Does Anyone REALLY Want An Electric Car?
What makes a car exciting? The growl of the engine as you accelerate? That sensation of thrust as you put the right pedal down hard? The feeling of being in control of something powerful, strong, and commanding? So where on earth does an electric car fit into all that? It doesn’t. They’re smaller, quieter, and tend to have little that would excite a genuine petrolhead.
The trouble is that more and more politicians and world leaders are steering their countries toward a blanket ban on petrol and diesel cars. At the moment, that leaves electric to be the power source of choice. There are already several electric cars on the market that few people are jumping up and down about. Does the future promise anything more worthy of a car enthusiast’s attention?
There are, perhaps, several reasons why electric cars might win your heart. Environmental impact aside, they are considered to be cheaper on your wallet too. The cost per mile seems to be coming in at about a fifth of the cost of petrol right now. Thanks to Tesla bringing in a more affordable model, you can buy something worthwhile for the same price as a regular saloon.
Safety seems to be a high priority too. Chances are your first electric car is going to have far more automation on board than your first petrol vehicle. Acceleration and top speeds seem reasonable for typical road conditions. Perhaps when you’re watching the needle for your next recharge, you’ll drive more carefully to preserve it? According to Joye Law Firm, however, there is still just as much risk of falling victim to a less careful driver. Maybe if we’re all driving electric, we’ll all be more careful?
Insurance companies seem to be lightening the load with electric cars too. Perhaps it is because there are fewer of them so virtually no recorded car accidents so far? With a lesser perceived risk of accident, there is a smaller charge for your insurance, depending on your personal risk factors.
So what’s involved with owning an electric car? Most of the major manufacturers are offering one or two models that fit the bill. These tend to be minis that are intended to be city runabouts. With only 150 miles on offer before it will need another charge, they’re not going to get you interstate. You also need to consider how they need to be charged. A standard plug in a standard wall socket is unlikely to cut it. You need a special charging dock and several hours to top your car back up.
Some manufacturers are charging rental for the charging dock too. This starts pushing the overall cost of owning an electric car up. Sure, you might get out of certain taxes and have a cheaper insurance premium. And it still might not cost as much as filling her up with diesel. But is it really worth the worry that you’ll have a flat battery before you ever get out of town? For now, the technology is new and untested by the mass market. Does your future look better with electric?