First published: 16 January 2021 @ 4:38 pm
An Electric Vehicle is more economical than a petrol or diesel car if you consider total costs. In this case, total cost includes running costs, purchase price and depreciation.
An EV car has a lower carbon footprint per kilometer traveled. This means that they have a smaller impact on the environment compared to diesel or petrol cars.
The first generation of EVs was not as efficient as their petrol and diesel counterparts. They had small batteries and under powered small engines.
Therefore, the overall efficiency of EVs was lower than that of petrol or diesel cars. The second generation of EVs can provide similar performance to petrol or diesel cars while using less energy.
This means that they are more economical in terms of fuel consumption when compared with their conventional (internal combustion engine) counterparts.
What are the disadvantages of EV car?
The major disadvantage is the limited range on a single charge, making them unsuitable for long-distance journeys. They also take longer to recharge compared to filling up at a petrol station. Therefore, you need access to a charge point wherever you go in order to recharge your EV battery.
Some EVs require overnight charging, which might be inconvenient for people who use their car for work. It forces office workers to keep their workplace charging point free during work hours.
It may also mean an increase in electricity bills if you need to install additional chargers at home.
Another disadvantage is that EV batteries have a limited lifespan and require replacement after some years. However, as they become more popular, battery prices will go down as more companies start developing them.
What are the benefits of EV car?
Electric cars are more economical in the long run as they do not need expensive maintenance such as changing oil, changing gearboxes or changing transmission fluids, etc.
EVs are better for the environment. They produce fewer carbon emissions and have advanced technology, which prevents the emission of harmful exhaust fumes. EVs are cheaper to charge because the energy cost is lower during the night when the electricity tariffs are lower.
Who manufactures EV car?
Carmakers such as Tesla have released their own EV models. However, they also manufacture electric car components such as high-performance batteries for other carmakers, including mainstream petrol or diesel models.
Other companies like Porsche, BMW and Nissan have also developed their own high performance electric cars which can compete with petrol or diesel models in terms of acceleration, handling and braking.
Audi has also developed an all-electric SUV that is fitted with a range extender engine that does not need to be plugged into a wall socket in order to power the conventional vehicle’s electrical components while driving long distances.
This means that it can still run on electricity rather than petroleum when travelling long distance journeys even if its battery runs out of power. It can even run on pure electricity if it is recharged before long distance journeys using the range extender engine.
Are there any other companies that produce electric vehicles?
There are many companies that are working on the development of electric conventional vehicle. Some of these companies include Kia, Volvo, Daimler, Jaguar and Hyundai.
In fact, some carmakers have already started producing their first generation EVs and are now developing second generation EVs which are more economical compared to their petrol or diesel counterparts.
Examples include the Nissan Leaf and the BMW’s i3. Many more carmakers have also announced plans to release their own EV models in the near future.
All these EV models will make up for a significant portion of future car sales as more countries introduce tighter emission standards that will reduce or ban the circulation of fossil-fueled cars in some cities or regions.
What are the top EV car in the market?
Tesla Model S
This EV was the first to use lithium ion battery technology to power its electric motor. It has a range of 80-300 miles depending on the model and it can accelerate from 0-60mph in under 6 seconds.
The Model S has been voted as the best car in 2015 by Consumer Reports. It is also one of the safest cars in terms of safety features which include automatic emergency braking system, lane departure warning, side collision warning etc.
Tesla Model X
The Model X is a full-size SUV that is fitted with falcon-wing doors that open upwards to allow easier access to the interior. It has a range of up to 300 miles and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds.
Nissan Leaf
Nissan’s first EV is a hatchback which has a range of around 80 miles per charge. It has been praised for its practical design and spacious interior.
BMW i3
This fully electric car has an optional range extender engine, which means that you can drive long distance journeys without having to recharge the battery.
However, this engine does not work on pure electricity and therefore you will have to burn fuel cost while driving long distances. The i3 is also very practical due to its large boot space and passenger capacity of five people.
The i3 is also one of the safest cars in terms of safety features which include automatic emergency braking system, lane departure warning, side collision warning etc.
Which countries have the biggest EV car market?
China
China is by far the largest market for EVs in the world because it has a generous government subsidy scheme that gives significant discounts or tax exemptions on new EV purchases as well as free parking and charging points in some cities throughout China.
As a result, there are already over 462,000 EVs registered across China since 2014 and we estimate that there will be 3 million EVs on Chinese roads by 2020.
Governments are offering generous subsidies to encourage people to purchase electric vehicles. Local governments are also encouraging businesses and commercial properties to install charging points for public use.
So that people who are planning to use electric cars can charge them at these places—and even get a charge of a couple of dollars in some areas—by signing up with one of those charging point networks.
This shows that the Chinese government is actively encouraging EV ownership by providing financial incentives and supporting the infrastructure.
They want to encourage the widespread adoption of EVs in China and achieve the ambitious goal of having 5 million EVs by 2020. In order to achieve this, the Chinese government wants all cars sold in the country starting in 2019 to be electric or hybrid.
California
California does not provide any government subsidies or incentives for EV buyers like China does. But it still leads the US market for car sales with over 50% of all sales going to California.
Many residents now want their own EVs because of climate change concerns. California has also passed a law that requires carmakers to produce more EVs in the future.
Norway
Norway has one of the highest adoption rates for EVs in the world. The country has one of the most mature EV markets in Europe due to its efforts in subsidizing EV sales as well as providing charging points throughout the country.
In fact, electric cars made up 33 percent of new car sales in Norway last year, and this is expected to keep growing due to its ambitious EV promotion targets . Norway also has a wide range of EVs available on offer. These include EVs from Tesla, Nissan, BMW and Audi.
France
France is another European country that has ambitious plans for embracing EVs by setting an objective of banning all fossil fueled conventional vehicles from its roads by 2040.
This will be achieved by making it illegal to sell petrol or diesel-powered cars from 2040 onwards and making it mandatory for all new cars sold between 2030 and 2040 to have zero emissions.
Furthermore, France’s government has also launched a €5 billion fund that will support projects aimed at creating better EV infrastructure such as more charging points among other things.
The government also provides significant financial incentives for EV buyers through tax breaks as well as free parking spaces and charging points across France’s towns and cities.
This will make it easier for more people to take advantage of these benefits when they buy their own EVs which should lead to a higher adoption rate than other European countries over time.
Now that you know which type of car is more economical, be aware of what car you buy next time! If you need more handy guide on automotive or everyday uses, head over to the HandyWork Blog and explore!