Over the last few years, there’s been a radical shift in the number of electric vehicles on our roads. Before the pandemic, they accounted for around 5% of vehicles registered in the UK. That figure has since risen to 15%. According to sensible projections, the annual sales of battery electric vehicles will rise from around 100,000 to 2.5 million over the coming decade, and new petrol and diesel vehicles will be removed from sale altogether.
If you’re considering a new car in the here and now, then you might be tempted by a new electric vehicle. Let’s break down the appeal of this kind of vehicle, and see whether it’s right for you!
Cost
The government have done several things to make life in an EV more attractive. They’ve put subsidies in place, and slashed the cost of road tax, for electric cars. There’s also the cost of ‘filling up’ to reconsider. In an EV, this is vastly lower. If you decide to charge at the right location, it could be lower still: Tesla owners, for example, benefit from the ‘Supercharger Network’, which is available across the UK. The system offers two tiers, with faster charges costing more. If you want to economise and don’t mind a wait, it’s worth looking into.
If you prefer to charge your vehicle at home, then the savings could be even more substantial – just bear in mind there’s going to be an upfront cost of installing the technology in the first place.
Future Proofing
Charging facilities are becoming more available, removing range anxiety for many. If you’re a city commuter, the problem is all but non-existent. With the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles now less than a decade away, it might be worth getting in ahead of the curve. Bear in mind that as we get closer to the deadline date, there’s going to be more demand placed onto the electric vehicle market – which might plausibly lead to prices escalating. If you buy now, then you stand to avoid that problem.
Options
To begin with, it was only certain sorts of vehicle which fit the electric mould. Hyper-compact cars were easy to make commercially viable. Then, largely thanks to companies like Tesla, the market expanded to included sportier models.
Nowadays, there are electric versions of just about every shape and size of family car you could imagine. So, if you’re wedded to a particular make or model, you might find that there’s an electric equivalent out there, ready to go. You’ll also get options when it comes to how you spend your money. You might decide to buy the car outright, or lease it over the long-term.
