Is an Electric Car Better Than a Petrol or Diesel Car?

The amount of people investing in electric powered vehicles is on the rise, so if you’re considering purchasing an EV, you’ll want to know you’re making the right choice. 

Hot on the agenda for the UK Government right now is the impact combustion engine vehicles are having on the environment. Because of this, the UK has agreed to end the sale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2035 to make way for electrically powered vehicles instead. 

While many motorists are embracing the transition to an electric car, some drivers are unsure about investing in a zero emission vehicle right now. Of course none of us can argue about the devastating levels of air pollution combustion engine vehicles have on the environment, but understandably, there is resistance from car owners who may not be able to readily install or access a much-needed charging point. 

As electric vehicle experts, here at Wilsons Epsom, we are here to help drivers understand more about EVs. To give you a better understanding of what to expect from a zero emissions vehicle, we weigh up the pros and cons of owning an electric car compared to the conventional models most people are familiar with.

What are the advantages of owning an electric car?

To fully understand if an electric car is better than a conventional vehicle, we need to firstly determine the advantages that come with driving and owning an EV, starting with the savings you can make to your annual motoring costs…  

Cheaper running costs

Although electricity costs are on the rise, it’s no secret that petrol and diesel costs are at an all-time high too. The average family-sized car now costs between £80-£100 to fill up a tank of fuel, so by comparison, the costs of fully charging a car remains much lower. Depending on the battery size of the electric car you choose, a full charge will cost you anywhere between £10 to £25 when using a standard home charger.

But don’t forget that you can access free public chargers found in towns and cities all across the UK. From supermarkets to shopping centres, there are over 5,000 electric vehicle chargers for drivers to access for free all over the UK.

To make further savings, electric car owners can wave goodbye to paying road tax too as EVs are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). By switching to an electric car, your annual maintenance costs could be cut as well, as there are less parts to service on an EV.

Performance capabilities

It’s widely recognised that electric cars offer a better overall performance compared to a petrol or diesel car. Unlike standard combustion engine cars that take time to warm up, a vehicle powered by an electric battery can operate at peak torque from a standstill. This means that an electric car can accelerate quickly and sustain an enviable performance compared to its fuel-powered cousins.  

Advanced technology

With manufacturers investing so much money and time into the development of electric vehicles, it’s no surprise that EVs benefit from some of the best in-car technology around. Most new electric cars come equipped with innovative driver technology as standard, many of which are in place to assist on the daily drive. 

From intelligent emergency braking systems to anti-collision technology, many electric cars boast the finest driver-assist technologies available for an all round safer and enhanced driving experience.

Access to government grants

Manufacturers are passing on a range of grants provided by the government to incentivise UK motorists. In addition to this, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is providing grants to support the infrastructure of introducing EVs to the masses. 

If you own or rent a flat, the electric vehicle chargepoint grant is in place to help towards the cost of installing an electric vehicle charger at your property. Eligible property owners or renters can receive either £350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a home charger for their electric car.  

Free travel in London

If you’re a regular visitor to London and your current vehicle doesn’t comply with emission standards, you will need to pay to enter the capital city and drive within it. With the aim to improve air quality in London, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is in force across Greater London with plans for it to expand. Non-compliant vehicles are required to pay a set charge of £12.50 per day to enter the zone - all electric cars are exempt from this. 

In addition to the ULEZ charge, London drivers are also faced with a daily £15 charge to enter the congestion zone if you drive within the allocated time slots. Drivers of electric vehicles are also exempt from this.

Environmental benefits

As well as the financial benefits of owning an electric car, let’s not forget the all-important environmental benefits too. Tailpipe fumes emitted from combustion engine cars are not only damaging to the environment, but are having a detrimental effect on people living in London and other built-up areas across the country. 

Electric vehicles produce zero emissions as there’s no tailpipe, so do not contribute to harmful levels of pollutants produced by petrol and diesel cars.   

What are the disadvantages of owning an electric car?

For a fair comparison of an electric car versus the petrol or diesel equivalent, we must be transparent by highlighting the disadvantages when it comes to owning an EV, starting with the cost of purchasing a zero emissions vehicle…

Expensive to purchase

Compared to a petrol or diesel car, an electric car is more expensive to purchase. Whether you choose to buy an EV outright or opt to finance the vehicle instead, the car will cost more than its combustion engine equivalent.

Due to the technologies used within an electric car - including the battery - it costs much more for a manufacturer to produce an EV per unit. However, as demand increases and investment continues, the cost per unit will slowly come down. For example, the manufacturer MG has focussed its efforts on creating an affordable electric car for the masses. 

Overall range is lower

One of the main factors that deters motorists from making the transition to a fully electric car, is the range it offers. Compared to a petrol or diesel car, the range on an electric vehicle is much lower. 

For example, a typical family-sized conventional car can travel around 30 miles per gallon, reaching distances of around 500 miles per tank. However, even the long range electric cars are struggling to reach these distances, instead achieving around 300 miles on a full charge. 

Charging takes longer

Charging an electric car can also be considered an inconvenience by drivers due to the time it takes. Many motorists are used to spending around five minutes at a fuel station to top up their tank, whereas electric cars require an overnight charge in most cases. Of course, as technology improves and demand increases, so too does the reduction in charging times - especially for a mid-trip boost.  

Charging isn’t accessible to all

Another big blocker for motorists hoping to invest in an electric car, is access to a charger. Favoured by people with access to a private drive, home chargers need to be positioned next to an electric car. Because of this, any homeowners or renters with on-street parking only are put off by making the switch to an EV. 

Although the ability to charge an electric car at home isn’t available to all just yet, the government is investing a huge amount of money to support the wider infrastructure needed to ensure that everyone can access an electric car chargepoint. 

Electric versus petrol and diesel: the verdict

We hope our list of electric car advantages and disadvantages above helps you to come to a decision when choosing whether to invest in an EV. What is clear to see is that the advantages of owning an electric car do outweigh the disadvantages. 

Although the upfront cost of an electric car is likely to be more expensive than a petrol or diesel equivalent, the fact is that the ongoing running costs will be far cheaper. There’s no denying that by driving an electric car, it will cost you less per mile which can save you around £800 a year in fuel. 

The fact is that all of us at some point in the coming years will need to make the switch to an electric car, so rather than avoid the issue, now’s the time to embrace a world filled with zero emissions vehicles for an altogether cleaner and greener future.

Invest in an electric vehicle at Wilsons Epsom

Here at Wilsons Epsom, we can help accelerate your journey to owning an electric car. Whether you want to ease yourself into driving a plug-in hybrid vehicle, or opt for a fully electric car, you can rely on us to find an EV for your needs. 

We proudly stock a whole host of new electric cars from some of the world’s leading EV manufacturers, such as Nissan and Hyundai. If you’re in the market for a used car, we also stock a selection of used electric cars which include top of the range Tesla models. 

Head over to the hybrid and electric vehicle section of our website to explore all of the EV options available to you and if you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and one of our expert team will be on hand to help.

Why not check out our electric news section to find out more about the EV market, where we tackle various subjects on the topic. With the cost of living crisis hitting the back pockets of homeowners all over the country, read about how much money you can save when switching to an electric car, how far do electric cars REALLY go, and do electric cars need servicing among many other EV-related articles.