Public opinion reflects new stance
Some countries have these restricted traffic lanes, reserved for vehicles that carry more passengers, including buses, or carpools. EVs are allowed in many of them.
With an EV you don't have to worry about changing oil, for instance.
Electric cars are much quieter than conventional vehicles, so they greatly reduce noise pollution.
But buying an EV also has its drawbacks. Let's take a look at the disadvantages of buying an electric car.
China currently dominates the electric car market, followed by Europe and the US.
See also: Easy ways to save electricity at home
In the UK, for instance, EVs will be exempt from company car tax from April 2020.
Electric vehicles have no exhaust system, which means they have zero emissions of harmful gases.
Because some of the deceleration is controlled by an electric motor, EVs use friction brakes less when compared to conventional cars.
In some countries you'll get tax credits if you buy an electric car.
The amount of energy needed to run an electric car is less than that generated by a regular combustion vehicle.
Electric cars have their advantages. Let's look at these first.
EVs are quite fun to drive. They're usually responsive and have good torque.
EVs need to be powered more often than regular cars. Most can travel only up to an average of 60 to 120 miles (around 100 to 200 km).
Unlike internal combustion vehicles, electric cars can take many hours to recharge.
You need a large initial investment to buy an EV, when compared to buying an internal combustion car. The price is still not accessible to every one.
The truth is that you don't have as many choices when it comes to electric cars.
Unlike gas stations, you won't find these everywhere, and if you live in an area where EVs are popular, getting a spot to recharge your car can become a problem.
There are, however, some luxury models breaking ground, with ranges over 300 miles (485 km).
Batteries in EVs also expire, but while changing a small battery in a conventional car is an easy and cheap process, doing so in a vehicle solely run by electric power is way more expensive.
Some governments actually have monetary incentives in place to boost EV sales.
The design of some electric cars is not to everyone's taste. Some also have a kind of "electric" branding on them, which might be a turn-off for some people.
A viable solution is yet to be put in place.
Producing batteries for electric cars might have a larger environmental footprint than the emissions caused by conventional vehicles.
Pedestrians may not be aware of EVs approaching because they're so quiet. Some manufacturers have warning sounds (e.g. fake car sounds) installed in their vehicles to alert people.
With the arrival of models such as the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S on the road, environmentally-conscious drivers started to lean towards greener options.
Electricity is cheaper than gasoline and diesel.
The pros and cons of buying an electric car
Are they worth buying?
LIFESTYLE Automobiles
Electric cars, also known as electric vehicles, or EVs, are here to stay. While the first modern models date back to the '90s, it was not until around ten years ago that mass production of electric cars began.
But how much do we know about electric cars? What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying one?
Click through the gallery and get to know the pros and cons of buying an electric car.