The Pros and Cons of Buying an Electric Car

New car registrations within the UK are at the highest point of the last 12 years. Electric vehicles are now responsible for a sizable part of that market share, up 19.9 per cent on last year’s figures. With this in mind, should you consider buying an electric car, or stick with your existing petrol or diesel model?

Pros of Buying an Electric Car

Cost

While the initial outlay for an electric car isn’t low, the cost of running one is significantly cheaper than paying for petrol or diesel. Not only that, but there are less general maintenance costs associated with electric cars too!

Convenience

Electric cars are particularly convenient if you travel short distances, as you will never have to visit a petrol station again – you can just rely on charging your car at home, if you are able to install a charging point in your garage or on your driveway.  Each charge should give you between 80-100 miles, or with some models, significantly more.

Cons of Buying an Electric Car

Range

While it is improving all the time, there are still concerns about the ‘range’ that electric cars can travel before they require charging. This is compounded with the extended period of time that it can take to charge an electric car. While the range should be sufficient for most drivers, and should cover commuting or social trips for the majority of people, those who drive long distances frequently still have some concerns. Watch this space though – new developments in battery life are happening all the time.

Initial Purchase Price

While electric cars are cheap to run, there is a higher initial cost associated with the initial purchase. Generally, electric cars are currently between 15 per cent, and 50 per cent higher. This is due to the fact that electric cars use new technology, and also because the batteries which electric cars run on are expensive.  However, the UK government offers subsidies on some electric cars currently, and the combined reduced running and service costs can mean that the cost is offset over time, depending on the model. Electric car manufacturers have also developed schemes to sell the cars without their batteries, instead leasing the batteries for a monthly cost, which again brings the overall cost down.  

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