The advantages of an electric car

Why is it worth it or not to buy an electric car? There are obvious pros and cons. There are also some pros and cons that you might not immediately think about with electric vehicles. Moreover, each disadvantage has its own advantages. Vice versa. All this is covered in this article.

Benefits of electric vehicles

1. Electric vehicles are environmentally friendly.

The most obvious and most talked about benefit is that the EV is CO-free.₂ emissions. This makes the electric vehicle more environmentally friendly. This is the main reason electric vehicles exist at all. Not only is this something that governments consider important, it is also appreciated by many consumers. According to an ANWB study, this is the reason 75% of Dutch people start using electricity.

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Skeptics are wondering if EV is actually good for the environment. After all, there are more factors than the emissions of the vehicle itself. This also applies to car production and power generation. This gives a less favorable picture. The production of electric vehicles produces more carbon dioxide.₂ free, which is mainly related to battery production. Electricity is also often not produced in an environmentally friendly manner.

In addition, the tires and brakes of electric vehicles also emit particulate matter. Therefore, an electric vehicle cannot be climate neutral. Regardless, the EV is actually cleaner than usual throughout its lifespan. More on this in the article on how green electric vehicles are.

2. Electric vehicles are economical to use.

For those who care less about the environment or still have doubts about the eco-friendliness of the electric car, there is another important advantage: electric cars are economical to use. This is primarily due to the fact that electricity is much cheaper than gasoline or diesel fuel. In particular, with your own charging station, the cost per kilometer is significantly lower than that of a comparable petrol or diesel vehicle. Although you pay more at public charging stations, you are still much cheaper there.

Speed fast charging may be at the level of fuel prices. There are practically no electric car drivers who only charge with fast chargers. Consequently, electricity costs will always be lower than the gasoline costs of a comparable car. More information on this, including calculation examples, can be found in the article on Electric Driving Costs.

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However, there is a high purchase price (see Disadvantage 1). So the EV isn't cheaper from day one, but it can be cheaper in the long run. The points below also play a role in this.

3. Electric vehicles do not require any special maintenance.

Electric vehicles do not require any special maintenance, which additionally guarantees their economy in use. Many parts of the internal combustion engine and gearbox cannot fail for the simple reason that they are not. This makes a significant difference in maintenance costs.

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Things like brakes and tires are still subject to wear and tear. The tires wear out even faster due to the greater weight and torque of the electric vehicle. The brakes are less severe because the electric motor can often be used for braking. The chassis continues to be the focus of attention. More on this in the article on the cost of an electric vehicle.

4. No need to pay for electric vehicles MRB

The government encourages electric driving through various tax incentives. This means, among other things, that you do not have to pay road tax, also known as motor vehicle tax, on electric vehicles.

5. Electric vehicles have a beneficial addition.

One of the main reasons why there are so many electric vehicles in our country is the additional tax incentives that apply to these vehicles. This advantage is so great that the electric car has become almost a no-brainer for business drivers who want to drive private miles. If you pay a 22% surcharge for a regular car, it's only 8% for an electric car. In 2019, the increase was only 4%.

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The supplementary benefit will be phased out until it reaches 2026% in 22. By then, however, electric vehicles will be cheaper. More on this in the Electric Vehicle Supplement article.

6. Electric cars are quiet

It goes without saying, but it's also worth mentioning on the list of advantages: the electric car is quiet. Not every combustion engine car makes the same amount of noise, but the serene serenity of an electric vehicle can hardly match that of a conventional car. This makes chatting or listening to music a little easier.

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What is an advantage for passengers is a disadvantage for pedestrians and cyclists. They are not warned by the approaching engine noise (see Disadvantage 8).

7. Electric cars accelerate quickly.

Despite the greater weight, electric vehicles do their job well. If the maximum torque in a petrol car is only available at x rpm, the electric car immediately has maximum torque. This provides fast acceleration.

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Fast acceleration is good, but it requires a lot of battery power due to the heat that is generated when a lot of power is applied. Also, electric vehicles are not as good at driving at high speeds for longer periods of time. For many gasoline and diesel vehicles, the range at high speeds on the autobahn is still sufficient. For electric vehicles, things are different.

Disadvantages of electric vehicles

1. Electric vehicles have a high purchase price.

One of the biggest barriers to buying an electric car is the high purchase price. The high cost of electric vehicles is mainly related to the battery. The cheapest electric cars cost about 23.000 euros, which is about twice as much as the petrol versions of the same car. Anyone who wants a (WLTP) range of more than 400 km will quickly lose 40.000 euros.

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In the long term, an EV can be cheaper thanks to cheap electricity (see Benefit 2), low maintenance costs (Benefit 3), and no need to pay for MRBs (Benefit 4). Whether this is so depends, among other things, on the number of kilometers traveled per year and the type of vehicle. There is no need to pay for BPM either, otherwise the purchase price would be even higher. In addition, this year the government will offer a purchase subsidy of 4.000 euros. As electric vehicles become cheaper, this disadvantage is getting smaller anyway.

2. Electric vehicles have a limited range.

The second major hurdle is range. This is partly due to the first drawback. There are electric vehicles with a longer range, for example 500 km, but they belong to a higher price range. However, available models have a limited range of less than 300 km. In addition, the practical range is always lower than indicated, especially in winter (see Gap 6). While the range is long enough for commuting, it's impractical for long commutes.

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For most daily commutes, a "limited range" is sufficient. It gets more difficult on longer trips. Then it shouldn't be a big problem: with fast charging, charging doesn't take long.

3. Offer less

Although almost all manufacturers are engaged in electric vehicles and new models are constantly appearing, the range is not yet as extensive as that of vehicles with an internal combustion engine. At the moment, there are about thirty different models to choose from. About half of them have a starting price of less than € 30.0000. Therefore, compared to gasoline cars, there is less choice.

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Electric vehicles already exist in many different segments and body styles. The supply is also growing steadily. More and more new models are added to the A and B segments.

4. Charging takes a long time.

Refueling is instant, but unfortunately it takes a little longer to charge the battery. How long it takes depends on the vehicle and charging station, but can take six hours or more. It is true that there are fast chargers as well, but they are much more expensive. Charging up to 80% with fast charge still takes significantly longer than refueling: 20 to 45 minutes.

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It helps that you don't have to wait next to the car. In fact, you don't waste time charging at home. The same goes for charging at the destination. Charging on the go, however, may not be practical.

5. There is not always a charging station.

Longer loading times aren't the only drawback compared to an old-fashioned gas station. If all the charging stations are full, you may have to wait a long time. In addition, there should be a charging point nearby. This may already be a problem in the Netherlands, but it is often even more so abroad. It also makes overseas travel and vacations difficult. The moment you really can't drive a meter, you're also "further from home" than with a gas car. Getting a canister of gasoline is not included in the price.

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The Netherlands already has an extensive network of charging points compared to other countries. In addition, the network is constantly expanding. It also helps that more and more people are buying their own charging stations. Long trips abroad are also possible, but they require more planning and you spend more time charging on the road.

6. The range decreases with cold.

The range is often not optimal for cheaper EVs, but in addition, the range can be significantly reduced in cold temperatures. In this case, the batteries do not perform well and must be heated with electric current. This means you travel less during the winter and you will need to recharge more often. You can read more about this in the article on the electric car battery.

In addition, there is no residual heat from the combustion engine to heat the cab. To ensure a pleasant temperature in the car itself, an electric vehicle uses an electric heater. Also eats again.

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Some EVs have the option to warm up the battery and interior before leaving. This can be configured from home via the app. In this way, the negative effects of cold are limited.

7. Electric vehicles often cannot tow a trailer or caravan.

Many electric vehicles cannot tow anything at all. Electric vehicles that are allowed to tow a large trailer or caravan can be counted on one hand. Only Tesla Model X, Mercedes EQC, Audi e-tron, Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 Recharge can tow 1.500 kg or more. Almost all cars are from the highest price segment. Read more about this in the article on electric vehicles with a towbar.

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There is an increasing number of electric vehicles that can properly tow a trailer. Work is also underway on electronic caravans, which have their own electric motor.

8. Road users do not hear the approach of electric vehicles.

While silence is pleasant for electric vehicle passengers, pedestrians and cyclists, it is less pleasant. They do not hear the approach of an electric vehicle.

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Since July 2019, the EU is obliging manufacturers to make all their electric vehicles sound.

Conclusion

While there is still room for agreement, the main advantage of electric vehicles remains: they are better for the environment. In addition, the financial picture is of course an important factor. Whether you get cheaper with an electric car depends on the situation. This will not happen if you walk a few kilometers. However, in the long term, an electric vehicle may be cheaper despite its high purchase price. This is partly because electricity is significantly cheaper than gasoline or diesel, maintenance costs are negligible, and MRBs do not need to be paid.

In addition, there are a number of other advantages and disadvantages that can play a role when choosing an electric vehicle. As for the shortcomings, it is often possible to make the same nuance, namely, that the situation is getting better. This applies, for example, to the purchase price, assortment and quotation.