Electrical cars are gaining in popularity and for good reason. They produce far fewer harmful emissions, are quieter than their gasoline-powered counterparts, and cost less to own and operate. They also create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs in the United States by supporting the domestic production of batteries and vehicles, as well as public charging networks. Lastly, they can be fueled with renewable electricity from your local utility provider or community choice aggregation (CCA) program to further reduce their environmental impact.
That said, it’s important to understand the downsides of owning an electric car before making your decision. Fortunately, as the EV market grows and battery technology improves, these disadvantages should become less of an issue.
Electrical Cars: The Path to Cleaner and Greener Transportation
EVs require a more complicated drivetrain than conventional cars, which can complicate the driving experience. For example, an EV doesn’t have a transmission, so the acceleration and braking feel different than a traditional car. Thankfully, most modern EVs have settings that allow you to adjust how aggressively an EV accelerates and how quickly its regenerative brakes slow down the vehicle.
The most significant drawback of an EV is its initial price tag, which can be higher than the equivalent internal combustion model. However, after taking into account the cost of electricity versus fuel costs and estimating how long it will take to recoup that investment in savings, an EV can be hundreds of dollars per year cheaper to own than a gas-powered vehicle.