When do all cars have to be electric?

When do all cars have to be electric? 

Currently, in the UK, the government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. This means that you will no longer be able to purchase a new car with a petrol or diesel engine after this ban. This does not mean that you cannot buy second-hand petrol or diesel cars after 2030 or that petrol and diesel cars will be illegal to drive. However, many manufacturers are now focusing their efforts on producing predominantly electric vehicles, and the result is less petrol and diesel cars are being delivered. 

Petrol and diesel cars may be much harder to find and more expensive to buy once electric cars become the dominant vehicle type. Although this is hard to imagine, cars have a lifespan, and if no new petrol or diesel cars are being produced after 2030, their supply will be limited; whenever there is a limited supply of a good, the cost increases.  

When it comes to new technology such as electric cars, there will always be a slower uptake initially. This will be the case until the infrastructure and cost of production make it more affordable for the mass population to adopt the electric car. The same can be said for many technological advancements seen in the past, including the mobile telephone, computers and the internet. Until developments made it affordable for the mass market to purchase these devices, only very few individuals owned mobile phones and computers, and even fewer were able to access the internet.  

Sales for electric cars are increasing year on year. Car manufacturers are working to introduce more options for electric vehicles, including improving the technology to increase the driving range of the vehicles. Electric cars will continue developing and will become quicker to charge with longer ranges and more advanced features.  

Should I purchase an electric car now? 

The decision to purchase an electric car is a completely personal choice. Your circumstances, requirements and the amount of money you have to spend will be contributing factors that should be considered. Electric cars are more expensive to purchase initially and will cost more money per month as part of a lease or finance agreement. However, if you make regular journeys and can charge your car at home, you can save significant amounts of money. Petrol and diesel are very expensive to purchase; the cost of charging an electric car is a fraction of the cost of filling up your vehicle with petrol or diesel.  

If you have the investment to make in an electric car and will see the benefits of the reduced fuel cost, then now is a good time to buy an electric car. 

Researching electric cars  

Before committing to purchasing a new or used car, you should research the best makes and models to suit your needs. This is even more important when it comes to switching to purchasing an electric car. You should take the time out to research and learn about electric car maintenance, charging electric cars, electric car range and the options available. You might find you can get an electric car through your workplace at a fraction of the cost of your current vehicle. You could also be eligible for specific grants from the government to help with the cost of the car and the installation of a home charging point.  

At SPOTiCAR, we have put together a selection of electric car guides to help you discover the world of electric vehicles. Take a look and explore our electric car guides. If you’re ready to start searching for your next approved used electric car, you can see all our current used electric cars for sale.