Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Five Electric Car Myths BUSTED
Annie
14th Jun 2024
Have you been toying with the idea of buying an electric car, but have concerns about some things you’ve heard about buying and owning an electric car? We’re here to smooth over those worries with our myth busting article, to help you decide if buying an electric car is your next smart move.
Electric Cars Are More Expensive
Electric Cars Have a Short Range
Electric Cars Are Dangerously Quiet
Myth One: Electric Cars are More Expensive
Electric vehicles are common technology these days – which means the efficiency of scale of production has now transferred to more affordable vehicles for consumers. You don’t need a Tesla to drive electric!
For example, if you’re a key worker who’s looking to make the switch but don’t want to break the bank, providers like Motorfinity offer a wide range of EV leasing deals at great prices that are the equivalent of petrol or diesel alternatives.
Homeowners should speak to their energy supplier to find out if there are grants available for the installation of a home EV charging point. On many tariffs, such as with Octopus, you can benefit from special EV charger rates to take advantage of hours when the cost is lowest to keep your charging costs low.
In terms of running costs, electric vehicles are exempt from road tax and the congestion charge. It is also around 7p to 9p per mile to run, compared to 14p to 18p per mile with petrol – so half the price!
Myth Two: Electric Cars Have a Short Range
When electric cars first hit the road, this was true. It was also mostly true because the infrastructure for electric car charging wasn’t in place – so you couldn’t go too far from home in case you ran out of battery!
Those days are long gone. The minimum a car will do on a single charge is 100 miles, whereas you can get models which go over 300 miles on one charge. If you can splash out on the face of electric cars, a Tesla has a range over 400 miles. That would take you from London to Edinburgh on a single charge!
When you realise that the average journey made in the UK is ten miles, it’s easy to see how charging your car once a week while you do the grocery shop is all you need to keep it running for most people.
Myth Three: Not Enough Public Chargers
A few years ago, this was a valid concern for many people considering buying an electric vehicle. However, that’s no longer the case!
For people who live in blocks of flats, terraced houses or other places without their own parking near to the house, not having a home charger can be off-putting. First, those who rent and have a car parking space could be entitled to either £350 or 75% of the cost of installing a charging point from the Government (whichever is lower).
However, if you’re not in a position to do that, many supermarkets, service stations, and even car parks have public-use electric chargers. You can park up to do your groceries and leave your car on charge while you shop. It costs around £7 to rapid-charge an electric car to 80% in thirty minutes or less. Find your nearest chargers with ZapMap.
If your workplace has a car park but no electric car charging points, let them know they could take advantage of the Government’s Electric Vehicle Chargepoint scheme. This grant covers £300 per socket up to 40 sockets for qualifying workplaces.
Myth Four: Electric Cars Are Dangerously Quiet
Technically, an electric vehicle is practically silent. When they were first produced, this was a key safety concern. People who are less able to hear or see cars approaching would be at greater risk of an accident.
That’s why electric cars now must make some noise by design. Cars driving below around 12mph or that are reversing must make a noise to help people around them know that they are there and in motion.
Myth Five: You Have to Stick to the City
Like many of these electric vehicle myths, they come from the early days of electric cars. The infrastructure and technology wasn’t able to sustain long journeys both because it was hard to find a charge point and also because they didn’t have the power to handle motorways or more challenging country roads.
That’s all changed! As we’ve seen, finding a charge point is easy now, and car ranges are huge compared to when they first hit the market. Sure, a Toyota Yaris hatchback is perfect for pootling around town, your daily commute, and the occasional long journey. But if you’re a regular long-distance or country road driver, your options are now plentiful – and comfortable, such as the Lexus RZ with all-wheel drive.
So, with a longer range, easy-to-find chargers, cheap running costs, and even key worker discounts, electric cars are a suitable option for many more people than you might have expected!
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence. When investing your capital is at risk.
Subscribe
Login
0 Comments
