Should You Buy an Electric Vehicle? Consider The Pros and Cons

Thinking about buying an electric car? Is an electric car really for you? How much better is it for the environment? What are the costs of operating an electric vehicle? Find out the answers to these questions and more as we provide you with the pros and cons of electric vehicle ownership.

Electric vehicles are being touted by many as the “car of the future”. Many vehicle owners are open to having a car that kinder to the environment and leaves less of a carbon footprint behind.

Electric and Hybrid

If you are considering purchasing an electric-powered vehicle you should be aware that there are two options available to consumers. The first is a fully electric vehicle that relies on the battery to provide power for everything. Once the “juice” runs out, the vehicle needs to be recharged.

Hybrid vehicles are those that can be run on the battery alone until it is depleted and then the gas engine kicks in. In some instances, once the gas engine is engaged it can recharge the battery while the vehicle continues to operate via gasoline power.

IS an Electric Vehicle for Me?

Electric vehicles are much kinder on the environment. For those who attempt to live a “green” life as much as possible, this vehicle has a lot of appeal. The fully electric model runs strictly on battery power which means no gasoline which means no harmful and smelly exhaust fumes.

There are some drawbacks to electric vehicles. The “range” of these vehicles is limited due to the fact that when the battery dies, the car no longer operates and the battery range is significantly lower in some instances than that of a gasoline powered vehicle. Driving style (aggressive) and conditions (uphill) can affect the life of the charge.

We are going to assume your vehicle gets about 80 miles which is the standard for all electric models. Do you drive long distances, work 75 miles from home or do a lot of traveling? These should all be questions you ask yourself when considering an electric vehicle. In this case, this range will not work well for you and your lifestyle.

Charging stations are few and far between right now, but with the increasing popularity of the vehicles they should become a bit more commonplace. You need to consider this as well. Are they a number of charging stations near you or where you travel in the event you run out of battery life on the road?

Also, it can take several hours to recharge a vehicle. So if you do need to recharge on the road, you need to be prepared for a considerable wait.

If you usually drive short distances and have easy access to charging, an electric vehicle could be a real consideration for you.

If the range and charging times put you off but you still would really like to give electrics a try, you may want to consider a hybrid for the longer drive times and ability to switch to gas power when the battery is depleted.

Costs

The purchase price on an electric vehicle can run from just a little over $20,000 to over $200,000. There are minimal maintenance costs associated with the vehicle and oil changes are not required.

The cost of operating the vehicles is considerably less than gasoline powered cars. The stats show 3.5 cents a mile vs 12 cents for a comparable gas powered vehicle with a high mpg rating.

Good News for The Future

Even if a fully electric vehicle doesn't seem like a good fit for you now, there is so much research that is being done to improve on the current models that your ability to purchase one in the future that fits your needs is certainly a good possibility.