5 reasons to get an electric car
After more than 100 years of the internal combustion engine, the way we power vehicles is now changing. Welcome to the world of electric cars.
What are the advantages of electric vehicles? Is it a good idea to switch to electric now? Here are 5 reasons why your next car should be electric:
Save money
The average motorist in a petrol or diesel car spends about £1,500 per year on fuel.
In a fully electric car, covering the same number of miles, you would pay about £300 in electricity costs. That’s a massive 80% reduction.
In addition, electric cars have very few moving parts compared to a traditional car. There’s much less to go wrong and servicing costs are therefore generally lower.
A new driving experience
The first time you drive an electric car is like the first time you ride a bike. It’s an unforgettable experience.
First, the silence. The roar of an internal combustion engine is gone. There is only the faint whine of an electric motor. Electric cars provide a wonderful, peaceful cabin to drive in.
Second, the acceleration. Electric motors give you instant torque, with no delay from gear changing. You step on the accelerator and enjoy an immediate response. Pulling away from the traffic lights becomes highly addictive!
Continued access to city centres
Mayors and councillors around the UK are gradually restricting access to town and city centres for the most polluting cars, especially diesels.
London, for example, has both a Congestion Charge of £11.50 per day, plus a new Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge of £12.50 a day. That’s a total of £24 per day to access central London if you drive the wrong type of car.
Electric cars, on the other hand, are currently exempt from both charges. You can drive into the centre of London for free.
Pay less tax
All fully electric cars under £40,000 currently enjoy an annual road tax of £0.
In addition, if you have an electric company car, the government rewards you with very low benefit in kind (BIK) rates. For example, pure electric cars will have a 0% BIK rate in the 2020/21 tax year.
Protect the environment
David Attenborough, and other eminent scientists, have shown we must take urgent steps now to stop global warming and avoid a climate crisis.
Petrol and diesel cars both produce CO2 when you drive them. CO2 is the largest contributor to global warming.
Diesel cars are worse than petrol cars in that they also spew out ‘particulates’. These are tiny, invisible particles caused by burning diesel inside the car’s engine. We breathe them in all the time without realising it, especially in large towns and cities. Particulates are poisonous, causing asthma attacks and harming our health.
Electric cars – by contrast – have no emissions at all. No CO2 and no particulates.
Conclusion
When it’s time to replace your current vehicle, why not consider an electric car? They are cheap to run, safe, fun to drive, low tax, and good for the environment.
If the model you are interested in is too expensive, try second hand. Used electric cars hold their value very well and their batteries are proving to be highly resilient.
Happy electric motoring!
Contributed by…
This article was written by guest author David Lewis, founder of Electric Car Home. See https://electriccarhome.co.uk for further information.