As most people are aware, electric vehicles (EVs) are considered better for the environment than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. But, even if you are deeply committed to protecting the ecosystem, it’s always good to understand the other benefits of having an electric car.
Here are some other reasons why you should choose an electric car.
As we discussed in a previous article, some EVs might have a higher upfront cost, but they prove to be much cheaper to run. If charging them overnight at home, you end up paying around 4p per mile over 10,000 miles, which includes the cost of installing a charge point too. Costs may also be lower if you invest in solar panels to generate electricity for your house.
Most importantly, with fewer parts to malfunction, EVs prove to be much more reliable while driving.
In order to promote EV adoption, the Government has offered a grant of up to £3,500 towards the cost of the vehicle, as well as funding for charge point installations both at home and at eligible workplaces.
Moreover, EVs currently pay 0% road tax and company car tax, in addition to not having to pay congestion charges in London. This means more cost savings for EV owners.
A number of people who have not tried driving an EV assume that it doesn’t offer the power that comes with ICE vehicles. However, they will be surprised to find out that most EVs can go from 0 to 60mph in under 8 seconds, and some in under 3.
Moreover, it’s not the speed at which they accelerate that can be an advantage of having an EV, but also the seeming effortlessness. EVs are much lighter to handle that ICE cars, making the drive feel smoother.
They are also much quieter, so you can add a calm, stress-free driving experience to your list of reasons for choosing an EV.
EVs need to be lighter than ICE cars because the weight can affect their range. However, because of the way they are built, with a low centre of gravity, EVs are much more stable on the road. This means they aren’t likely to roll over during an accident.
Additionally, since they don’t use flammable fuel, they have a lower fire and explosion risk. This means that driver safety in case of an accident is one of the advantages of having an electric car.
Most drivers would be familiar with the problem of waking up in the morning to a frosted windscreen. Since leaving a car idling is illegal, especially when leaving it unattended to defrost the windscreen, you must get the ice off manually or wait in the car while it heats up.
One of the advantages of EVs is that they don’t need a running engine in order to generate heat. As a result, you can remotely heat up the car without having to turn it on and get into a warm vehicle with clear windows.
While a lot of people claim that they are concerned about the range of an EV, the fact is that most people’s commute is limited to around ten miles. Since even the EV with the shortest range (although technically a quadricycle) gives 62 miles on a single charge, typical commuters can easily travel to work and charge their vehicle at home overnight.
Again, charging an EV might seem longer than spending a few minutes pumping petrol in a car, but it is much more convenient to plug a car in when you come home instead of finding a petrol station on the way. Also, with induction charging becoming a practical possibility, you may not even have to bother with plugging the EV in.
If you’re considering moving to an EV fleet, please contact me to discuss on 0844 854 5100 or email CSalmon@sgfleet.com to find out more.
