Hatfields News

Why buy an electric car?

Electric vehicles (EVs) have come a long way in recent years, on every front.  Early EVs were known for their odd looks that set them apart from conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, a fairly low battery range and understandably, drivers were worried about things like battery life and degradation, as well as how they would tackle long journeys in a car that needed a lengthy charge every hundred miles or so.

Thankfully, everything from the design of EVs, battery technology and features of the vehicles themselves, to the public EV charging network across the country, have progressed at an incredible rate over the last few years, and look set to continue evolving at speed, as more and more people start to make the switch.

If you’re unsure about whether the time is right for you to make the change to EV, we have outlined some of the most popular reasons for doing so.

Impressive performance levels

One of the big arguments against electric cars has traditionally been that they aren’t ‘fun’ to drive and that they can’t compete on a performance level with ICE vehicles. However, the more recent generations of EV are now firmly putting that idea to bed. ICE cars need to build RPM through acceleration and changing gear to reach the maximum power and torque, whereas EVs don’t. The power and torque with an electric motor is instant, as soon as you touch the accelerator. For example, the Jaguar I-Pace can go from 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds.

Range of 250+ miles per charge

Some models now have a driving range on a single charge that is almost equivalent to what some petrol and diesel cars can do on a full tank of fuel. That is easily enough for most people’s daily driving needs, with home chargers meaning that most people can plug their EV in overnight and never need worry about range anxiety.

Rapid public EV chargers capable of super-fast charging times

For those who go on longer journeys than the range of their EV and need to use the public charging network, many UK service stations, retail parks and other popular locations now host rapid EV chargers (up to 50 kW) which is set to rise to 150 kW and 350 kW over the next few years, meaning that many EVs can be charged in just mere minutes, rather than drivers having to wait for a significant amount of time.

For those who think that not having off-street parking means they can’t have an EV, there are also alternative ways of charging outside or close to home. EV chargers can now be built into some lamp posts, meaning that you could still charge your car right outside your house even if you don’t have a driveway. Public chargers are also being installed in more and more places, from supermarket car parks and shopping centres, to council car parks, workplaces and city centres all over the UK.

Whilst still a work in progress, the UK’s EV charging network is evolving quickly.

 

Depreciation on premium EVs can be considerably less than ICE equivalents

The first generations of modern EVs suffered from significant depreciation, with people worried about how the batteries used in them would cope with long-term use, leading to a small second-hand market. However, time has shown that EV batteries degrade very slowly, and the technology is improving all of the time to make this even less of an issue with each new generation. Because of this, the latest EVs are showing that they don’t actually depreciate in the same way as ICE cars and can hold a higher percentage of their value for much longer than used to be the case.

Fuel & running cost savings

With less moving parts, EVs are less complex to service and maintain mechanically than ICE vehicles, so usually have cheaper services. Savings can also be made on vehicle tax, with pure electric vehicles paying nothing at all – and in particular, not having mounting fuel costs!

Environmental benefits

One of the most obvious of reasons for switching to EV is because of the reduction in emissions that these cars offer. Questions have long been asked whether the manufacture of EVs, which are then run off national grid electricity, is even green at all. However, lifecycle analysis has shown that even when considering the production of all parts, and if powered by the most carbon-intensive sources possible, EVs are still ‘cleaner’ than conventional vehicles. As more of the UK’s electricity every year is generated by renewable sources, such as wind and solar, EVs will continue to get more and more ‘green’ as time goes by.

If you’re still unsure about whether to make the switch to EV, you might find it useful to try the Go IPACE app on iOS or Android. The app tracks your normal car journeys automatically and shows you facts and figures as if you were driving an I-PACE, including projected battery usage, range and estimated cost savings vs an ICE car.

For more information on the Jaguar I-PACE or to book a test drive, contact your nearest Hatfields retailer today.