Pros And Cons Of Plug
Many of the same benefits of all-electric cars also apply to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. PHEVs are great vehicles for reducing emissions and reducing fuel usage. For short trips, your PHEV may not need to switch away from its all electric motor, in which case the car emits no tailpipe emissions. Even more, PHEVs use 30 to 60 percent less fuel than conventional gas powered cars. If the electricity is sourced from renewable resources, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced even further.
PHEVs also make great vehicles for those who cannot commit to a fully electric vehicle because of driving and recharging needs. While AEVs are limited to their battery range, the fuel backup in a plug-in hybrid means that when the battery runs out the vehicle can continue to run and even recharge the battery by using fuel. PHEVs usually have a better fuel economy than their conventional gas powered counterparts.
Much like an AEV, one of the hurdles to owning a PHEV is the amount of time it takes to recharge the battery. While PHEV batteries are smaller on average than those found in AEVs, a Level 1 charger may still take several hours to charge. A Level 2 charger can take one to four hours. In addition, while fast charging does exist most PHEVs do not have this charging capability.
Consider Purchasing A Used Hybrid
If you cant afford a new hybrid, consider buying a used one. You can do research online to find a service that provides vehicle history reports, to track service records and rule out vehicles that have performed poorly.
Once youve made your decision about the car youd like to buy, consider your insurance options. Check out Travelers car insurance and contact your local independent agent or Travelers representative to make sure you have the coverage you need.
There Are Fewer Choices
Theres no denying that theres a greater variety of electric cars than ever before, and theres no sign its going to stop growing, either. But the fact remains theres just not as much to choose from when it comes to the aesthetics of your EV, especially when compared to how much you can customize conventional vehicles. On the upside, this will definitely change as EV prevalence continues to grow.
About the Author
Stephanie Braun is a director of Auto Product Management at Esurance, where she is responsible for designing the companys auto product lines and managing telematics programs like DriveSense Mobile. Stephanie has 11 years of experience in the industry, focused primarily on product design and launch, pricing, and product innovation.
Feature image courtesy of Shutterstock
This article was originally published on May 3, 2017.
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Finding A Station Can Be Tough
If you dont have a charging station at home, youre at the mercy of public charging stations. While some cities may have plentiful options, not every place does and it can all depend. The lack of stations in your area could present a challenge if youre in a bind and need to go somewhere. Be sure to do research about charging stations in your neighborhood and what options are available.
Con: Slower To Charge
Filling up a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle takes just a few minutes at the pump, assuming you dont have to wait in line. In comparison, electric vehicles are much slower to charge. The most commonly found Level 2 chargers provide up to 20 miles of range every hour spent charging. That may be acceptable if youre at work or at dinner, but it may be challenging if youre in a hurry.
While slower charging speeds can be a downside to EV ownership, technology is advancing quickly and narrowing the gap. Most modern electric vehicles sold today are compatible with DC Fast Charging, which can provide up to 80 miles of range for every 20 minutes the vehicle is plugged in. These public stations are designed to provide fast speeds until the battery has reached 80% capacity, which helps limit degradation.
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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Electric Cars
For car drivers looking for a low maintenance alternative to their gas-powered car, electric cars offer many advantages. However, if you are worried about not being able to commit to charging your car, you might want to stick with your gas car for now.
| Pros |
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| Battery replacement expense |
Evs Cause Pollution And E
Yes, the clean and green electric cars cause pollution too, albeit indirectly. While EVs have zero tailpipe emissions, the energy used to drive them is only as clean as the power plant that services you.
This has been a point of contention over the past decade, but the science behind the well-to-wheels efficiency of vehicles has matured EVs are unequivocally greener. With modern electric cars, even if you are serviced by coal power you are doing the earth a favor and when the grid improves, so will your carbon footprint.
E-waste is a more insidious problem, and the industry is rapidly trying to find a solution for recycling used batteries. Lithium batteries are fairly benign when compared to Nickel-Cadmium cells or even other automotive compounds like brake fluid.
Nonetheless, its considered toxic in our waste stream, and no one is prepared for the volume of used batteries headed to scrap yards. The EPA reported last year that at least 65 landfill fires were caused by lithium-ion battery waste. If the industry doesnt find a solution quickly, we may have mountains of lithium trash just waiting to catch fire.
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Pro: Phevs Suit The Average Commute
According to the United States Census Bureau, the average one-way commute for American drivers is up to about 28 minutes each way per day. PHEVs, such as the Toyota RAV4 Prime or Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, are capable of driving between 3040 miles on battery power alone. In PHEVs like these, it’s possible you may only find yourself burning gas when you go on an extended drive.
Pro: Incentives Can Make Evs More Affordable
Most new EVs are eligible for a one-time federal tax credit of $7,500. That effectively drops the price of a Nissan Leaf to $23,500. Some states dole out added incentives that can sweeten the deal even further. Unfortunately the federal credits are not permanent, and are scheduled to phase out during the calendar year after an automaker sells 200,000 full electric and/or plug-in hybrid models.
Tesla has already reached that milestone, which means its federal tax credits are being phased out during 2019 and will be eliminated on December 31. General Motors is likewise hitting the 200,000-unit mark and will see its subsidies shrink over the course of 12 months beginning in 2019.
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The Initial Investment Is Steep
As EVs are very new, you may be surprised when you take a look at the sticker price for EVs. Even the more affordable brands can be around $30,000 to $40,000.
If youre looking for a luxury option, you may be paying $80,000 or even more. Though technology is advancing and the price to produce electric cars continues to drop, you still have to pay $10,000 to $50,000 more for an EV than for a gas-powered car.
Electric Vehicles Have Low Noise Pollution
Motor-driven electric vehicles are quiet compared to fuel-powered automobiles. The stillness at the road makes the automotive the best in improving the wellbeing of people and other organisms. The petrol cars are noisy because of the engine combustion and disturb living organisms in their habitats. For that reason, the use of electric vehicles is beneficial to communities and wild animals due to minimizing disruptions associated with noise pollution.
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Various Advantages And Disadvantages Of Electric Cars
The electric car is a relatively new concept in the world of the automotive industry. Although some companies have based their entire model of cars around being proactive and using electricity, some also offer hybrid vehicles that work off both electricity and gas.
An electric car such as Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus Electric or Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Volt is a great way for you to not only save money but also help contribute towards a healthy and stable environment.
Cars produce a lot of carbon emissions that are ejected into our natural atmosphere, leaving us vulnerable to things like pollution and greenhouse gases. In order to positively help the environment we live in, an electric car is a great step forward.
By buying an electric car, you can also receive government subsidies for being environmentally conscious. Although you may end up paying more for your vehicle, the positives greatly overshadow the negatives. However, there are still two sides to consider when youre thinking about investing in an electric vehicle.
EVs get their power from rechargeable batteries installed inside the car. These batteries are not only used to power the car but also used for the functioning of lights and wipers.
Electric cars have more batteries than a regular gasoline car. Its the same kind of batteries that are commonly used when starting up a gasoline engine. The only difference comes in the fact that in electric vehicles, they have more of them, which are used to power the engine.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Electric Cars On The Environment
Indirectly, electric cars can produce serious amounts of greenhouse gases if coal was used to produce the electricity used for charging EVs.
In this case, the more electric vehicles the more pollution level will increase due to the coal.
However, if electricity is generated through renewable sources like water, solar plants, or windmills, then theres no need to worry.
Anyway, these were some of the pros and cons of electric cars. We hope we have enlisted almost all the points regarding the topic. In case we forgot something, please remind us in the comments section below.
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You Can Take Advantage Of Tax Credits
Another major perk of owning an electric car is the tax credits you could qualify for. According to the U.S. Department of Energy website, you could get up to $7,500 in tax credits. Your car must be all-electric or plug-in hybrid and made in 2010 or later to qualify.
Tax credits are more effective than deductions at lowering the amount you pay in taxes as theyre dollar-for-dollar. Meaning, if you owed $10,000 you could effectively lower your tax bill up to a maximum of $7,500 and only pay $2,500.
Its important to note that the tax credit is only available up to the limit. So if your tax bill is only $2,000, you can receive the credit for up to $2,000 and the rest wont help your tax situation any further. Deductions lower your taxable income which can lower how much you pay in taxes but is not dollar-for-dollar.
Driving Past The Gas Station Is Nice But Electricity Still Costs Money
The Chevy Bolt gets about 259 miles on a charge.
+0.50% Kona, or Tesla Model S.
So check out our pros and cons of electric vehicle ownership to help you make an informed decision before you sign the papers for your next car.
Benefits
No gas
The biggest benefit of electric cars is obvious you no longer need gas. Thats a big deal since the average American spends between $2,000 and $4,000 on gas every year. With fully electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf, that cost is eliminated though electricity isnt free. A plug-in hybrid, or PHEV, can eliminate a portion of your gas bill, as well, but it still uses a gasoline engine as a range extender.
Low-maintenance
Beyond the fuel-saving benefit, EVs offer another major cost savings on maintenance. Since an EV is fully electric, it doesnt require oil to lubricate an engine. That means oil changes become a thing of the past. The same is true for a lot of other expensive engine work that could afflict a gas-powered car. Brakes wont wear as quickly, either, so you wont need to replace pads as often as you do on a normal car.
Tax credits and incentives
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Reducing your carbon footprint
Of course, theres another major benefit to owning an electric car. For many drivers, just knowing that theyre doing their part to save the planet will be reason enough to leap into an EV.
Drawbacks
Range
Of note: Estimated ranges can change, particularly over time or with a temperature change.
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The Pros And Cons Of Owning An Electric Vehicle
Pro #1 â Cost Savings on Fuel
Fuel prices are on the rise making driving less affordable for many people. One of the key benefits to owning an electric vehicle is reduced fuel costs. According to Energy.gov, an EV owner can reduce their fuel costs by 50% by simply switching to an electric vehicle. In addition to costing less to âfill upâ, electric vehicles are also much more energy efficient in stop and go traffic.
Con #1 â Higher Vehicle Cost
Saving money on gas is great, but you also need to consider that electric vehicles usually cost more than their gas-powered counterparts, especially for premium models like Teslaâs Model X or the BMW iX. According to Kelly Blue Book, the average cost for a new car is approximately $47,000. For comparison, the average electric car will cost you about $56,000. The good news is that more and more car manufacturers are starting to produce cheaper models .
Pro #2 â Electricity is Renewable
The world will not run out of petroleum any time soon, but fossil fuels have finite supplies. Electricity, when generated from wind, hydro, or solar, is completely renewable giving electric vehicles a steady stream of unlimited energy. However, itâs important to note that a considerable amount of electricity is still generated from coal or other fossil fuel sources. This is changing, but slowly. According to the EIA, about 20 percent of all US electricity now comes from renewable sources.
Con #2 â Charging Times
Electric Cars Are Carbon Neutral
Electric vehicles are carbon natural. The use of plug-in electricity means minimal carbon-based fuels in the transport industry. The owners of electric cars have no tailpipe emissions that lead to environmental pollution. The eco-friendliness of electric vehicles assists in protecting the ecosystem and minimizing global warming caused by toxic gases. Electric cars are ideal in addressing the carbon discharge and other greenhouse gases that lead to global warming.
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How Long Do Evs Last
The battery in an electric car starts to break down after a while, just like any other electrical component. Over time, the batteries in an electric car begin to lose capacity to store energy. Cars are only useful if they can travel their advertised range, so an electric car with a bad battery is nearly worthless.
Automakers issue warranties for the batteries and electrical components in EVs, just like they would for any other car. In many cases, these warranties extend to 10 years or 100,000 miles, which means that the battery in an electric car can be repaired or replaced if it breaks within that time.
Cheap And Low Maintenance
In addition to the absence of an IC engine, other mechanical parts including flywheel, complex gearbox, propeller shaft, turbochargers, etc. are absent in electric cars.
Since lots of mechanical parts are not present it becomes obvious that maintenance work is reduced. Also, maintenance is required less frequently and its relatively cheaper than ICE cars.
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Upfront Purchase Costs Are Still Considerably Higher Than Petrol/diesel Cars
Yes. EVs have negligible fuel costs compared to a petrol car. Yes, electric cars have much lower maintenance costs compared to a petrol car. Yes, electric cars have much lower taxes, high subsidies in several states and little-to-no registration fees.
Still, somehow, it takes more than 1,00,000km to recover the higher upfront costs were paying for an electric car over a comparable petrol or CNG car.
Tata Tiago EV Vs CNG-Manual – Kilometre-To-Breakeven Calculation
In the case of the Tata Tiago EV, itll take you 1.14 lakh kilometres to recover the higher upfront cost youre paying for an EV over the petrol model. In the case of CNG, this figure is even higher at 1.25 lakh kilometre.
The km-to-breakeven figure for CNG is only 40,000km in the case of Dzire.
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Charging May Be An Issue
The infrastructure for electric cars is still not mature and the number of charging stations is quite limited in many regions.
Therefore, it might be quite difficult to use electric cars on a regular basis if there are no charging stations nearby.
However, people could help themselves by installing a charging station at their house.
Therefore, if you have the opportunity to install an electric charging station at home, fueling your car might be even more convenient than fueling conventional vehicles.
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Common Questions About Electric Cars
Q: What is the range of electric cars?The range will vary based on the model. Many 2021 models list ranges over 200 miles. The 2021 Chevy Bolt EV is rated for just over 250 miles on a full charge.
Q: Are electric vehicles really better for the environment?Yes, although it depends on several factors. EV do not produce any significant emissions during operation and as a result are much cleaner to operate. However, producing the batteries generates a significant carbon footprint. This footprint varies widely based on the country the battery was produced in, and the type of battery. Also, the source of the electricity being used fuel the EV should also be considered into this equation. Operating an EV in a country with a higher % of renewable energy can lead to significant lifetime reduction in harmful emissions vs similar operations in a country with a higher % of gas/coal power production.
Q: How do you charge an electric vehicle?You plug it in! The higher the voltage, the faster your car will recharge. There are currently three levels of charging. Level 1 is your standard wall outlet that produces 120 volts . Level 2 is a 240 volt hookup. These are your dedicated home charging stations. Level 3 chargers are considered fast-chargers and offer even higher voltages and quicker charging rates. Not all cars come equipped to handle the higher voltages in these fast-chargers so you should familiarize yourself with the operating instructions for your vehicle.
