
17 Jul The Benefits of Going Electric
Cheaper to run. Compared to petrol or diesel, electricity is cheap. On a cost per mile basis this means a pure electric car could cost a third (or less) of what a traditional petrol or diesel car might cost. Plug-in hybrids efficiently combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine, meaning they too can be considerably cheaper to run.
Cheaper to maintain
A petrol or diesel engine is a complex beast, requiring many additional components to operate correctly – exhaust systems, starter motors, fuel injection systems, oil, radiators, gears … Pure electric cars, on the other hand, have just three main components – the on-board charger, inverter and motor – and fewer moving parts than cars with an internal combustion engine. This means there are less things requiring maintenance and servicing is simpler. All of which could save you money.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) can also be cheaper to maintain than ‘traditional’ petrol or diesel-powered alternatives. Whilst these have a petrol engine that needs regular servicing, the electrical motor requires little maintenance due to far fewer moving parts, which leads to less wear and tear of the petrol engine component.
Better for the environment
Pure electric cars have no tailpipe emissions; in fact, they don’t even have an exhaust. Plug-in hybrids have significantly lower average emissions than traditional petrol or diesel cars too. This can help improve air quality, particularly in urban areas and at the roadside where air quality can be worst.
Even when taking into account the impact of generating the electricity used (the ‘well-to-wheel’ emissions), pure electric cars can still produce substantially lower greenhouse gases than petrol or diesel cars. These emissions will be reduced further as the UK switches to more renewable and nuclear electricity generation.
Over their whole lifecycle, electric cars have lower greenhouse gas emissions than ICE vehicles. Battery manufacture can be than offset by increased efficiency and emissions savings over the life of the car.
Easy home charging
Imagine never going to a petrol station again. Simply plug your car in when you get home to charge overnight and it’s ready for you in the morning. That’s it. No fuss or bother – your car quietly takes care of itself whilst you relax. Plugging in takes all of about 15 seconds. Just like charging your mobile phone.
Using a dedicated home charging unit is the easiest, safest and recommended way to charge at home. These compact and robust units can be fitted inside or out – and even benefit from a Government grant of up to £500 towards the installation.
Quiet and quick
The high levels of torque delivered by electric motors means that pressing the accelerator results in an almost instant surge of smooth acceleration, providing an exhilarating driving experience.
Tax savings and incentives. The Government are actively encouraging drivers to switch to electric cars and vans – which is good news for anyone considering buying a new one.