The Tribulations Of Owning An Electric Car

Electric cars have many benefits, but as a relatively recent transportation innovation, they also carry new problems that the average driver might dislike. In this article, we’ll examine the challenges battery-powered vehicle owners face when switching from a traditional petrol engine to a fully electric one.

Upfront Costs

Car buyers trying to decide between an electric or petrol-powered engine face higher prices when going green. Currently, electric vehicles have a higher recommended retail price from manufacturers, with similar-sized and equipped models selling for thousands of pounds more than non-electric competitors. The elevated cost will cause some shoppers to spend more than their budget allows – unless they win the lotto or a cash game jackpot through Bonusfinder UK and can easily afford one. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak responded to the high price of electric vehicles by pushing back a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars until 2035 so that households have budget-friendly options available for a while longer as manufacturers continue efforts to reduce production costs.

Charging Concerns

Keeping an electric vehicle on the road for day-to-day driving involves a new routine when switching from petrol. Petrol filling stations are quite common in the United Kingdom and most of the world, especially on busy motorways, but electric vehicle owners face a challenge when the battery requires a charge. While public electric stations have become more common, there often aren’t enough of them, and in some cases, they need repair. The government and private businesses are working to fund and build more charging points but will need time to catch up. In the meantime, there are fears in the tourism industry that green vehicle travellers will avoid certain areas because there aren’t many convenient, fast outlets available.

Time remains a significant issue when providing the necessary power for an electric car. A fast charging station can power up the average battery in about a half hour, but a queue of customers might be waiting to use it. Slow chargers, on the other hand, can take hours to get you enough juice to keep going.

Car owners with their own homes could install fast connections, though installation costs run into the thousands. Homeowners who don’t want to make the investment can plug their vehicle into a regular outlet, but this task requires consistency, as the battery will typically take all night to fill. No one wants to be stuck waiting for electricity to trickle in because they forgot to plug their car in!

Flat tenants face another problem entirely. They will have to rely on generous property managers to add outlets or go elsewhere to charge up, which will be costly and inconvenient. There is a potential upside here, though, as landlords could see fast charger installation as an amenity to attract new residents.

Less Distance

Let’s address a feeling unique to electric car drivers called range anxiety. Much like petrol engines, battery-powered vehicles claim they can go a certain number of kilometres before running out of electricity. The average petrol vehicle can get around 600 kilometres from a full tank. With current technology, affordable electric models can get around 450 kilometres, while pricier examples with the best battery available could travel about 640 kilometres. The distance seems reasonable but doesn’t stop the average car owner from being a bit fearful of sapping all their battery’s energy without a place nearby to plug in or spending more to drive further.

The batteries in an electric car also share an issue with petrol engines. Cold weather causes the battery to use more energy, resulting in fewer available kilometres, just as chillier temperatures force a gas engine to turn more fuel. For the battery-powered driver, this means planning your trips more consciously during the winter to avoid additional charging stops.

Battery Replacement

Electric vehicle manufacturers, their dealers, and some owners like to brag about not needing oil changes and the regular maintenance that sends gas-powered owners to the shop a couple of times yearly. Lower routine check-up costs are among the top reasons to own an electric vehicle, but they come with a significant and potentially unexpected caveat. The battery on an electric vehicle slowly loses capacity and will eventually need replacement. The cost to replace the relatively large battery that helps deliver power will take a chunk out of your budget, with the price often starting at £5,000 and increasingly drastically for higher-end models with a bigger capacity.

Given the price of replacing the battery, one might wonder if it’s possible to repair a battery instead. Some prospective electric owners even wonder if they can do their own work in their garage, just like they would with some tools and new parts for a petrol engine. Unfortunately, for most people, the answer is no. The reality is that the average gearhead faces serious dangers when fixing a high-voltage power cell. Even specialised shops need additional training and equipment to make the process possible, increasing costs for customers.

That said, there is a positive here. Some automakers offer a reasonable battery replacement warranty, but certain conditions must still be met for a vehicle to qualify. We strongly recommend carefully researching replacement plans and their exact parameters before you are stuck with a hefty bill.

Conclusion

Though we’ve listed complaints about electric vehicles, their infrastructure, and pricing, we must admit that they are the future for reliable, emissions-free transportation. Owning a battery-powered car will just require changes to trip planning and a new, potentially positive approach to maintenance. For now, we suggest seeking regular updates about developments in the industry to know when to jump in!