Slowly but steadily, electric vehicles have begun to rise in popularity in the market. While the majority of the population still prefer gasoline-powered cars when it comes to their vehicle of choice, more and more people are beginning to warm up to the benefits of electric vehicles overall.
But what are these benefits in comparison to gasoline powered cars anyway? Is it simply the type of fuel that these cars run on? Or is there more to it than that?
This article is here to lay those things out.
Electric vehicles are more environmental-friendly
This is the most obvious one. Gasoline-powered cars produce emissions that are considerably harmful to the environment as it affects the environment in all aspects.
Most common are the emissions that are released in the air as greenhouse gases, which is one of the leading causes of climate change and global warming.
In addition, gasoline comes from fossil fuels, a nonrenewable resource. While they are “renewable” in the technical sense as they form over time, the time it does take for fossil fuels to form is too long, as it takes millions of years to do so. Not only that, but fossil fuels also all over the world are being drained much faster than they are being replenished.
An electric car has none of these problems – it emits zero emissions, thanks to having chemically stored energy but releasing it without combustion. This means that no fuel is being burned, and thus, no carbon emission is being exhaled. Plus, it even runs on renewable energy, which is obtainable through methods like wind and solar.
Electric vehicles are more affordable in the long run
You would not be blamed for being hesitant in purchasing an electric vehicle immediately, even if you were convinced by your friend or the internet of its benefits. After all, the asking price of more modern electric vehicles can be quite staggering, especially to those who haven’t done any prior research on electric vehicles yet.
Even the more affordable brands can get quite expensive, being around the $30,000 to $40,000 price range. And if you’re looking for something luxurious and state of the art, you’re looking at double the price of at least $80,000 there. You are definitely going to be paying at least $10,000 more than you would a gas-powered car.
So, with such a steep price tag, where does the “affordable” part come in?
Two things:
- Lower fuel prices. While gasoline-powered cars are cheaper upfront thanks to being a common commodity in this day and age, electric cars are much cheaper in terms of fuel costs. On average, charging an electric vehicle costs somewhere between $300 to $400 per year. Now, compare that to a car that runs on gasoline, which can be anywhere from $1000 to $2500 per year. Obviously, the amount differs depending on the type of vehicle you have, how much you drive around, and where you drive. However, the benefits are clear, especially for people who need to get around by driving a lot, as this will save them a lot of money in the long run.
- Older electric cars are cheaper. Yup. While it’s true that the more recent electric cars will cost you an arm and a leg, this does not hold true for older models. As companies continue to innovate and more people desire newer models, older ones will eventually fall out of the market and slowly go into obscurity, all the while dropping in price along the way. Plus, there are some models that can also go much cheaper if bought as a used car!
All in all, electric vehicles are a long-term investment in its price tag. The hefty price tag upfront is nothing to scoff at and requires proper thinking and commitment, but the benefits are nothing short of amazing either. Other things like maintenance costs drop down as well, meaning that you will have to spend even less to get your money’s worth on the car!
Electric vehicles are more quiet
While many traditional car nuts love and prefer the loud vrooming of a gasoline-powered car to the silent engine of the electric car, electric cars are enjoyed by the general populace much more as they are unlikely to disturb people and neighbors that it zooms past, thanks to their quiet engine.
In comparison, I’m sure many of us has had one complaint or another on the racket a loud car is making to rev up its engines. Even the smaller engines can be quite noisy as well.
The sound of a car revving up and making a lot of noise like those race cars may sound cool to some people, but to those who just want to get through the day with as less stress and noise pollution as possible, it’s really just annoying noise.
Conclusion
Electric vehicles still need a bit of time to take off. There aren’t many people driving electric vehicles just yet, whether it’s because they can’t afford it, or they would rather stick with the old gasoline cars.
It’s not that their fears aren’t unfounded; charging stations are the primary way of recharging the “fuel” of an electric vehicle, and even those are still scarce in places that are slowly gaining acceptance all over the world. Still, electric vehicles are only gaining more traction, and as technology marches on, they may eventually properly take off as the better option – both cheaper and environmental-friendly. As of now though? They’re not too impressive just yet, but they definitely can get the job done right.