Did you know that by 2050, 90% of cars on the road are expected to be powered by electricity? But what is stopping drivers from making the switch to electric cars now? We’ve found 5 myths that put off drivers from going electric, and will tell you everything you need to know to help put your mind at ease.
The Range On Electric Cars Isn’t Good
This may have been the case 10 or more years ago, but the technology has advanced massively, with pure electric vehicles having an average range of 197 miles on a single charge today – that’s not bad going, is it? Also, think about the journeys you make regularly. How often do you actually do longer journeys in your car, for instance? Isn’t most of your driving less than 50 miles per day? You can see how an electric car’s range quickly becomes a non-issue.
If you are still worried about the range in an electric car, there are always tips and tricks you can do to squeeze more miles out of a single charge, including:
Remove unnecessary items from the car. The heavier the vehicle means the range will deplete more than if your car was lighter. Don’t carry stuff in the boot or on the back seat, unless you really have to.
Avoid high speeds. Drive to the speed limits and take it easy when accelerating.
Plan your journey. Make sure that your car is fully charged before any longer-than-usual journeys.
Make the most of regenerative braking. Anticipate the road ahead and ease off the brakes, this will recharge the battery as you slow down.
They Cost Too Much
One of the main reasons people suggest they won’t be picking an electric vehicle for their next car is that ‘it costs too much’. Price is and always will be a factor when looking for a new car, and up until now electric cars have typically been more expensive than those equivalents which run on petrol or diesel.
However, did you know that you can lease an electric car for less than £200 per month? Take this Renault Zoe 80kW Iconic R110 50kWh Rapid Charge 5 Doors Auto, at only £188pcm including VAT.
The benefits of leasing an electric car are that when electric technology advances as the years go on, you can simply hand the car back and upgrade to a newer, better model with greater driving range or more power. Advocates of electric vehicles also argue that, in truth, electric cars are cheaper in the long run, due to lower ‘fuel’ bills, plus greatly reduced servicing and maintenance costs.
There Aren’t Enough Public Charging Points
This is definitely one of the main fears of getting behind the wheel of an electric vehicle: ‘What if I run out of charge while out and about?’ There’s a name for this type of concern and it’s called ‘range anxiety’.
But did you know there are actually more than 42,000 charge point connectors across the UK, spread across more than 15,000 locations? There were also 7000 new charge point connectors installed in 2020 alone. It seems that the UK is gearing up early for the electric vehicle revolution.
If you are out and about, why not download one of the many charging apps which help you locate the nearest charging points? There are great ones out there for people to use, including Pod Point, BP Pulse and Zap-Map.
Our handy guide tells you everything you need to know about charging your car across the UK.
The Battery Takes Ages To Charge
Charging is always a concern when getting an electric car, from finding somewhere to charge in the first place to the time it takes for a car to fully charge up its battery pack. Charging times do depend on the car and which type of charging point you are using. If you find yourself at a Rapid DC charging station (also known as a fast charger), which are usually found near main roads and motorways, it can take as little as 30 minutes; some cars can even replenish their battery packs quicker than that, like the Audi E-Tron GT and Porsche Taycan, which take just 22 minutes at their maximum charging speeds. That gives you enough time to grab a quick coffee and stretch your legs!
They Aren’t As Safe
Some people have flagged safety as a concern when asked if they would go electric. The truth is, electric vehicles are just as safe as a standard car. With your standard petrol or diesel, they contain fuel which is obviously a flammable liquid. Electric vehicles, meanwhile, contain a lithium-ion battery and not fuel. The battery could potentially catch fire too, but manufacturers are more than aware of these dangers and therefore install precautionary devices, such as circuit breakers and fuses which disconnect if you find yourself in a collision.
In fact, Our deep dive into the safest cars available includes the VW Id.3, the Polestar 2 and the Tesla Model 3.
And if you’re worried about the quietness of an electric car in motion being a danger to pedestrians, fear not – legislation means that they must broadcast an audible external noise at low speeds to warn people that the vehicle is approaching. This is usually a sci-fi-like humming, which is actually a pretty cool sound.
Learn more about EVs here or check out our latest unbeatable electric leasing deals.
