The future of driving is electric. Thanks to new technologies that promise to shorten charging times and increase range, not to mention the automation features that further enhance safety, there has never been a better time to choose an electric vehicle. Obviously, replacing billions of petrol cars with electric vehicles will not happen overnight, but many experts believe that an all-electric future is rapidly approaching. As they're becoming more mainstream, their cost is dropping, and there are many benefits to making the switch.
Electric vehicles or EVs have been around for more than 150 years, but it's only in the last few years that people have started to see their true potential. When choosing a new car, most people consider quality, reliability, and cost of ownership, including insurance cost. But nowadays, people are increasingly concerned about environmental issues, and the future of our planet is becoming one of the decisive factors.
EVs Are Cheaper In the Long-Run
For years, if you wanted to get yourself an electric car, you only had a few manufacturers to choose from. You could, of course, get a Tesla, a BMW i3, a Nissan Leaf, or maybe a Prius. Those were the most popular options. But now almost every major car manufacturer is putting their hat in the ring. More competition means better technology at a lower cost, reducing the cost of ownership we mentioned in the introduction.
EVs are still generally more expensive to insure. According to Insuranks.com, the cheapest car to insure in 2021 is the 2011 Subaru Outback at $352 per year. Compared to Tesla Model 3 at $1,832 through Tesla Car Insurance, that's a real bargain. But that's not the cheapest option for insuring the Tesla Model 3. According to the same insurance comparison site, that's USAA at $1,094 per year, while the overall average annual rate for car insurance in the U.S. in 2021 is $1348 per year.
Moreover, EVs provide tremendous long-term value and can be a great investment for drivers searching for a more cost-effective and efficient mode of transportation. Their price is now similar to petrol and diesel vehicles, but the cost of ownership is much lower in the long run. It also depends on the make model and features. Thanks to tax incentives, special government grants, lower maintenance costs, better fuel efficiency, and lower electricity costs, you may end up spending a lot less than on your current car.
The motor, inverter, and on-board charger are the three primary components that power fully electric cars, and they are all designed to be as efficient as possible, which translates to fewer moving parts that might get damaged and less wear and tear, making running and repair costs minimal.
Better for the Environment
The most obvious benefit of switching to EVs is that it helps reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust emissions, improving the air quality in towns and cities. They still need to be charged from an electricity grid, so many people wonder about the environmental impact, but research conducted by European Energy Agency found that the carbon footprint of driving an electric car is 17 to 30% lower than driving a conventional petrol or diesel car.
You can reduce your carbon footprint further if you can charge through a solar PV system or purchase electricity from renewable energy sources through your electricity provider.
They still require a lot of energy to manufacture, more than a conventional car. The energy used to manufacture them accounts for more than a third of their lifetime CO2 emissions, mostly because of the lithium-ion batteries. Still, this seems to be changing for the better as technology advances. The amount of emissions produced during the manufacturing of batteries will decrease as more efficient manufacturing procedures are developed.
The market for reusing and recycling batteries is also expanding, which will reduce the lifetime environmental impact of EVs. Various manufacturers are researching how to introduce battery recycling programs. For example, Honda has created a program to collect old lithium-ion and nickel-hydride batteries from twenty-two countries and repurpose them in technologies such as home energy storage. Mercedes is also looking at lithium-free options, as well as replacing carbon anodes with silicon in order to enhance mileage per charge by 20%.
They're Quieter
When drivers switch to an electric car, one of the first things they notice is how quiet it is, which makes for a significantly more relaxing and comfortable driving experience.
In fact, EVs are so quiet that legislators in some states thought that electric automobiles should be equipped with noise makers to alert pedestrians, and the Jaguar I-Pace has fake engine noise added, so it feels more like a conventional car when the driver accelerates quickly. Instant torque is available in all-electric vehicles, ensuring that you always have power at your fingertips.
Maneuvering around corners and curves is simple and safe since the batteries are usually placed in the vehicle's floor, providing you great balance and weight distribution. This means you can make your way through town in a clean, quiet, and comfortable car – the ideal driving experience.
Safe to Drive
Electric vehicles are subjected to the same safety testing protocols as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.
They have a lower center of gravity, are easier to maneuver, and are equipped with the latest safety features like sensors, monitoring systems, and cruise control.
In the event of an accident, the airbags will deploy, and the battery's electricity supply will be switched off. They also don't run on flammable fuel, which can cause explosions and serious injuries.
Better Performance
Electric automobiles, contrary to popular belief, outperform combustion vehicles in terms of power, torque, and acceleration. As we mentioned before, they're also easier to maneuver because of their low center of gravity from the batteries being installed in the chassis.
Yes, combustion engines still dominate over long distances on the track for the time being, with their very energy-dense petrol providing them with greater range, but this will certainly change as battery energy density continues to rise. Besides, very few of us ever drive our cars on a racetrack.
EVs outperform conventional vehicles where it really matters – driving through town, zipping through traffic, overtaking other cars when it's safe to do so, and enjoying a relaxing and comfortable drive in the countryside.
