Should I Buy an Electric Car?

Should I buy an electric car? 

Buying an electric car is a personal decision based on your needs, budget and other factors. In this article we look at the arguments for and against buying electric cars. This will hopefully help you make the final decision if an electric car is right for you.  

Yes you should buy an electric car 

Electric cars are the future, from 2030 the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned. Purchasing an electric car is making a good decision for your future. If you're in the market for switching cars now, changing to electric will save you hassle later down the line.  

Infrastructure 

Charging electric cars is only going to get easier as 2030 gets closer. So if you are worried about charging when you are out and about then this is unlikely to be an issue for long. More and more charging points are being installed in convenient locations every day.  

Range 

If range is a concern then many electric vehicles can now achieve upwards of 200 miles on a single charge. That’s the equivalent of driving from London to Birmingham and halfway back, for the majority of drivers 200 miles is ample for commuting and day to day trips.  

Running costs 

The costs of running an electric car are far cheaper than the petrol or diesel equivalent. The cost of petrol and diesel is rising significantly and will continue to rise over time as fossil fuels become harder to find. Electricity is often free at some locations, think supermarkets and workplaces and you can negotiate deals with energy providers to reduce electricity costs. The cost of maintaining an electric car is also cheaper than a petrol or diesel vehicle. 

Government incentives 

There are several government incentives to encourage people to make the switch to driving electric. Along with the free charging these are unlikely to last forever, switching to an electric car sooner means you can take advantage of these great deals and incentives. 

No, don’t buy an electric car yet 

As with all decisions there is always a for and against argument, this is the argument for not buying an electric car.  

Choice and price 

There is far more choice of vehicle when looking at buying a petrol or diesel car. Electric cars are still relatively new meaning the choice is limited. Not only is there less choice but they are more expensive, why pay more for less choice when you can buy a cheaper petrol or diesel used car.  

Infrastructure  

There are more charging points popping up around the UK, but these still don't compare to the number of petrol stations. It also takes much longer to charge an electric car compared to the time needed to fill your car with petrol or diesel. This could leave you waiting at a charging point for over an hour if it is full and you need to wait for someone to finish and charge your own vehicle.  

Battery replacement 

Car batteries are incredibly expensive and will eventually need to be replaced. After a certain amount of time they will deteriorate and hold less charge, meaning more time spent charging up your vehicle. As they are so expensive to replace, electric cars need to be swapped on a regular basis to avoid being left with a very expensive bill for replacing the battery.  

Time 

There is still plenty of time for you to purchase an electric car before the ban comes into place. Also the ban only applies to the sale of new cars, so there still will be plenty of used petrol and diesel cars being driven when the ban comes into place. It is better to wait until the infrastructure and technology has moved forward before switching to an electric car. 

Guide to buying an electric car 

Both sides of the argument make valid points, it is a personal decision you must make whether to buy an electric, petrol or diesel vehicle. We have a great guide to electric cars which can help you further in your decision making process. The guide pulls together all of the common questions asked about buying electric into one handy place, so you can discover the world of EV.  

At SPOTiCAR we have a great selection of approved used cars including used electric cars, and used electric vans.  Browse our range to find your next approved used vehicle.