Electric vehicles are becoming a more popular choice for car buyers. With the savings on fuel costs combined with the financial incentives available, EVs are taking the market by storm.
As a newer option for consumers, there are a few important pros and cons to consider before making the switch. Check them out below.
What are the pros and cons of electric cars?
Electric cars offer many advantages for car drivers looking for a low-maintenance alternative to their gas-powered car. However, if you are worried about not being able to commit to charging your car, you might want to stick with your gas car for now.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lower ongoing costs | Few charging stations |
| Reduce carbon footprint | Long charge time |
| Few maintenance needs | Limited driving range |
| High-quality performance | High upfront costs |
| Convenient | Battery replacement expense |
Pros of electric cars
If you're comparing the merits of an electric car to those of conventional vehicles, be sure to keep the following benefits in mind:
Lower ongoing costs
Recharging an electric car is much more affordable in the long run versus refueling a gas car.
This is especially true when taking into account the fact that you can recharge your electric car at home.
Reduces your carbon footprint
According to the EPA, one traditional gas-fueled passenger vehicle with a 22-miles per gallon range emits an average of 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Non-hybrid electric cars emit zero tons of CO2 or other greenhouse gases, making them much more environmentally friendly. Charging electric cars with renewable energy, like solar, ensures no CO2 is emitted at any phase of your vehicle use.
Low maintenance needs
Mechanical engines have a lot of moving parts, including pumps and valves, along with fluids that need changing. Think frequent oil changes - which electric cars don't have.
Because electric vehicles don’t have as many components that need replacing, less maintenance, and less trips to the mechanic are necessary.
High-quality performance
Because there is no exhaust system, electric cars are known for operating smoothly and quietly. Electric crossover and SUV models are much quieter than traditional gas engines, which leads to less noise pollution and a more relaxing ride. Electric motors also tend to react much quicker than mechanical engines, providing more torque and agility while driving.
Additionally, electric cars usually operate more efficiently and use less energy in stop-and-go city traffic.
Cheaper to charge vs. refueling
EVs are much cheaper than gasoline cars in terms of cost per mile because whether they are charged at home or at public charging stations, they are cheaper than filling up with gas.
What's interesting is that the savings you'll see from choosing an EV can vary substantially depending on your location. This is due to the nature of electricity prices, which vary much more from state to state than relatively consistent gas prices.
| Location | Electricity per kWh | Cost per full charge of 60 kWh battery | Gallon of gas | Cost to fill a 16 gallon tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $0.16 | $9.60 | $3.88 | $62.08 |
| Texas | $0.09 | $5.40 | $3.32 | $53.12 |
|
Illinois |
$0.10 | $6.00 | $3.78 | $60.48 |
| California | $0.20 | $12.00 | $5.98 | $95.68 |
| National Average | $0.11 | $6.60 | $3.79 | $60.64 |
Cost of gas as of October 2023, AAA
Cost of kWh EIA 2021 data (2022 will be released December 2023)
Cons of electric cars
Although electric cars have more than their share of advantages, it's worth noting that they are not without their drawbacks. The following are a few of the disadvantages of electric cars:
Finding charging stations can be challenging
Even though you can charge an electric vehicle at home, finding a charging station if you're driving through rural areas or on a long-distance road trip can be a challenge. As noted above, more areas are embracing EV charging stations and numerous hotel chains have started to include EV chargers in their parking lots. This trend will continue as demand for charging stations increases.
Charging can take a while
Adding gas to a fuel tank doesn't take much longer than five minutes, whereas recharging an electric car can take some time to do, especially if the battery is fully depleted.
It can take upwards of two days to get a full charge on a battery pack using normal outlets, depending on car type and battery size. Even the fastest charging stations will take 30 minutes to get near 80 percent capacity.
The driving range is limited
The driving range of a gas-powered car is much longer than that of an electric car, which can range anywhere from 100 miles to 400 depending on the type of car.
This can be problematic if you're planning a long-distance trip, but it should be fine for daily commutes if you charge your car nightly.
High initial costs
Although the cost of an electric car can be offset by fuel cost savings and tax credits, the upfront price of most electric cars is higher than that of comparable gas-powered vehicles. Some EV incentives can help reduce this upfront cost, but because the cost of EV batteries is so high, the cars themselves end up costing more than internal-combustion engine cars.
Battery packs can be expensive to replace
Although little maintenance is generally needed, don't be surprised if you need to replace your electric car's battery pack at least once during the cars lifetime.
Doing so can be expensive, although it's worth noting that the price has dropped significantly over the past few years at under $6,000.
Is owning an EV right for you?
It all depends on what you need a car for and if for your needs, the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to deciding on an electric car. If you need a car for a short daily commute and want to reduce the amount of fossil fuel dependence in your life, get an EV.
If you are committed to combating climate change and would like to save money in the process, you could also add solar panels to your home, which would further complement an emissions-free lifestyle.
Ana Almerini
Marketing & Communications Manager
Ana is the Marketing & Communications Manager at SolarReviews, working within the solar industry since 2020. With a Master's in Climate and Society and professional experience within marketing, she helps communicate the value of solar to homeowners and build out awareness of the SolarReviews brand.