There are many reasons why you may be considering getting an electric car this year. From the lower running costs to the less harmful impact on the environment, it’s easy to see why more drivers than ever are adopting an electric car into their lifestyle. However, for many, there are still a few limitations to going all-electric. The guide below looks at how an electric vehicle could benefit your life but also the factors which you should consider first before you jump in at the deep end.
Drivers may be more inclined to consider getting an electric car this year as the petrol and diesel ban is coming in 2030. This ban sees no new petrol or diesel cars being manufactured in 2030 so if drivers are wanting to get a brand-new car, they will have to buy an electric car or a hybrid one. The ban is coming into play to help to reduce greenhouse gases and improve air quality for all. By adopting an EV earlier than the ban, you can prepare for life with a zero-emissions vehicle. There are also an increasing number of Clean Air Zones in the UK which charge drivers a fee for going through specified zones in vehicles that pollute air quality. Electric cars are exempt from these charges as they don’t produce any harmful emissions.
For many drivers, the prospect of getting an electric car is a no-brainer and there are many reasons why you should consider one too.
Electric cars use an electric motor instead of a traditional petrol or diesel engine. This means that there’s no need to refuel. Instead, the batteries in the motor can be recharged by plugging your vehicle in at home or at a designated charge point. Electric cars have lower running costs as it costs considerably less to charge your car with electricity than it does to fuel it with petrol or diesel.
As there’s no tailpipe involved and no fuel to burn, electric cars don’t release any harmful pollutants whilst driving. The emissions released from petrol and diesel cars speed up the rate of climate change, global warming, and cause damage to air quality. By getting an electric car, you are doing your bit for the environment and if everyone adopted the same lifestyle, air pollution would rapidly get better.
Electric cars can be more expensive due to the modern technology used but there are many options for drivers to get an electric car on finance, if you meet the criteria. Electric car finance is a great way to help make your EV dreams a reality and pay for it in affordable monthly payments. Agreements such as PCP also offer low monthly payments on both new and used cars so you could find a deal that suits your budget.
Whilst there are so many benefits of getting an eco-friendly car there are a few factors to consider first to see if one would fit in with your lifestyle.
Electric car batteries offer an electric range of how far the car can travel on a single charge. Choosing an electric car with limited mileage or that does cover your needs, can mean you end up recharging more than you need to. Each and every electric car have a different range so it can be worth doing your research first to see which would be best for you.
Car finance tries to make owning a car more accessible for as many people as possible. and whilst there are many options for people to get a car on finance with poor credit, it can be harder to get approved. It may be best to take some time to improve your credit first before relying on finance to fund your next car purchase. From a lender’s point of view, it’s all about risk, and building a credit history that shows you can be trusted to meet payments on time can increase the likelihood of getting approval.
The easiest and cheapest way to recharge your electric car is at home and overnight. To do this, you will need to have an at-home charger installed and the cost will be added to your monthly electricity bill. It also takes around 5-8 hours to recharge an EV at home as it uses a lower rate of electricity. You can also use public chargers which use a higher voltage, but they usually cost more and depending on the charge you use, it can take anywhere between 30 minutes – 2 hours which can be inconvenient if you’re in a hurry.