Disadvantages of Electric car

 Seven Disadvantages of Electric Engine 

Electric cars are fast, efficient and mostly environmentally friendly. But with any new technology, there are differences and some potential drawbacks to consider

Cars with internal combustion engines have been around for over 130 years, and they have been constantly developed and improved over time. The first electric cars were launched even earlier, but it is only in the last decade that they have risen to challenge the establishment

Although electric cars have improved exponentially in that time, there are still some drawbacks to overcome. Below, we analyse the most common concerns and determine if they are still a valid barrier to electric car ownership or just an outdated misconception.

 

1. Limited battery range

The average gasoline car easily makes four or five hundred miles on a tank of gas. A diesel car might do closer to 700 miles. The all-electric Peugeot e-208, on the other hand, needs to be recharged every 217 miles.

shorter range really a problem?

This may seem like a real disadvantage until you realise that the average car in the UK is only driven 20 miles per day.

That would mean the Peugeot e-208 would need to be charged every 10 days, just three times a month. In reality, you would only need the range of a gasoline or diesel vehicle if you regularly drove hundreds of miles per day. And there are many new electric cars that get well over 300 miles between charges.

 2. Battery life concerns

Many people are concerned about how long their e-vehicle’s battery will last. The general consensus is that it should last about 10-20 years and up to 150,000 kilometres. A reasonable driving style and careful charging habits will help extend the life of your battery, and if you buy a new car every few years, you are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty anyway

The typical warranty for an electric car battery is about eight years and 100,000 miles, which is far more generous than most warranties for internal combustion engines. Warranties typically state that the battery will either be replaced or repaired if its maximum capacity falls below 70%

Replacing an EV battery out of warranty costs a lot of money, but such scenarios, while not unheard of, are much rarer than some initially feared

Internal combustion engines don’t last forever either

The average internal combustion engine can last for many, many miles if well cared for. During that time, however, you may need to replace several components that are not covered under warranty. Meanwhile, the cost of an engine overhaul can be very high, while a new engine would write off many cars, which can happen – just ask anyone who has ever had a broken timing belt or chain

Factor in the higher operating costs of an internal combustion engine over all those years (which can be double per mile driven), and you may be better off financially even if you have to replace your e-vehicle’s battery after 10 years.

3. Concerns about charging infrastructure

Worries about the location and availability of charging stations for electric cars may keep you from considering an electric car. While the rollout of charging stations hasn’t always been smooth, the fact is that the charging infrastructure
in the UK is improving at a rapid pace.

The charging infrastructure for electric cars continues to expand

There are just under 8,400 charging stations in the UK. By the end of 2022, there were more than 57,000 public charging sockets across the UK, spread across 21,000 sites. While these technologies are not equivalent, as it takes much longer to charge an electric car than it does to refuel, this shows the growth of the charging network – will continue to increase.

That's not to say that an electric car is for everyone: if you don’t have a parking spot at home, driving is not as convenient because you have to rely on public charging stations – but some people still manage.

There are also concerns about how easy it is for drivers with disabilities to charge e-cars. While there are staff at manned charging stations to help with refuelling if needed, most charging stations for e-cars are unattended, and charging cables and plugs are relatively heavy and awkward, especially if you have to juggle them with a wheelchair and climbing over curbs.

 4. Long charging times

Filling up a gasoline or diesel vehicle can take as little as 5 minutes.Charging your electric car can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour at the latest public fast-charging stations. If you use a regular household outlet, you may have to twiddle your thumbs for an entire day. At first glance, that seems like a reason to hold off on the issue until you dig a little deeper.

Change your attitude about charging

Refuelling your gasoline or diesel vehicle requires little forethought. Every time the fuel gauge lights up, just fill up to the brim. With electric cars, a change in mindset can make all the difference.

Charging station speeds - If you are taking a road trip and need to do a lot of charging, be aware of the fast-charging stations along your route. Using a 150-kW charger instead of an 11-kW charger will save you a lot of time

Range requirements - Don’t fill up your electric vehicle to 100% every chance you get. Rather, fill up with the range you need for your trip. This will save you time and money, as public charging stations are more expensive than your wallbox at home.

Charging speed - Some e-vehicles have fast charging capabilities that allow you to fully charge your battery in less than an hour on a suitable fast charger. Extending your range by 60 miles can take just a few minutes.

If you don’t use the full range of your e-vehicle every day, charging speed isn’t as important. You can simply plug your car in while shopping or at home and charge it for a few hours. A typical home 7-kW wallbox can increase your range by 10to 30 kilometres per hour.

Keep in mind that charging plugs can vary by vehicle make and model. Some systems accept more than one type of plug. In Europe, the Type 2 plug is the most common and is the industry standard.

 5. Low top speeds

Electric cars are fast, there is no lag in power delivery, and everything feels absolutely effortless. However, most family-friendly SUVs and hatchbacks are limited to relatively low top speeds, unless you are looking for the top end of the electric market. Some barely reach 90 mph, while even a basic gasoline vehicle can do well over 100 mph.

The need for (relevant) speed

First, the UK has a maximum speed limit of 70 mph on the freeway. A car that can go much faster than that is pretty pointless

A high top speed on a petrol or diesel car is usually an indication of the car's performance, which affects acceleration at lower (permitted) speeds. This is not the case with electric cars.

Because of the high torque and constant power output, electric cars usually have only one gear. This provides seamless acceleration up to speeds of 60-70 mph, but then slows down due to the limitations of the transmission. In the UK, this is the perfect compromise, and your little electric SUV will leave many gasoline-powered sports cars behind with ease.

If you plan to drive regularly on the highway, a Tesla Model S or Porsche Taycan should suit your needs. Both are capable of reaching more than 160 miles per hour, and the Taycan even has a second gear that allows it to accelerate strongly at those high speeds.

6. More expensive to buy

Electric cars tend to be more expensive than their internal combustion engine counterparts. The Peugeot e-208 costs just over £34,500 in the GT trim level. The Peugeot 208 with a gasoline engine and 129 hp in top trim costs £27,290. Although the e-208 is faster, that’s a pretty big price difference.

It’s not quite as big for the more expensive luxury cars. For example, the base Porsche Taycan is only £2,600 more expensive than the entry-level Porsche Panamera. But the price of the car is only one aspect when considering cost.

It’s about more than just price

Electric cars are exempt from road tax until 2025– - you can save up to £2,365 in the first year of owning an electric car compared to a petrol or diesel vehicle. Granted, this figure is for a gasoline-powered vehicle, but even for a basic Nissan Qashqai, you'll have to pay £220 in road tax in the first year and £155 from the second year. For e-vehicles, a flat rate of £165 will apply from 2025.

The VED surcharge of £40,000 will not be payable until 2025 - A petrol or diesel vehicle costing more than £40,000 will be subject to a £355 tax surcharge for five years from the second year of ownership. This means a saving of £1,775 for you if you choose an e-vehicle.

Lower running costs - On average, the cost per mile for an electric car is less than half that of an internal combustion engine car. And that’s just the cost of refuelling and recharging. Electric cars require less maintenance, and since there are fewer moving parts, there's not as much that can go wrong. Most maintenance on an electric car involves replacing brake fluid and windshield wiper rubbers, as well as a thorough cleaning. Over a period of three to five years, this can save hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds.

No Charges for Clean Air Zones - Many city centres have Clean Air Zones where only vehicles with very low or no emissions are allowed to drive without being charged. In London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, you pay £12.50 per day, which can add up to £250 per month if you don’t own an e-vehicle.

 

7. Environmental impact

An electric car produces no emissions, however the way it generates electricity has a direct impact on how environmentally friendly it really is. Also, the production of the
lithium-ion battery is more harmful to the environment than the average gasoline-powered car.
Relative efficiency
Battery packs - The battery pack is the most environmentally damaging component of an electric car. Advances in battery production and the development of sustainable battery disposal and renewal sites are steadily improving environmental impacts

Electricity Generation - Charging your electric car using solar panels results in a much smaller environmental footprint than relying solely on a coal-fired power plant. The practical reality is somewhere in the middle. As the European energy system steadily moves towards renewables, the environmental footprint of an e-vehicle should improve over time.

However, there are ethical concerns about the sourcing of raw materials for electric cars and their batteries, with cobalt and lithium, to name just two examples, not always associated with ideal production models. But the oil industry is not known for its perfection either, and while this does not preclude some of the problems associated with electric cars, millions of us still enjoy driving gasoline and diesel cars.