December 21, 2024

How Good are Electric Cars?

Electric vehicles can be seen as the future of motor vehicles but how good are they? Like all new innovations, there are plenty of pros and cons to electric vehicles. Technology is evolving at a fast pace and many disadvantages of electric cars have become misconception that continue to give EV’s a bad name.

Charging Stations. Many potential owners of electric vehicles are put off by the lack of charging stations. In many cities, it is still very hard to find charging ports for electric cars and finding one can be a hassle. If you were to travel outside of the city, at longer distances, the problem becomes more pronounced. More frequent charges is require when traveling long distances and it would be a shame to be stuck on the high way without power. But as this form of transportation matures, charging stations are more convenient to find; especially in urban areas.

Battery Distance. Most electric cars average about 100 miles (160 km) before they need to be charged. But as technology progresses, longer distances and faster charging is no longer a dream. Electric vehicle with the longest range on a single charge is the Tesla Model S with a maximum range of 337 Miles (542km). And as more car manufacturers join the competition, the average range on a single charge as greatly increased. Recently electric cars like the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf are all capable of ranges passing 200 miles in a single charge. They have also made electric vehicles become more consumer friendly.

Price of Charging. Possibly the most attractive aspect of owning an electric vehicle. If electricity costs USD $0.20 per kWh, then charging a small electric vehicle (60 kWh) like the Chevvy Bolt only costs about $1.20 to run 255 km. In comparison, if gas price was at USD $3.00, you can only get 40 km out of the most fuel efficient car (Toyota Prius) in 2019.

Price of Owning. Despite the improvements and advantages, the price tag can put off many to-be-EV-owners. The average entry electric vehicle starts from $30,000 but are usually partially subsidized by the local government to push for a greener environment.

Hybrid Vehicles. They have great mileage, thanks to the electric motor. Cost less to purchase and are also subsidized by local governments. In some countries you can even avoid traffic driving on HOV lanes with electric vehicles. You can also forget about finding a charging station on longer trips. Check out Nikkyo’s discounted hybrid cars.