If you want to make a difference to the environment, reduce local emissions and save money over time, then you may have already considered the possibility of switching to an electric car. These days, it’s not uncommon to see electric cars on the road, as the cost of buying one drops and making the change to electric becomes more mainstream. And, following recent government announcements that sales of fully diesel or petrol cars will be banned from 2030, the trend of switching to electric cars is only set to continue. If you’re thinking about getting an EV but are on the fence regarding whether or not it’s the right choice for you, here are some of the main advantages of making the switch.
Cheaper to Run
One of the main benefits of electric cars is that they are cheaper to run. You can find out more about running costs, charging times, and more at LV Electrix. In general, the everyday cost of running an EV is significantly lower compared to running a traditional internal combustion engine car. Electricity will power a car much more cheaply compared to petrol or diesel. So, while you may pay more to buy an EV, you’ll be spending less on fuel on a yearly basis. Along with this, EVs are also cheaper to maintain as there are generally fewer moving parts in the cars. This means that there is a lower likelihood of expensive repairs on replaceable parts like the brake pads and disks, and simpler repairs and services meaning that your car will spend less time off the road.
No or Lower Congestion Charges
With Clean Air Zones being rolled out throughout the country, electric car drivers are likely to benefit from this new government scheme. While the final rules for each region are still in the process of being finalised, at the moment, fully electric cars are exempt from any tolls or congestion charges wherever they apply. In London, fully electric cars that do not emit any CO2 are exempt from the Congestion Charge until 2025, meaning that you will save £15 each time you enter the inner-city congestion zone between the hours of 7am and 10pm.
Better for the Environment
Many people are drawn to the idea of switching to an EV as they have less of an impact on the planet. It’s possible to use fully renewable electricity to power electric cars, which is not only cheaper for EV owners, but a crucial step towards decarbonisation. Since EVs do not emit any exhaust fumes, the more people that make the switch, the more of a positive change this can make when it comes to reducing local air pollution, especially in busy cities.
Government Grants for Charging
If you want to switch to an EV but are worried about the cost of installing a charger at home, then you can get access to government grants, which are available through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and designed to help towards the cost of installing a charging point at home. EV owners can get grants of up to £350 towards this cost. Since April 2022, this scheme has become available only to EV owners who live in rental accommodation or flats.
Better Driving Experience
Driving an electric car can be a safer and smoother experience compared to driving a car with a traditional internal combustion engine. The electric motor is super quiet on the road but doesn’t compromise the responsiveness of the car when you put your foot down. In fact, many EVs have instant torque, meaning you can get from 0-60mph within seconds. Handling and comfort are also improved when you drive an EV, thanks to the lower centre of gravity due to the weight and distribution of the batteries.
Free Parking
As an incentive to encourage more drivers to make the switch to an electric car, you might find that many local authorities are now offering free street parking for electric vehicles. You may also find some private car parks that offer free parking for EVs, or at least free charging points that you can use for the duration that your car is parked there. If you’re wondering what kind of local benefits you might be able to get from switching to an EV, it might be worth checking out your local authority website.
OLEV Plug-In Grant
You can also save money on the upfront cost of buying a new electric or hybrid car, thanks to the OLEV plug-in grant. This could be up to £1500 off the cost of buying a new electric car or hybrid car, and there are other discounts available for other vehicles such as taxis, vans and motorcycles that run on electric. These grants are managed by the dealers you purchase your new vehicle from and applied automatically – so all you need to do is buy an electric vehicle to benefit from them.
Reduce Noise Pollution
Cars and bikes on the road can get noisy and annoying, especially for those who live in a built-in area. Another great advantage of an EV is that they can minimise the noise on the road since they are naturally much quieter compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. In fact, EVs are so quiet that the law now requires them to emit an artificial sound so that pedestrians are aware of their presence when they are reversing or travelling at a lower speed than 12mph. However, this sound is only a quiet hum, which is much more pleasant than the engine sounds of a petrol or diesel car.
Great Resale Value
Another reason to consider making the switch to an EV is that they will often hold onto their resale value for longer. The value of some new cars today will drop the moment you drive them out of the dealership. However, the good news is that this isn’t the case with some electric cars. The value of an EV will drop much more slowly in comparison with a petrol or diesel car, and in some cases, they can even go up in value over time. Since the batteries in EVs are worth quite a lot, the cars don’t tend to drop any lower than a certain price no matter their age or mileage.
Easy and Convenient Charging
When driving an EV, there is no need for you to have a charger installed at home as you can easily find so many public places to charge your car these days. Local authorities are putting a lot of work into expanding their EV public charging facilities and you’ll find street charging, car park charging, and petrol station charging available in most places today. You can easily charge your electric car while you are getting groceries from the supermarket or while you are running errands in town. Some chargers require you to have a membership for the network to use, while others can be paid for by any EV owner.
With more electric cars on the road today, you might be wondering why so many people are deciding to make the switch. Along with being better for the environment, EVs have lots of advantages for driver including being cheaper to run.
