The pros and cons of buying an electric car - If you're in the market for a new car, don't buy it before you find out the good, bad, and the ugly of electric cars.

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Electric car boom -

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.

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Pros -

Electric cars have their advantages. Let's look at these first.

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Electricity is cheaper -

Electricity is cheaper than gasoline and diesel.

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They're better for the environment -

Electric vehicles have no exhaust system, which means they have zero emissions of harmful gases.

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They need less maintenance -

With an EV you don't have to worry about changing oil, for instance. 

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High performance -

EVs are quite fun to drive. They're usually responsive and have good torque. 

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Brakes last longer -

Because some of the deceleration is controlled by an electric motor, EVs use friction brakes less when compared to  conventional cars.

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They're quiet -

Electric cars are much quieter than conventional vehicles, so they greatly reduce noise pollution.

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They're more energy efficient -

The amount of energy needed to run an electric car is less than that generated by a regular combustion vehicle. 

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Buying incentives -

Some governments actually have monetary incentives in place to boost EV sales. 

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Tax credits -

In some countries you'll get tax credits if you buy an electric car. 

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Tax benefits -

In the UK, for instance, EVs will be exempt from company car tax from April 2020.

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You can use the high-occupancy vehicle lane -

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.

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Cons -

But buying an EV also has its drawbacks. Let's take a look at the disadvantages of buying an electric car.

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There are less cars to choose from -

The truth is that you don't have as many choices when it comes to electric cars. 

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Availability at charging stations -

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.

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They're expensive -

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. 

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They have a short range -

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).

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Range -

There are, however, some luxury models breaking ground, with ranges over 300 miles (485 km).

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They take a long time to recharge -

Unlike internal combustion vehicles, electric cars can take many hours to recharge. 

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The battery won't last forever...and it's expensive -

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.

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Recycling the batteries is still a problem -

A viable solution is yet to be put in place. 

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Looks -

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.

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Balance -

Producing batteries for electric cars might have a larger environmental footprint than the emissions caused by conventional vehicles. 

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Being so quiet can be a problem -

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. 

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The greenest market -

China currently dominates the electric car market, followed by Europe and the US.

See also: Easy ways to save electricity at home

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