E-car yes or no? These are the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars
When it comes to electric cars, opinions differ. Are you wondering what really speaks for and against an e-car? We have summarized all the important advantages and disadvantages for you.
Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular. Nevertheless, many people are skeptical about them. We clear up prejudices and explain everything you should know about the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars in this article.
Advantages and disadvantages of electric cars at a glance
Switching to an electric car is becoming more and more worthwhile. After all, electric vehicles offer many advantages. We have summarized what these are for you here.
Funding programmes for electromobility
A major advantage of buying an electric car is the financial incentives provided by municipalities and cantons. Individual municipalities and cantons offer you subsidies, for example directly for the purchase of your electric car or through tax benefits.
Would you like to find out whether your municipality or canton offers funding programmes? Check out this blog for the answers.
In addition to subsidy programs, owners of electric vehicles also benefit from lower insurance premiums and an eco-discount with many insurance policies.
Low maintenance costs for e-cars
Another advantage is the low maintenance costs of electric cars. Since electricity is much cheaper than fuel, the price per kilometre for an electric car is significantly lower than for a petrol or diesel vehicle. Basically, it can be said that the more kilometers you drive per year with your electric car, the greater the savings potential.
But beware: This advantage only exists with "normal" use. This is the case if you mostly drive short distances or commute to work with the electric car. On long distances, the cost advantage is sometimes lost, as you have to charge your e-car at the fast charging station, which is much more expensive.
The maintenance costs of your electric car are also lower than those of a gasoline or diesel car, as it has fewer wearing parts. For example, maintenance of the manual transmission, clutch and exhaust is completely eliminated.
Last but not least, you also have a lower risk of breakdowns. After all, fewer parts can break on the way. And with anticipatory driving, the brakes also have to be replaced less often due to recuperation.
Efficient engine
Electric motors have a simple operating principle – and surprisingly high efficiency. Approximately 80% of the energy supplied to the engine is converted into motion. In comparison, the efficiency of a diesel engine is about 40% and that of a gasoline engine is only about 20%. In addition to its high efficiency, the engine of an electric car also provides a lot of power quickly. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km is therefore much faster than with a comparable combustion engine.
What is meant by efficiency?
Efficiency describes what proportion of the energy supplied can be converted into usable energy, i.e. how efficient a device is. In the case of internal combustion engines, the energy supplied must be converted into kinetic energy in order for the car to drive. In the case of electric cars, about 80% of the energy is used exclusively for locomotion.
Low-emission and environmentally friendly driving
A major advantage for humans as well as for animals and the environment: electric cars cause less traffic noise and no unpleasant and harmful exhaust fumes. This is also an advantage for other forms of electromobility, such as buses.
Electric vehicles cause rolling noise, but the loud engine noises are eliminated. New electric cars are also equipped with an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS). This system imitates engine noise at speeds below 20 km/h to be clearly audible to pedestrians and cyclists.
This means that there is no danger to other road users and yet the e-car is quieter than an ordinary car on the faster roads.
Convincing environmental balance
Compared to conventional cars, electric vehicles have a better eco-balance. They do not emit any CO₂ or other pollutants while driving.
However, harmful emissions are still produced during the production of electric cars. Their ecological balance also deteriorates significantly if the electricity for the operation of the electric car is not produced ecologically.
In Switzerland, however, the electricity mix is very environmentally friendly. In 2022, almost 80% of Swiss electricity came from renewable energy sources. This means that after about 30,000 kilometers, the higher greenhouse gas emissions during production are compensated for again. After that, you drive almost climate-neutrally.
As long as they are used over a longer period of time, e-cars are therefore the better choice for the environment. Learn more about the eco-friendliness of electric cars.
Convenient charging of the e-car with electricity from your own roof
Charging your e-car with electricity from your own solar system is not only convenient, but also unbeatably cheap. For everyday use, it is usually sufficient to connect the car to the power supply overnight. So if you need the car mainly for short trips in everyday life, you almost never have to pay extra for a tank of gas.
Bi-directional charging
Bidirectional charging means that the electricity stored in the electric car battery can also flow back into the grid. In this way, the battery becomes an intermediate storage device, whether for one's own home, for charging other electrical appliances on the go or to compensate for peak loads in the public power grid.
The technology has many advantages for e-car owners, but it has not yet been able to catch on. On the one hand, there are only a few electric cars that support bidirectional charging. On the other hand, the corresponding wallboxes are still very expensive. But the potential for the future is great.
Maximum driving pleasure
Driving pleasure is not neglected in the electric car. The acceleration is unprecedented, as electric cars have full torque from the first second. And since most electric cars only have one gear, there is no interruption in shifting when you step on the gas.
In addition, the heavy electric car batteries ensure that the vehicle's centre of gravity is lower. As a result, the car is more stable in corners and you can take corners faster. There are no limits to the driving pleasure. Comparable cars with combustion engines have to be clearly at the back of the queue here.
Absolute peace and quiet during the journey
Electric motors are whisper-quiet. The only thing that makes noise is the rolling noise of the tires. This means that conversations with passengers are no longer a problem even on the motorway and the sound system comes into its own at all times.
These are the disadvantages of electric cars
In addition to the many advantages that your electric car offers you, you also have to expect certain disadvantages. You can find out what these are here.
High acquisition costs of e-cars
The good news first: Compared to the past, electric cars have already become a lot cheaper. One main reason for this is the increasingly cheap batteries.
Nevertheless, e-cars are still somewhat more expensive to buy on average than their combustion engine counterparts. However, depending on where you live, you can already make up for some of this difference through subsidy programs for e-cars.
If you decide to buy an electric car despite the slightly higher purchase price, you can assume that this price difference will balance out over the course of use due to the low maintenance costs.
Find out now with our cost calculator for electric cars what costs you should expect.
Limited range
The fear that e-cars will not go far enough is now unfounded. This is because many e-cars already have a range of over 300 km and the charging infrastructure of fast-charging stations is constantly being improved. This means that even long journeys on holiday are possible without any problems.
Nevertheless, there is another disadvantage that can be attributed to the short range. Because for longer distances, you will sooner or later have to go to the fast-charging station. And here the cost of a battery charge is quickly twice as high as if you charge the car on the mains.
The good news is that the network of charging stations in Switzerland is already excellently developed and is constantly being expanded. There are currently over 14,000 charging points.
Tip: Manufacturer's information on the range of your electric car should always be taken with a grain of salt. Because your individual driving style and environmental influences such as temperature fluctuations affect the actual range. Here we explain which factors influence the range.
Long loading times
With range anxiety comes the fear of long waiting times at the charging station. In fact, the charging process for an electric car takes longer than a stop at the gas station with the combustion engine. But compared to the past, charging processes of e-cars are becoming more and more efficient.
More and more often, models are coming onto the market that can be recharged to 80% in less than 25 minutes at the fast charging station. The daily journey to work by e-car should be possible without any problems with the ranges available today, overnight charging at your own charging station and charging at your workplace.
Do they want to know how long the charging time is for different electric cars? Find out with our calculator.
Expensive repair of the battery
The battery is the heart of the electric car and at the same time the most expensive component. But with increasing use, the performance of the battery decreases. The manufacturers expect a battery life of about 8 to 10 years.
In the event of a defect in the battery, individual cell modules are first replaced. However, if this is not possible and the entire battery needs to be replaced, it becomes enormously costly, especially after the manufacturer's warranty expires
In this article, you'll read the best tips on how to extend the life of your EV battery.
Controversial raw materials
Raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel are used to produce electric car batteries. Their mining causes, among other things, destruction of land and water pollution.
New technologies aim to reduce dependence on these problematic raw materials. However, it will probably be a few years before these are used as standard in all electric cars.
Low permissible towing capacity
A disadvantage of electric cars is the low permissible towing capacity. This is because many electric cars cannot tow large trailers due to their high dead weight. In addition, with a trailer, the range of your e-car decreases significantly.
Another problem: It is cumbersome to charge the electric vehicle at the fast charging station if you are traveling with a trailer. This is because these charging stations are usually no longer than a conventional parking lot.
If you need your car to regularly transport large loads in a trailer, you need an electric car with a very large battery. Or you can opt for a car with a combustion engine.
Our conclusion
Clearly, electric cars offer many advantages and are becoming increasingly popular for a reason. The range, the charging time and the charging infrastructure have improved significantly over the years. The high acquisition costs have also been reduced. Subsidies, low maintenance costs and no automobile tax also make the electric car attractive in terms of costs.
However, whether an electric car is the best solution for you depends on your individual needs. Have we aroused your interest? Find out in this article which electric car best suits your needs.
Are you convinced of electric cars? At AutoScout24 you will find the right model for you. Click here to browse through our large selection of new or used e-cars.
source : The main advantages and disadvantages of electric cars | AutoScout24