These are battery-powered vehicles run by electric motors instead of internal combustion engines. EV batteries charge by plugging them into chargers, which are not only available in public places but can also be installed in homes.EV demand is increasing as environmental concerns grow around the world.
Let's delve into the benefits and drawbacks of EVs and explain why getting one should or shouldn't be considered.
Benefits
So, let's start with the positive side of EVs:
- Environment Friendly
The first and most important advantage of such vehicles is that they have no negative impact on the environment. They are much more environmentally friendly than their internal combustion counterparts due to their zero tailpipe emissions.
Furthermore, they are silent, so their contribution to noise pollution is zero.
- Performance
Performance is another category in which EVs completely dominate. For example, a decade ago, if you wanted breathtaking performance from a vehicle, you had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a supercar.However, with the introduction of EVs, the segment has been completely transformed, as EVs with four doors and plenty of storage space can quickly achieve 0 to 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds.The Tesla Model S Plaid is presently the world's fastest production car, outperforming Lamborghinis and Ferraris. The vehicle provides exceptional performance while sacrificing neither luxury nor utility in the slightest.
- Lower Running Costs
Although electric vehicles are slightly more expensive than conventional vehicles, their operating costs are lower than gasoline or diesel-powered cars.
- Relatively Low Maintenance
EVs are low-maintenance vehicles because owners do not need to check the engine oil and water levels. Not having that worry on one's mind makes their operation much more accessible than conventional vehicles.
- EV Grants
Several countries around the world offer grants on the purchase of electric vehicles. These grants are offered to encourage more people to buy these vehicles.
- Free & Reserved Parking
Multiple countries provide EV owners with additional benefits such as free or reserved public parking spaces.
Drawbacks
Let's now look at some of the drawbacks of owning an EV.
- Higher Initial Cost
While EVs have lower operating costs, higher initial costs mean that you pay more for an EV of the same size as a conventional vehicle.
- Limited Range
Another significant issue with EVs is their limited driving range. As a result, owners of such vehicles are frequently limited in how far they can travel in their electric car, particularly during intercity travel.
- Charging Needs Time
Charging the batteries of electric vehicles is a time-consuming process. Even with superchargers, it takes several hours before you can drive away with a fully charged car.It's especially aggravating when considering that a conventional vehicle only requires a 2-minute trip to the gas station to be refueled.
- Charging Network Is Limited
Although more prominent brands such as Tesla are working hard to establish a network of EV chargers, they are still quite limited. Therefore, EV owners must prudently choose a route that includes charging stations when they travel outside of their city.Furthermore, several EV owners have reported that they frequently have to travel great distances to charge their vehicles.
Final Verdict
Compared to the well-established conventional vehicle technology that has matured over the last century, the EV segment is still reasonably young.However, with time, the benefits of EVs are expected to outnumber their drawbacks.
