A Guide To Electric Cars
A guide to electric cars
New technology always leaves people feeling slightly uneasy or nervous, and that is completely normal. If you think back to when cars and aeroplanes were first invented, and any other method of transport for that matter, people were amazed, and many vehicles were considered dangerous. As technology has advanced, these ways of getting around have integrated into our lives so much that we now couldn’t live without them.
We’re currently at the beginning of a new era of transportation; electric cars, and although many people are sceptical, electric vehicles have many benefits that we can make use of. We want to share these benefits with you and debunk many of the myths that come along with the term electric car.
Benefits of electric cars
Better for the environment
Electric cars have no exhaust and so produce no tailpipe emissions. Even plug-in hybrids have lower average emissions to traditional cars that run off diesel and petrol. This means that air quality will improve the more electric cars that are on the road and as more renewable methods are used to generate electricity, these emissions will continue to reduce.
Charge at home
Simply plug your car in at night to charge and it’s ready and waiting for you the next day – just like your mobile phone! No need to rush to the petrol station on a morning, as your car will quietly charge while you sleep.
Less components to go wrong
Electric cars have far less complex components to regular cars, meaning there is less to go wrong. With fewer moving parts, they require less maintenance which can in turn save you money and time.
Smooth and quiet journey
Driving in an electric car is so quiet and as you accelerate, the car is smooth and steady. This is a new driving experience that is interesting, relaxing and even exhilarating.
Cheaper to drive
Electricity is cheaper to power your car than petrol and diesel. Depending on the cost of fuel, an electric car can cut costs down to just a third of what a traditional car costs to run.
Debunking myths
You’ll be searching for charging points
Many people have visions of being stuck with no power and not being able to find a charging point. In reality, there are more charging points than you may realise and 90 per cent of charging happens at home. For the time you are out and need to charge, you won’t be sitting waiting for hours as rapid chargers can charge an electric car up to 80 per cent in just half an hour. Zap Map is an independent organisation that maps EV charging points across the UK, and included information on connector types, costs, access information, and even a forum for electric car owners to discuss. Stats from Zap Map tell us that as of November 2018 there have been 686 new charging stations added in the last 30 days, and the UK currently has over 10,000 connections in over 6,000 different locations.
They’re boring to drive
Electric cars are smoother and more comfortable, but that doesn’t mean they’re not fun to drive! The acceleration of electric cars can be exhilarating and as the technology advances, interesting and fun electric cars are being manufactured all the time! The BMW i8 and the Tesla Roadster are both gorgeous examples of the sports cars of the future.
They extremely expensive
Yes, electric cars may be more up-front, but the prices are coming down as the technology advances and they become more mainstream. Over the long term, the cost of running the vehicle is cheaper and you can even benefit from government grants and free car parking spaces for choosing an environmentally friendly alternative.