Buying an electric car used to be an expensive, inconvenient decision. But today there are significant benefits to owning an EV over a traditional petrol or diesel car—and they extend far beyond the argument for a more sustainable future.
Here are just some of the top benefits of buying an electric car.
Cheaper to maintain than petrol or diesel cars
The average electric car has 1% as many moving parts as a traditional internal combustion vehicle. Because faults occur much less frequently, they need minimal maintenance, and problems are often simpler to diagnose. Servicing is generally faster and cheaper compared to petrol or diesel cars.
Protection from volatile fossil fuel prices and scarcity
The world’s stock of fossil fuels is running out fast. As we burn the reserves away, petrol and diesel fuel prices are only going to increase. With countries increasingly looking to limit or ban petrol and diesel cars, and fuel scarcity historically causing mass panic-buying hysteria, life could get pretty confusing and expensive for non-EV owners.
But even today, charging EV batteries is significantly cheaper than fossil fuels. It varies by nation, but in the UK, for example the fuel cost for a 100-mile journey could be as much as 10 times higher for petrol than electric. Since consumers have control over their home electricity suppliers and tariffs, it’s easier to secure good rates; when you visit a gas station, you pay their price, or you don’t get fuel.
With fossil fuel costs going up, and increased renewable capacity driving electricity prices down, it’s a financial no-brainer.
Better for the environment
Pure electric vehicles do not emit exhaust gases or burn fossil fuels. As the manufacturing process also starts to incorporate more renewable power, EVs are objectively kinder to our planet. With a looming energy crisis on the horizon and increased pollution hammering the air quality in our cities, it is our responsibility to transition to EVs as soon as we’re able.
Many European cities are also introducing congestion charges. Depending on your car’s emissions ratings, you’ll be charged hefty fees just to have your car in the city. The deeper into the city you go, the higher the fees. Pure EVs are usually exempt.
Getting an electric car isn’t just about cost and convenience—it’s about improving our health, world and quality of life.
Superior driving experience
For the majority of drivers, electric cars will demonstrate a significant boost in:
- Acceleration. Instant torque from the electric motor eliminates the slow speed buildup we’re used to, instead propelling the car forwards with incredible responsiveness.
- Noise. EVs don’t have a growling engine that gets louder as you drive, and since most are modern designs, they also dampen wind and tyre noise significantly.
- Handling. The lower center of gravity and weight distribution of the batteries mean tighter handling, comfort in corners, and improved safety.
Home charging
Yes, home plug-in charging is much slower than filling up at the gas station—but that’s comparing oranges to apples. For the majority of daily driving, plugging in every evening means your battery never has the chance to empty. It all happens in the background.
A better way to think about home charging is that whenever you park up for night, or day, someone is racing up with a jerry can to top up your petrol. EV owners never start the motor in the morning and curse, realising they need to delay their trip to get gas!
Government grants, tax exemptions and subsidies
The vast majority of EU member states already offer grants, tax incentives and subsidies to encourage the switch to electric vehicles. While the exact benefits vary by country—see our full breakdown of incentives for buying electric vehicles in the EU—many of them amount to thousands of euros in customers’ back pockets.
Smaller benefits which augment the EV experience
benefits of buying an electric car
- Electric cars can be updated – Free firmware updates from manufacturers help on-the-road EVs become more efficient, faster, and smarter. Onboard technology literally improves as you drive and the rapid-onset obsolescence of petrol cars is massively reduced for EVs.
- Free parking and charging – Many countries are waiving parking fees in busy areas and even offering free-to-use charging stations for EV drivers. Can you imagine being offered free petrol just for owning a car?
- Promising resale value – The long-term value of an EV shouldn’t be our top priority; it’s a different kind of investment from housing or stocks. However, new electric car buyers will be pleased to hear that right now, EVs are holding their value significantly better than petrol or diesel cars.
- Smart pricing – If countries and cities eventually adopt mass smart charging (a brilliant adaptive charging solution which delivers cheaper electricity to drivers and simpler demand curves for utilities) then the cost of running EVs will reduce for everyone.
- Significantly improving charging times – This remains a large barrier to many buyers. However, rapid charging has come on massively in recent years. Huge 90kWh batteries (hundreds of miles of range) can now be charged in just minutes thanks to 250kW+ charging stations. While clearly slower than filling a petrol tank, the gap is closing and this is no longer a significant deterrent—not when you consider the massive benefits available.
benefits of buying an electric car
Now that you learned more about the benefits of buying an electric car, it’s time to take a look at the FAQ section, where we have compiled a list of answers to common questions.
If there’s anything you might want to ask, please don’t hesitate to contact us via live chat. ↘