Owners have revealed the advantages and disadvantages of owning electric cars – and what they wish they knew before they purchased one.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced this week that thousands of new electric vehicle (EV) charge points are to be installed across England.
Following the rollout – which is being funded with a £56million public and industry investment – many drivers will be left wondering whether it is worth switching their current vehicle to an EV.
For potential buyers, owning one also depends on their specific needs – what cars are available, what they can afford, how much they drive, the price of gas, where they live, for example.
And many electric vehicle users have taken to social media and chat forums to explain the advantages and disadvantages of owning an EV – as well as outlining what they wish they knew before buying one.
While many have said that they have been left impressed by their EV, and ‘would never go back to gas’, others say that they have been left far from impressed
While many Brits have said that they have been left impressed by their EV, and ‘would never go back to gas’, others say that they have been left far from impressed.
Some users say that there is a lack of avaliability of EV’s on the market or second hand sites.
One said: ‘Second hand EVs are in relatively short supply right now so prices aren’t particularly affordable’.
And with there being around 34 million cars on the road – typically there are between one and two million new cars bought in the UK every year – over the last 12 months, on average 15 per cent of new car sales have been fully electric, e.g. battery electric not hybrid.
With this in mind, the lack of charging points across the UK has been a worry for many families who have been looking at switching over their petrol or diesel car to an electric one.
Brits say they wish they knew about the lack of charging points across the country before they obtained one – with one person left questioning whether ‘the charge would last long enough.’
With the financial aspect of buying an EV a big concern for many Brits, many say that ‘prices aren’t particularly affordable’ compared to buying a petrol or diesel car
Electric car charging costs based on data from zap-map.com. Petrol car figures use the current price of unleaded fuel according to the RAC. Figures for fuel costs per year does not include any additional running costs, such as maintenance
Another said that they wished they knew about the charging times before buying one, adding that they were left concerned whether charges would last long enough in congested cities, saying: ‘Road works/traffic and protest hold ups make it virtually impossible to move freely around London.’
While another person said that ‘once you factor in the purchase cost of the car, plus insurance etc., then even taxis might work out more cost-effective for such low mileage,’ compared to buying an EV.
People have also taken to social media to discuss the pitfalls of owning an electric vehicle, saying they have been left concerned about how much they are forking out to charge their car.
One person said: ‘Electricity is NOT FREE. There is a mileage limitation for traveling.’
While another added: ‘With congestion, road surfaces and fuel costs I’m not sure many folk just go for a drive these days.’
And a third wrote: ‘Petrol much cheaper than the extra paid for an EV. Much more flexible. Imagine going 100 miles on a weekend break with a car with a 20 mile range.’
And with the cost of living crisis at the forefront of a lot of families minds, many Brits say they wish they knew how much it would truly cost to charge one in their home before buying one – as ‘electricity is not free’.
Other EV users have also said that there have been issues in reliability or payment when using public charge points.
Meanwhile, another motorist added that they wish they knew about the extortionate cost of having a charging battery or point fitted at their home.
They said that having an Vivaro charger battery fitted ‘is about £40k, that’s a lot of money for fitting it out.’
And, these take up more space in front of a garage or driveway, saying that ‘the charging points would take up more space in the yard and some drivers take their vehicles home’.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the CEO of New AutoMotive, Ben Nelmes, has explained what motorists should know before buying an EV.
He noted that it is important potential buyers take into consideration their driving behaviours before investing in one, explaining: ‘Everybody will want to get the right car for their services, and it entirely depends on your driving behavior and patterns.’
With the financial aspect of buying an EV a big concern for many Brits, many say that ‘prices aren’t particularly affordable’ compared to buying a petrol or diesel car.
However, Mr Nelmes has alleviated these issues and said that the key financial consideration is ‘that while they are expensive upfront, they are cheaper in the long run.
‘In terms of buying one upfront, you can now get a lease deal to significantly reduce the costs.’
The lack of charging points across the UK has been a worry for many families who have been looking at switching over their petrol or diesel car to an electric one
Many showrooms may also offer personal contract purchase (PCD) deals which are similar to leasing. However, they provide the motorist with the option to buy the automobile, return it or take out a new deal at the end of the agreement.
Mr Nelmes also says that it is ‘worth noting that EV drivers will charge their cars at home overnight so they do not have to rely on public charge points in the same way diesel or petrol drivers rely on petrol stations.
He added: ‘Electric Vehicle retailers also say it is unheard of for drivers to take back their cars and say that they are unsatisfied with their performances or services.’
But the general public has recognised that there may be difficulties during really long trips where drivers are forced to use the public charging points – which is something they wish they knew before swapping out their regular vehicle for an EV.
Many Electric Vehicle drivers have noticed that their cars have become harder to use during ‘longer road trips without good planning,’ as it ‘takes some time to charge if you forget.’
But in outlining the other benefits, Mr Nelmes says that ‘the driving experiences are so much nicer in an Electric Vehicle – it is more relaxed compared to having a motor humming away beneath you.’
Others have said that they noticed that theirs were ‘fast, full of technology, easy to drive,’ while others noted that the pros depend ‘on which brand’ of vehicle you purchase.
And with the issue of climate change at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds, purchasing an EV will mean that you will be ‘doing your bit for the environment and not contributing to pollution which plagues many British cities,’ Mr Nelmes says.
In speaking about the roll out of more charge points being installed across England, Mr Nelmes says that the ‘whole transition to Electric Vehicles and Electric transportation is way behind.
‘The issue of global climate change is urgent, hence the transition.
‘But it should have all been done earlier.’
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