Owners have revealed the pros and cons of owning an electric vehicle as they open up about what they wish they knew before buying one.
This week the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that thousands of new electric vehicle (EV) charging points will be installed across England.
After the launch, which is being funded by public and industry investment of £56 million, many drivers will wonder if it’s worth upgrading 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 EV users have taken to social media and chat forums to explain the pros and cons of owning an EV, as well as describe what they’d like to know before buying one.
While many have said they were impressed with their EV and would “never use gasoline again,” others say they weren’t impressed.
While many Brits have said they were impressed with their EV and would “never use petrol again”, others say they weren’t impressed.
‘They are scarce on offer’
Many EV users say that there is a lack of EV availability on the market or on second-hand sites.
One said: “Second-hand electric vehicles are relatively rare right now, so prices aren’t particularly affordable.”
And with around 34 million cars on the road (typically between one and two million new cars are bought in the UK every year), over the last 12 months, on average, 15 per cent of New car sales have been all-electric, for example. non-hybrid electric battery.
With this in mind, the lack of charging points across the UK has been a concern for many families who have been thinking of upgrading 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 got one, with one person wondering if “the charge would last long enough.”
With the financial aspect of buying an EV being a big concern for many Britons, many say the “prices aren’t particularly affordable” compared to buying a petrol or diesel car.
Charging times, its reliability and profitability
Another said they’d like to know about charging times before buying one, adding that they were concerned if charges would last long enough in congested cities, saying: “Roadworks/traffic and protest delays make it pretty much impossible to move freely. London.’
While another person said “once you factor in the cost of buying the car, plus insurance etc., even taxis can turn out to be more cost effective for such low mileage” compared to buying a vehicle electric.
People have also taken to social media to talk about the pitfalls of owning an electric vehicle, saying they’re worried about how much they’re spending to charge their car.
One person said: ‘Electricity IS NOT FREE. There is a mileage limitation to travel.
While another added: “With congestion, road surfaces and fuel costs, I’m not sure many people just go out and drive these days.”
And a third wrote: ‘Much cheaper gas 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 many families’ minds, many Brits say they wish they knew how much it would actually cost to charge one in their home before they buy one, as “electricity ain’t free”.
Other EV users have also said there have been reliability or payment issues when using public charging points.
Shelling out extra for the battery charger
Meanwhile, another motorist added that they would like to know about the exorbitant cost of having a charging battery or point installed in their home.
They said that installing a Vivaro battery charger “costs around £40,000, that’s a lot of money to install.”
And these take up more space in front of a garage or driveway, saying that “charging points would take up more space in the yard and some drivers take their vehicles home.”
The lack of charging points across the UK has been a concern for many families who have been thinking of upgrading their petrol or diesel car to an electric one.
What the expert says
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, New AutoMotive CEO Ben Nelmes has explained what motorists need to know before buying an EV.
He noted that it’s important for potential buyers to consider their driving behaviors before investing in one, explaining, “Everyone will want to get the right car for their services, and it depends entirely on their behavior and driving patterns.”
With the financial aspect of buying an EV being a big concern for many Britons, many say the “prices aren’t particularly affordable” compared to buying a petrol or diesel car.
However, Mr Nelmes alleviated these issues, saying the key financial consideration is ‘that while they are expensive up front, they are cheaper in the long run.
“In terms of buying one upfront, you can now get a lease to significantly reduce costs.”
Many showrooms may also offer personal contract purchase (PCD) deals that are similar to leasing. However, they do give the driver the option to buy the car, return it, or take out a new contract at the end of the contract.
Charging at home vs using public charging points
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 charging points in the same way that diesel or petrol drivers rely on of the service stations.
He added: “EV retailers also say it’s unheard of for drivers to recall their cars and say they’re not satisfied with their features or services.”
But the general public has recognized that there can be difficulties during really long journeys where drivers are forced to use public charging points, something they’d like to know about before trading in an EV from their normal vehicle.
Many EV drivers have noted that their cars have become more difficult to use during ‘longer road trips without good planning’ as it ‘takes some time to charge if you forget’.
The experience’
But outlining the other benefits, Mr Nelmes says that “driving experiences are much more enjoyable in an electric vehicle – it’s more relaxed compared to having an engine humming under you.”
Others said they found theirs to be “fast, tech-packed, easy to drive,” while others noted that the benefits depend “on the brand” of vehicle you buy.
And with climate change at the forefront of many people’s minds, buying an EV will mean you’ll be “doing your bit for the environment and not contributing to the pollution that plagues many British cities,” says Mr. nelmes.
Speaking about the rollout of more charging points being installed across England, Mr Nelmes says that “the whole transition to electric vehicles and electric transport is long overdue.”
‘The issue of global climate change is urgent, hence the transition.
But it should have been done earlier.
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