During the last couple of years, the popularity of electric vehicles has increased considerably, thanks to large research and development investments made by automobile manufacturers. The increasing prevalence of electric cars has made numerous people to consider whether their next purchase should be an electric vehicle (EV) or a petrol car.
This article leverages a large number of stats alongside general market data and is divided into several sections. Each section briefly discusses the main factors that you should keep in mind when choosing between an electric and petrol car.
Emissions
Let’s be honest here. The emissions impact of one petrol car will not affect the environment. However, we must look at the bigger picture and realize that with an EV, you’ll likely be seen as an example, thus indirectly influencing others to consider purchasing an electric car.
From a statistical standpoint, once the transition to new-age cars is completed and the majority of the world’s population owns an EV, a 60% reduction in overall emissions can be expected. The number might seem shocking due to the fact that many fail to truly consider the overall impact of using fossil fuels to power worldwide transportation.
Acceleration and Speed
These two factors are always worth considering when choosing a new vehicle. As you may expect, there are numerous EV models available on the market, so acceleration performance and top speeds differ greatly. Despite this aspect, you can expect a considerably quicker acceleration compared to a petrol-based car at the same price tag.
Top speeds are usually lower since it is difficult for an EV engine to maintain full throttle while saving battery life. Additionally, car enthusiasts complain that no electric car can compete with some of the exotic and high-performance petrol cars. Indeed, no electric car can beat the Bugatti Chiron, for instance, yet future models will certainly do so.
Battery and Range
This is likely the most important section of our article, but also the most common cause of concern for potential EV buyers. There is a common misconception on the market which dictates that EVs are not viable due to their sensible batteries. People seem to think that you cannot obtain a range that’s comparable to that of petrol cars.
To kick things off, the last couple of years have brought along numerous advancements in electric car niche. With this in mind, Tesla Model S and Model X batteries keep approximately 91% of their original capacity after 168,000 miles.
Additionally, Lithium-ion batteries (most common for EVs) are becoming better and achieving a 5-8% increase in energy density on a yearly basis.
Battery costs are also slowly decreasing, so we will likely see a bigger range and cheaper EVs in the next couple of years.
As such, EVs like the Tesla Model S/X can attain a range of up to 370 miles. Tesla’s soon-to-be-released Roadster has been marketed as a high-performance vehicle with 620 miles range.
Some of the other models available on the market seem to have their range situated between 90-370 miles. That said, there are plenty of options to choose from. Yes; charging is bound to be more time-consuming, but we still have a balance since charging is tenfold times cheaper than filling up with fuel.
However, while the battery life and vehicle range should be enough for most people, you must not forget to consider logistics. With this in mind, do you have a charging station nearby? Has Tesla’s Supercharger Network penetrated your whereabouts? Are you able to install your very own EV charging station at home or do you live in an apartment?
Development of New Vehicles
Are EVs advanced enough at this point to be worth a purchase, or are the next years going to bring huge innovation to the market?
Well, EVs are quite expensive at this time since they are still work-in-progress and a novelty on the market. Therefore, the first change we’ll see five years from now is a much lower price for electric cars.
Secondly, the next five years will introduce numerous new models to the market, as most car companies are spending big money financing EV research and development. As such, we will see hatchbacks, sedans, coupes, high-performance, cabrios, and exotics on the road soon enough.
The same period will bring further tech innovations, thus providing car drivers and passengers with a smoother journey, better comfort, and more tech to play with. It’s quite clear that these advancements will be introduced on all cars, not just the electric ones.
It’s also important to be realistic. We’re fighting global warming, climate change, and pollution. Soon enough, stricter regulations will be introduced by the world’s governments, and the market will slowly migrate towards electric cars only.
As such, you’ll be forced to purchase an EV at some point. To put things into perspective, India, Germany, and The Netherlands are planning to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2030 and allow only EVs to be sold. UK and France have similar plans, only with a longer timeline.
Conclusion
Based on everything that has been outlined so far, you can still wait for a couple of years before purchasing your first EV. There’s still time to enjoy true horsepower, engine noise, and the benefit of quick fuel tank refilling.
However, when you do buy an EV, you’ll get to experience quicker charging times, better range, even more comfort, a solid charging infrastructure, alongside fully-usable self-driving features.