The car industry's future is electric.
Each year, electric vehicles (EVs) improve and become more affordable. Regardless of where you live, you are probably surrounded by electric vehicles on a regular basis. The main appeal of an EV is that you can travel without the risk of pouring out harmful and environmentally damaging emissions.
As a PR firm, we have worked for several firms in the EV space, from battery maker EVida, to component supplier EVtec and most recently a smart charging consultancy, which has nearly a decade of experience designing electric vehicle charging points, having created all-new software and electronics for the EVs charging stations. Companies across the UK and beyond rely on them to provide deep technical expertise regarding EVs and you can rely on them to give you the right information.
As with any other technology, owning a battery-electric, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid vehicle has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some insights to help you better understand the EV world. The launch of electric vehicles is a multi-layered and complex task, and the proposed targets present both challenges and opportunities. But EVs can provide a significant benefit when it comes to savings and performance.
EVs will cost less
When it comes to getting from one point to another, electricity is far less expensive than gas. These funds can be increased if you are qualified for additional tax breaks for your new electric vehicle and/or charging station.
Those who implement solar panels in their homes may be able to save even more money. Your location and the local electricity price will have a significant impact on your annual savings.
EVs have far fewer moving parts than gas-powered vehicles. With fewer moving parts, there are fewer things that can break and need to be replaced. Although electric vehicles are new to the mass market, they tend to last longer due to less wear and tear. A whole other significant factor is that they do not require oil changes, which is one of the most common reasons for service calls. When compared to a conventional internal combustion vehicle, EV owners can expect to save money over the entire life of their vehicle.
Better performance
EVs are noticeably more efficient than their gasoline-powered counterparts. The fraction of energy used to propel the vehicle compared to the amount of energy produced by fuel combustion is used to calculate efficiency. Because of the finicky laws of thermodynamics, gasoline engines have efficiency ratings of only about 15%. This means that the majority of the energy produced by combustion is lost to the environment.
Electric vehicles on the other hand can achieve efficiencies of up to 70%, though this varies depending on the vehicle and driving speed.
Charging convenience
One of the most frequently mentioned advantages of owning an electric vehicle is the ease of charging at home. This effectively makes parking at home the same as going to the gas station every day. This benefit is mostly applicable to those who own their own home or have access to a charging station near their residence. On the other hand, if you frequently travel beyond the range of your vehicle and need to recharge while on the road, this advantage can become a disadvantage. Note the queues to charge over Christmas 2022.
However, as more charging stations are installed across the country, this is becoming less of an issue.
Spots for EV parking only
Many public spaces now have designated parking spaces and, in some cases, charging stations. These locations are frequently front and center for the establishment. This means that depending on where you live, owning and driving an EV will get you some of the best parking spots.
Of course even EVs have positive and negative sides. When deciding whether an EV is right for you, it is critical to consider both sides of the equation. Despite the massive push in this country to increase the number of electric vehicles, there are several potential disadvantages of owning and operating an electric car.
Finding charging stations, charging times, higher initial costs, limited driving range, and battery packs being expensive to replace are all disadvantages. There is no doubt that the future is electric, and as EV adoption rates rise and the underlying technology matures, these drawbacks will become less and less relevant.
EV charging stations
For many people who charge at home every night and don't need access to other charges on a regular basis, this is a minor consideration. In the last five years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of charging stations across the country.
Automakers have also made a big push to help accelerate the growth of charging stations, which should help alleviate this problem in the coming years.
Charging will evolve
It takes two to three minutes to fill up at a gas station. It can take hours to fully charge an electric car. The time will vary depending on the model of the car and the charger's throughput. This time should continue to decrease as technology advances.
For many, this is not a concern because they drive less than the range of their EV on most days, but for those who must travel long distances on a regular basis, this should be taken into account. Charging will evolve, as EVs become power banks that could potentially help balance the grid, for instance giving energy back to a building. The reasoning behind why smart charging is the future can be found here.
Replacing the batteries
The final disadvantage of electric vehicles is the high cost of replacing the battery packs. One of the primary reasons for the higher initial cost of EVs is the batteries. A complete replacement can cost up to $6,000. However, as technology advances, these prices are falling. This issue is mitigated by the fact that a full battery replacement is rarely required, and EVs remain less expensive to operate over their lifetime.
As electric vehicles become more popular we also managed to do a case study with Evida. Manufacturers are putting more effort into transitioning from traditional vehicles to electric vehicles. This company required a dedicated PR team such as Vitis PR to raise awareness nationally and with local media near its UK base in the Midlands to shine more light on why electric vehicles are indeed the way of the future!
There are numerous advantages to owning an electric vehicle with the appropriate level of capability and infrastructure. With so many advantages, this could be your year to purchase a battery-powered vehicle. Consider going electric!
