment. As of 2024, only 16% of UK mechanics had the required qualifications to work on hybrid and electric cars. This limits your choices and makes it harder to get a quick fix.

 

What’s more, many of these work at franchised dealerships. This means you could pay a higher price for servicing and repairs than if you had more deals to compare and garages to choose from.

 

Higher Insurance Costs

EVs are currently more expensive to insure. This is due to their need for specialised parts and servicing, higher value and expensive batteries. They are currently seen as higher-risk vehicles, so sit in higher insurance groups when compared to common ICEs.

 

However, insurance costs are also likely to decrease as they evolve.

 

More Dangerous to Pedestrians

As electric cars are virtually silent, they are more difficult to hear than ICEs. This makes it harder for visually impaired or distracted pedestrians to spot them.

 

When Should I Buy an Electric Car?

There is no ‘perfect’ time to buy an electric car. If they don’t currently meet your needs, but you want to move away from ICEs, buying a new hybrid car may be a better option. However, the earlier you buy an electric car, the less you’ll notice the phasing out of fossil fuels.

 

Alternatively, if you’re not convinced about buying an electric car, you can try an electric car subscription service. For a monthly fee, you can drive an electric vehicle on a flexible contract and opt out any time you want.

 

If you drive an electric car for a month or two and realise it doesn’t work for you, you’re not committed to a long-term contract, so won't find it as challenging to change your car.

 

Read More

What Electric Cars are Available in 2024? (And Which Should I Buy?)

If you’re looking to buy an electric car, you need to know what your options are. Find out what brands currently make electric cars, as well as a full list of all-electric models to buy in the UK.

 

Why Would I Buy an Electric Car Over a Hybrid or Petrol/Diesel?

Not convinced why you would buy an electric car rather than a more established fuel type? Curious about how the different fuel sources compare to each other? Whatever the reason, find out how electric, hybrid and ICE cars differ in this article.

 

How Can I Afford an Electric Car?

You don’t have to buy an electric car outright. There are plenty of different finance options available and flexibility involved with owning an electric car, plus Government grants to make it more affordable. Find out more about these here.

 

How to Buy an Electric Car

Buying an electric car is no different to buying an ICE. That makes the process familiar and less daunting for first-time buyers. Refresh your car buying knowledge in this guide.

 

Is an Electric Car Right for Me?

Before you go any further on your journey towards owning an electric car, you need to know whether they suit your driving needs. If an EV isn't right for you, there's no point in buying one. Find out how to decide if an electric car will suit you in this guide.