Electric Vehicles (EVs), we all have heard about them. Being cost-effective, safer, faster and easier to maintain, they have gained popularity among Millennials and Gen Z. Now, the market offers various options for those looking for a new car, but EVs are the most popular.
Even though they also have been greatly marketed and most people buy them thanks to the hype around these cars, Electric Vehicles are really great. This article will show you some of the common benefits and considerations of these vehicles to help you explore more and make smart and data-driven decisions. You can contact professionals for EV Charger Installation Buckinghamshire.
Table of Contents
Energy Security
In 2020 US has become a net exporter of petroleum providing exports surpassing imports, although imports of 7.86 million barrels daily stay a crucial part of maintaining a balance between supply and demand for domestic and international markets.
The transportation domain takes about 30% of total US energy demand and 70% of US petroleum consumption. Therefore, using vehicles that are more energy efficient such as hybrid and electric cars, supports the US economy, helping diversify the transportation fleet. Several fuel sources are utilised to generate electricity resulting in a more efficient and safe energy source for the electrified portion of the transportation domain.
For instance, hybrid electric vehicles (also known as HEVs) usually use less fuel than other types of vehicles. This happens because they employ electric-drive technologies to boost vehicle efficiency via regenerative braking, which refers to recapturing energy otherwise lost during braking.
In addition, a type known as Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), sometimes called battery electric vehicles (BEVs), are capable of being powered by electricity, which the US produces from natural gas, nuclear energy, coal, wind energy, hydropower and solar energy.
Costs
Even though energy costs for EVs are usually much lower compared to similar conventional vehicles, sometimes prices of purchase can be higher. Experts believe that costs are likely to equalise with conventional vehicles since the production volumes increase and battery technologies continue to develop every day.
In addition, initial prices can be offset by the following factors:
- Fuel cost savings;
- Federal tax credit;
- State and utility incentives.
What is more, most states and electric utilities provide incentives, where part of which can be easily found in the Laws and Incentives database. If you want to find more reliable and detailed information, it is best to connect with your local Clean Cities coalition.
Fuel Economy
Electric vehicles have been shown to greatly reduce fuel costs thanks to the high efficiency of electric-drive elements. Since all-electric vehicles rely either fully or partly on electric power, the fuel economy they provide is measured differently than conventional vehicles.
HEVs, which are a type of Electric Vehicle, usually offer better fuel economy and have lower fuel costs compared to conventional vehicles. The fuel economy of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles highly depends on the load carried and the duty cycle. However, when used properly, all-electric vehicles can establish a strong fuel-to-cost advantage over their conventional counterparts.
Infrastructure Availability
Both all-electric vehicles and PHEVs offer flexible charging as the electric grid is near most locations where people park. In order to deliver energy safely, car charging stations for EVs, also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), are needed. Finding an EV charging station is easy. EV drivers can search on Google maps or simply use electric car charging apps. This way, you can choose a particular charging station location and even verify details about a certain EV charging company.
Drivers can easily park their car at any available location to charge the vehicle, including:
- Residence;
- Multi-family housing;
- Workplace;
- Public charging station, when available.
PHEVs have become even more flexible because they now can also refuel with gasoline or diesel when needed. In 2022 the number of accessible charging stations for Electric Vehicles has reached more than 41,000, providing over 100,000 charging places.
Emissions
Both electric and hybrid vehicles are much safer for ecology than regular cars. They offer great benefits in terms of the emissions they produce compared to conventional vehicles. To be more specific, all-electric vehicles deliver zero tailpipe emissions, while PHEVs have no tailpipe emissions when working in the mode of an all-electric car. Emissions provided by HEV vary by model and type of the power system.
Overall, the life cycle of emissions of EVs highly depends on the source of the electricity used to recharge the car, which also varies by type, model, region and so on. In locations where manufacturers use relatively low-polluting energy sources, EVs usually have shorter life cycle emissions compared to similar conventional vehicles which use gasoline or diesel to work. Comparatively, in regions that use conventional electricity generation, EVs won’t be able to demonstrate a strong life cycle emissions benefit.
Batteries
Finally, batteries. They are the core of any Electric Vehicle and give all the benefits related to these cars. The advanced batteries used in some types of EV are developed for extended life but will wear out eventually. There are lots of things you need to consider before buying your new Electric Vehicle that relates to the battery.
Therefore, we recommend you contact the dealer for model-specific information to learn important facts about battery life and warranties. Even though manufacturers usually do not provide any data and prices for replacement batteries, it is best for you to look for extended warranty programs packed with monthly fees.
Therefore, if you need to replace the battery outside the warranty, it can be a significant expense. However, experts predict that prices of batteries will decline while the battery technologies improve and volumes of production increase.
The Bottom Line
Electric Vehicles are the most popular cars today. This is because they offer various benefits and tend to be cheaper in maintenance. Therefore, most people think about why they should consider buying EVs over regular cars in 2022. Here we collected several key benefits and considerations about Electric Vehicles to help you explore this sector before purchase.
