Electric vehicles offer lots of benefits. However, just like any other invention, they have drawbacks, especially compared to ICE cars. This article looks at both the pros and cons of electric vehicles. We start with the advantages.
Electric car advantages
Electric cars have many pros. Some of them are listed below.
Electric cars do not pollute the environment
Electric cars do not produce tailpipe emissions since they do not burn fossil fuels. This makes them cleaner for the environment. Governments trying to combat global warming are pushing for electric vehicles due to their low negative effect on the environment.
Electric cars are more efficient with energy
Internal combustion engines are notoriously wasteful, as they convert only about 21 percent of the energy they produce into motion. Electric cars do far better, with up to 60 percent of the energy stored in the battery converted to motion. This implies charging an electric vehicle is a better way to spend energy than pumping gas into the tank of a car.
Electric cars require low ownership costs
Since electricity is cheaper than gas, EV owners spend less on recharging. They also save money due to the less maintenance electric cars typically require because they do not have as many moving parts to break down.
Now that we have covered the major advantages of electric cars, we will look at the disadvantages next.
Electrical car disadvantages
Electric cars have disadvantages. However, many are temporary and will go away with time, meaning they are growing pains.
Electric cars can travel less distances
Compared to ICE cars, electric cars have limited driving ranges, making them less useful for longer trips. This is due to the battery, which is very expensive. However, newer electric models offer longer ranges, which is expected to continue as batteries get better.
Electric cars need more time to refuel
ICE cars can fill up the gas tank and get back on the road in less than five minutes. This is not the case with electric vehicles, which can take up to an hour to charge fully on public fast DC chargers and even longer with a home charging station. This requirement might make electric vehicles not practical for some drivers.
However, with better batteries and chargers, the time to charge is dropping.
Electric cars cost more
Electric vehicles cost more on average, and the higher cost is enough to discourage some people who would prefer to switch from ICE. However, due to battery costs dropping, the prices of electric cars are reducing as well, with some analysts predicting they will reach price parity with ICE cars in a few years.
Conclusion
While electric vehicles have their drawbacks, many of them are temporary and will diminish with time. And even before that happens, electric cars remain practical for everyday use for most people.