Electric cars have come a long way, from theoretical representations to a niche that will eventually take over. An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using energy stored in rechargeable batteries. These vehicles were first produced in the 18th century but didn’t become popular until the 19th century but its potential growth was cut short by the breakthrough of the cheaper petrol and diesel vehicles.
While an electric car’s power source is not explicitly an on-board battery, electric cars with motors powered by other energy sources are typically referred to by a different name. An electric car carrying solar panels to power it is a solar car, and an electric car powered by a gasoline generator is a form of hybrid car Thus, an electric car that derives its power from an on-board battery pack is a form of battery electric vehicle (BEV). Most often, the term “electric car” is used to refer to battery electric vehicles, but may also refer to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).
What are the benefits of using an electric vehicle?
Of course using an EV has its perks, if not how would you explain the massive spread of these battery powered vehicles all over the world. Some of these benefits may be viewed by some as unnoticeable or negligible but I believe in the long run they all add up to make the EV a better alternative to diesel or petrol engine vehicles.
- Eco friendly
This is the most obvious and probably the whole reason behind the usage of electricity to power these vehicles, it is Eco-friendly. The world is at a stage where Global warming has become a threat. Global warming refers to the long-term rise of the planet’s temperatures. It is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly from human activities such as gas flaring, deforestation and burning fossil fuels.
These fossil fuels use internal combustion engines like generators and petrol cars which emit smoke that goes into the atmosphere. To combat this, electric cars were made as no gases are emitted and the batteries can be recharged using renewable sources of energy like solar panels or charging stations.So, by choosing to drive an EV you help reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust pipes. Simply put it is better for the environment.
- Cheaper maintenance
An electric vehicle has fewer moving parts than a normal petrol car. In fact, the only moving part is the rotor, hence their need for maintenance is significantly lessened and therefore it is cheaper. The essential parts that require maintenance are the tires, the suspension and the brakes and that’s pretty much it.
- Better health
A general reduction in the harmful emission of exhaust gas does volumes for one’s health especially if you’re more advanced in age.
- Driving has never been quieter
The first thing you notice when switching to an electric car is the quietness of the vehicle, which creates a far more comfortable, relaxing driving experience. You can move through traffic and glide across town in a comfortable, clean and quiet car. Isn’t that how driving should be?
- Savings
Trips to the gas station for fuel can be expensive, especially when the ever-fluctuating price of petrol is high. When you get an electric vehicle, you can forget about paying for and being at the mercy of gas prices. Not only is electricity less expensive than gasoline, it also has a much more stable price point, meaning that rapid price swings are all but eliminated by going electric.You can even reduce your costs further by installing a rooftop solar installation to charge your electric vehicle. This helps to produce your own free electricity and possibly remove fuel costs from your life entirely. Now that we’ve seen the wonderful advantages that electric cars have to offer, it’s time to go buy or perhaps rent one.
Wait! What about the cons?
Of course there are cons, but the question is do they outweigh the benefits? Let’s have a look.
- Limited driving range
First off is the limited driving range. EVs are limited by their battery sizes and this can be a problem if you’re planning on a long distance journey. This brings us to the next problem.
- Finding a charging station
Finding charging stations can be challenging. Even with Tesla’s ever-growing network of supercharging stations finding a charging station can be a bit of a hassle especially if your destination is far. It is best to pre plan your route and make sure there are a couple of charging stations along the way.
- Slow charging times
Refueling a petrol car doesn’t take up to five minutes, recharging an electric car can take some time to do. On average it requires about eight hours to fully recharge a battery pack using normal outlets, while even the fastest charging stations will take 30 minutes to get near 80 percent capacity.
- High cost of battery pack replacement
Although battery packs require little or no maintenance they wear after prolonged use or they could just suddenly go bad and need immediate replacement. This process is usually quite expensive as the battery pack is costly. But the good news is you might not need to replace your battery for at least eight years. And there have been few cases of battery packs dying on their owners.
Now the pros and cons have been outlined, should you go for an electric vehicle? Say you’re in a new city and you’re looking to rent or you just don’t have the cash to buy a car outright, you should consider renting an EV. If you happen to be in Dubai and you want to rent a car, Rent car from Dubai Mall happens to offer the best services at affordable rates. So, whether or not you should rent an electric car depends on a few factors, your location, availability of charging stations, cost of electricity and finally personal preference. But if you ask me anytime I’d say renting an electric car is the way to go.
