Are Electric Cars for Me?

With the world slowly coming to realize how important it is to conserve the environment, many advances have been made to change our daily lives in favor of the ecosystem. Methods like water-saving, electricity usage reduction, and Earth Hour are just among the few global campaigns. However, in a move to curb the use of fossil fuels in automobiles is the introduction of electric vehicles. The concept behind this is simple. The car runs by an electric motor that is powered by rechargeable batteries, leading to zero carbon emissions.

However, here’s the catch, people are not buying these cars at a rate at which they should be selling out. What are the factors that are putting people off saving the environment? And do they apply to you too? Let us show you what to consider before you decide whether you need an electric vehicle or not.

Be prepared for the first bump

Let us be honest with you here. Electric cars themselves aren’t any cheaper than the gasoline ones.  Here’s the first reason why people don’t buy as many electric cars.  However, if you have to consider the fuel savings, an electric vehicle can easily save around $500-$1000 in fuel costs per year for the typical American daily commute.

A general rule of thumb states that once an electric vehicle has 50,000 miles under its belt, (or, umm, battery) the owner has usually earned back the up-front cost through fuel savings. This, of course, is followed by cheaper operational costs for the rest of the car’s life.

Do you have the supporting blocks?

Owning an electric vehicle can be tiresome, and quite frustrating. At least that is what the people who have successfully avoided buying an electric vehicle so far say. Sure, if you live in a third world country where you have trouble recharging your car because of constant power outages, it would be a terrible decision. But with the amenities you get, getting frustrated by longer charging times seems entirely unfair. Besides, these longer charging times bring in $500 every year. Think of what you will do with that money. In addition to that, all-electric cars need are a socket at the end of the day.

Is electricity that expensive?

People often argue about the increase in electricity bills that would follow post their continuous recharging sessions at the house. Let us counter that with well-researched facts. According to Alternative Fuels Data Centre, if electricity costs $0.11 per kWh, which is the standard rate in the United States, and the vehicle consumes 34 kWh to travel a hundred miles, it only costs 4 cents for the car to run each mile. Breaking it down more easily, for 70 miles, which is a tough stretch for two days’ worth of car charge, it only costs you $2.64. With fuel savings as dramatic as these, anybody would shift to an electric car. The problem remains, people don’t.

The general belief

The general belief is often untrue, making people avoid buying electric cars. Most people believe electric cars are not as powerful in their drive as a gas-driven car. However, this is false, as electric cars are just as efficient and powerful in their engine capabilities as any other gas-driven car. On the plus side, people do at least acknowledge the fact that electric vehicles are a revolution in the emission-free world and are of a great benefit to the environment. In these times, a regular electric car is just as efficient as an 80 mpg rating gasoline car.

Added Benefit

Yes, there’s more. Understanding the fact that in the near future, everything will indeed go electric helps a little in making the decision. With you buying an electric car today, you only push the market towards its ultimate destination and help it reach there a little faster, all the while caring for the environment that you live in. Toss in support from your government, as many states prepare to go green by introducing electric cars, at subsidized rates, and building charging stations at public places for the benefit of the consumer. If your state is one of these, be sure to take full advantage of it.

Another option

With capitalism reigning supreme, large corporations never let go of an opportunity to make a buck for themselves, even if it involves befriending the enemy, like in this case. Popular automobile manufacturers have found a working solution in ensuring that their gas-driven cars stay on the roads for a longer period, in which they propose their creation; hybrid cars.

The introduction of hybrid cars to the market is not new, where it combines an electricity-run engine that can also run on gas. And people seem to love it. An example is Toyota’s Prius, which proudly calls itself America’s most popular hybrid car. In these cars probably lies the future, at least for now. Offering minimum maintenance costs, and virtually no fuel costs at low speeds because of the electric engine, you even forget to worry about getting stranded in the countryside with no electricity as there is still fuel in the tank to save you.

Finally, the choice is still yours

The choice, yes, is yours still. Whether you choose to go in favor of a gasoline car, or an electric one, or even a hybrid for that matter, you have to choose what suits you the best. In an area where electricity is unreliable, and you doubt you might run out of your batteries on the road, an electric vehicle might not be a good idea. But in a city with short driving times, do yourself and the environment a favor. Electric car prices are constantly coming down, and in a few years, they will be all the rage. It is better to embrace change head-on rather than merely following it because you have no other option left in the end.