Electric cars go mainstream

Future car purchasers need to think about new congestion charges in some cities coming in from 2020.

Electric cars have been around for a while, but 2019 could be a real breakthrough year. Many cities are now planning to impose emission charges on the most polluting cars, which could add £9 a day to some journeys; with volatile petrol prices new car purchasers are more likely to consider going electric.

In 2019, manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Hyundai and Jaguar will be releasing more new models, from small city models such as the new MINI Electric Vehicle (EV) to tall and rugged sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

An electric car is a great way for you to save money on petrol. However, there are many other reasons why you should invest in an electric car.

CHARGING POINTS

In 2018, oil giant BP bought the UK's largest electric charging network, Chargemaster. Whilst BP runs 1,200 petrol forecourts, Chargemaster has 6,500 charging points and runs POLAR, the largest public charging network in the UK. It has more than 40,000 customers, some of whom pay by monthly subscription.

Greg Callard, Real Estate lawyer at Royds With King, commented; “With estimates that electric vehicles could account for 1/3 of all vehicles in 20 years’ time, it will be attractive for retailers to step up the deployment of fast and ultra-fast chargers on UK forecourts to give those millions of drivers a reason to keep on visiting”.

ADVANTAGES

• Electric cars are entirely charged by the electricity you provide, meaning you don’t need to buy petrol ever again. Driving fuel based cars can burn a hole in your pocket as the price of fuel has rocketed. Although electricity isn’t free, an electric car is far cheaper to run.

• Many new electric cars will offer great incentives for you to get money back from the Government for going green.

• They are 100% eco-friendly as they run on electrically powered engines. They are even better than hybrid cars as these produce emissions. You’ll be contributing to a healthy and green climate.

• Electric vehicles are growing in popularity with new and unique types of cars being put on the market providing you with a wealth of choices moving forward.

• Electric cars undergo the same fitness and procedures tests as fuel powered cars. If an accident occurs, airbags open up and the electricity supply to the battery is cut off. This can prevent passengers in the car from sustaining serious injuries.

• With more technological advancements, both cost and maintenance have gone down. The mass production of batteries and available tax incentives have further brought down the cost.

• As the engines are electrically powered, there is no need to lubricate the engine. The maintenance cost of your electric car will be lower, and it will also require servicing less frequently.

• Noise pollution is considerably lower. Electric motors are capable of providing a smooth drive with higher acceleration over longer distances.

DISADVANTAGES

Although the positive evidence is very clear, there are also some downsides to consider before investing in an electric car.

• Electric fuelling stations are still in the development stages. Not a lot of places you go to on a daily basis will have electric fuelling stations for your vehicle, meaning that if you’re on a long trip and run out of charge, you may be stuck.

• Electric cars can also be a hassle on your energy bill if you haven’t considered the options carefully. Do your research into the electric car you want to purchase to avoid making an unwise investment.

• Electric cars are limited by a range and speed. Most of these cars have a range about 50-100 miles and need to be recharged again. Although the new SUVs being developed will have a range of over 200 miles.

• While it takes a couple of minutes to fuel your petrol car, an electric car takes about four to six hours to get fully charged.

• Silence can be a big disadvantage as people like to hear cars if they are coming from behind them. As electric cars are silent, this can lead to accidents.

• Depending on the type and usage of battery, batteries of almost all electric cars are required to be changed every three to ten years.

THE BEST ELECTRIC CARS COMING OUT IN 2019:

• Audi E-tron Sportback

• Jaguar XJ

• Mini E

• Tesla Model 3

• Volvo XC40 Electric

• Nissan IDS

• Audi Q6 e-tron quattro SUV

• Porsche Mission E