We all probably know somebody who refuses to even consider the idea of buying an electric car. For those who know all the benefits of electric cars, it can be quite confusing to hear about why people might be apprehensive of them or maybe even refuse to consider them altogether. Maybe you understand the reasoning behind why some people might be concerned about the idea of buying an electric car, but you aren’t sure how to respond to try and change their mind or convince them that electric cars aren’t as bad as they might think.
Keep reading to learn more about some of the most common reasons why people say they avoid electric cars, most of which are thankfully myths and misconceptions that can easily be dispelled.
Fire Hazard
There have been a few fires involving electric cars reported since they were first introduced, so it’s easy to see why somebody who is safety-conscious might use this information as a reason why they might not want to buy an electric car or consider leasing an electric car. However, what many people fail to realise is that there has actually been just as many, if not more fires involving petrol and diesel engines. The media will tend to over sensationalise fires in electric cars since they are a newer addition to the market that we are still learning about. However, it’s a misconception that electric cars are a fire hazard because of this. In fact, any car travelling on the road can be a fire hazard.
Cost of Replacing a Battery
One of the downsides to an electric car is that you will need to replace the battery after a certain amount of time. However, for those who are concerned about electric car leasing or buying because of this, the good news is that electric car batteries have been significantly improved in recent years and are known to continue driving past the 500,000-mile mark.
While it’s true that replacing the battery in your electric car can cost thousands of pounds, it’s also worth noting that with leasing, you are likely to replace the car with a new one long before you get to this point. Along with this, it is not much different to petrol and diesel cars, which will start to experience more engine problems and failures, including battery failure after a certain number of miles have been travelled.
As long as you are buying or leasing an electric car with a small or reasonable number of miles on the clock, it’s likely to be a while before you need to worry about replacing the battery. And the money you will save on cheaper maintenance with less parts will usually pay for the cost.
Limited Cargo Space
Electric cars do tend to be smaller vehicles; however, this is beginning to change as more and more manufacturers are making electric versions of some of their most popular bigger models. If the main reason you or somebody you know is put off from getting an electric car is because there might not be enough cargo space, then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. In fact, some models of electric car have even more cargo space compared to a traditional version as there is no engine in the front of the car, allowing for cargo space at both the front and the back compared to just at the back. Along with this, many electric cars come with foldable seats to create more room and lots of smaller models have additional storage included to solve this problem.
Charging Time
It is true that it does take longer to charge an electric car compared to filling up a petrol or diesel tank at the fuel station. You can learn more about electric car charging through here at ElectriX. While charging your electric car at home can take up to eight hours, many drivers get around this by doing it at night. You can also find lots of public electric vehicle charging stations that can get a battery charged to around eighty percent in less than half an hour. These are often located in supermarkets where you can easily leave your car charging, pick up your groceries, and return to it almost fully charged.
Untrained Car Mechanics
Since most car mechanics were trained to work with petrol and diesel cars, they must undergo further training and get a speciality certificate to work on electric vehicles. This might put some people off from getting an electric car, as it is a real worry that you might not be able to find somebody who can fix your car if something goes wrong with it. However, the good news is that dealerships from brands that sell electric cars will usually be required to have trained mechanics on their staff.
In some areas, like rural areas, it might be harder to find somebody who is suitably trained. However, the good news is that as electric cars become more and more popular, an increasing number of mechanics are realising the value of getting this extra training, and eventually, it’s going to be just as easy to find somebody to work on your electric car as it is to find somebody to work on your petrol car.
Short Range
Some people do a lot of driving, either for work or leisure purposes, and may find the shorter range of an electric car to be an issue. However, the good news is that this shouldn’t rule out all electric cars. If you are considering getting an electric car but are worried that you are frequently going to run out of miles before your journey has finished, then the good news is that you have options. Many motorway service stations are now fitted with electric charging points, so you can recharge on the way if needed. Or, if you want to avoid this, a hybrid car might be a good option for you since you can use petrol or diesel when the electric charge runs out, which will also recharge the battery as you drive.
Higher Electric Bills
With the cost of electricity on the rise, it’s no surprise that the idea of getting an electric car might put some people off as they are already trying to reduce their electricity use at home to save money, and don’t want to have a car to charge every night adding to their bill. However, while it is impossible to keep your electric bill the same as it is now if you get an electric car and charge it at home, it will still be significantly cheaper compared to filling up your tank with petrol or diesel. Recently, the cost of filling the tank of a standard family car has reached over £100 in the UK, and the situation only appears to be getting worse. When you compare how much you are paying to fill up your petrol or diesel tank, you might find that actually, charging an electric car will be cheaper in the long run.
Since electric cars are fairly new, it’s no surprise that people have their concerns about them. However, the good news is that most concerns are unfounded, and the benefits do outweigh the downfalls.
