Electric Cars UK- the pros and cons

I have been considering buying an electric car for the past few years but in all honesty, have always found it to be mind-blowing. I mean this in terms of the amount of information out there (both positive and negative) and the technology. However, the past weeks of a quieter life, have given me the time and space to research the facts and myths surrounding the electric cars UK market.  Here are responses collected from E.V (electric vehicle) drivers, when asked the advantages and disadvantages of E.V ownership.

The pros:

Emissions – there are no emissions when using an electric car so the benefit to the environment is phenomenal. Reducing the pollution levels into the air can save the planet and indeed life- a pretty significant benefit don’t you think?

Cost – many owners of electric cars say that they are much cheaper to run. This is due to not having to buy fuel, paying less (often no) road tax charges, and the cost of servicing and maintenance being lower.  Many car parks also reduce or remove the charges for electric cars. You can save about £1000 a year based on an annual use of 8000 miles on fuel costs alone. Maintenance is lower as electric cars do not require many service items or oil changes so are much cheaper to maintain.

Easy to charge – a greater number of charge points are appearing throughout the country making driving electric cars increasingly practical and accessible. Home charging points are becoming cheaper and more commonplace too.

Buying incentives– the government are offering a plug-in car grant which reduces the cost of a brand new electric car by £3500.

Acceleration – many owners report that their electric cars accelerate faster than petrol cars due to the direct power to the wheels- a bonus for overtaking.

Automatic gears – many prefer an automatic car and not having to consider gear changing so the one gear style of an EV is a bonus.  

Peaceful driving– many owners report the cabin being incredibly quiet when driving an electric car as there are no engine noises. Great for a peaceful drive.

The Cons:

The initial cost– there is no getting away from the fact that buying an electric car will cost you more than a petrol car. The running costs (discussed above) are cheaper, but the initial outlay will be greater.

Charging – availability of charging points remain the main disadvantage of E.V ownership. Although this is improving, it is still in the developing stages making charging much less convenient than pulling in for fuel .This is more problematic for those living remotely as most charge points are in urban areas. There can be a small cost associated with charging at charge points too. Home charging is getting cheaper to install but you do need space and it is another initial cost to consider.

Mileage range – having to charge an electric vehicle takes hours- much more time than filling up with fuel. Battery life is improving, giving the owner the ability to travel further without charging, but again this is developing.

Technology – some owners said that the technology on the dash can be complicated and they found it difficult to get used to. I guess this can also be true of a petrol car, however?

Performance and gears – fans of manual gears may miss going through the motions. Going around corners can also feel heavier and more laboured due to the weight of the car.

Range of vehicles available – as electric cars are still new, the available range of makes and models is limited. This is another area that is quickly developing as they become more and more popular.

Mercedes EQC:

I am no car expert, but I really like the look of the Mercedes Benz EQC. Recently released, this good-looking electric car is stylish and has the size and space of a 4 x 4 SUV- important for us dog owners. This is the first exclusively electric car by Mercedes and has all the quality associated with the luxury German brand.

With a 250-mile range when fully charged, it can be taken on a lengthy journey without needing a charge on the way. Fully charging with a home charger will take about 11 hours but using a 110w charger at a charge point will give you up to 80% charge on the battery in just 40 minutes. The EQC also comes with a 3-year subscription to Mercedes Me Charge. This does not make charging free but can make finding and using charging points easy and fuss-free.  You can check the charge levels on your smartphone for extra convenience.

Performance is good with powerful, fast acceleration. Inside the car, the spacious cabin is electrically controlled and includes electric seats, keyless entry, parking sensors and a reversing camera for comfortable driving. The infotainment centre (MBUX) can be voice or touch controlled so is easy to use whilst driving. It uses straight forward technology so is not as mild blowing as other EV models. The innovative system even detects your movements to operate its functions.  As you would expect from a car of this quality and status, safety features are excellent, including many driver assistance systems. All in all, a great choice of luxury EV. For occasions when you do need maintenance for the EQC, your expert for Mercedes-Benz spare parts is AUTODOC.CO.UK

Taking the Plunge:

I feel that I am convinced and ready to join the rapidly growing EV crowd in the UK. My next step will be to book in some text drives when the world reopens and see how they drive. With so many benefits, none more for me than helping to reduce emissions, why wouldn’t I?  The need for charge points is constantly improving and I feel confident that this will become much less of a barrier as time goes by.

I would love to hear your experiences and ask you to kindly share your opinions of electric vehicle owning and driving in the comments below.