As concerns about the environment become more top of mind to car buyers, sales of enviro-friendly electric vehicles increase. In fact, sales of electric vehicles are expected to rise from a 2% global share back in 2016, to 22% in 2030.
Here are five reasons why you should consider buying an electric vehicle:
1. It is a Step Towards Fighting Climate Change
Part of a real solution to climate change is to use zero-carbon sources for power. That includes such sources as solar and wind, and of course, electricity.
2. Electric Vehicles Don’t Cause Air Pollution
Electric vehicles don’t cause air pollution, and that is good for your health! Air pollution contributes to cardiovascular disease, asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), lung cancer and diabetes.
3. They Are More Affordable Than You Think
Many people think that because electric vehicles have new technologies that they must be out of reach and unaffordable. The initial cost for an enviro-friendly vehicle is more, but research has shown that it works out that they are cheaper to run in the US, UK and Japan than their gas guzzling counterparts, over a period of four years.
Over that period of four years, the research analysed the total cost of the vehicles, which took into account the purchase price and depreciation, fuel, insurance, road tax and maintenance, and found electric vehicles cheaper in all of the markets they looked at, which were Texas, California, UK and Japan.
While it is true that some of the lower cost in 2017 was a result of government support for purchasing electric vehicles, it is expected that electric cars will become cheaper than gas powered cars even without subsidies within a few years.
4. You Can Get Pretty Far Before You Need Recharging
Of course, how far you can go depends on road conditions and driving habits, but the average is 140 to 450 km on a single charge. This is suitable for most people who drive less than 80 km per day. For longer trips you have to be aware of where you can get a charge up.
5. The Number of Charge Stations Is Increasing
One of the fears that has stopped people from purchasing electric vehicles is that there wouldn’t be enough places to charge up, and they would have limited range to travel within.
As of November, 2018, there were 18,681 charging points in the UK, 6,633 of those at different locations, and more are being added.
In the same year, the U.S. had approximately 57, 000 charging outlets and 20,000 charging stations, as well as at least tens of thousands of residential charging stations, where a majority of electric vehicles get charged.
In Canada, there are 5,000+ public charging stations, and some provinces offer subsidies and rebates if you install a charging station at your home, and newer condominium buildings come with charging stations in their parking lots.
As environmentally friendly vehicles become more popular, costs will go down and technology will improve. A win all around.
