Should Your Next Car be Electric?

We are a nation that loves our cars and most of us would find it hard to manage without one. However with an increasing number of cars now on the roads the issues around petrol and diesel fuelled cars has never been more important. Many people are now turning to electric cars as an alternative but is it the right time to do it or would it be better to wait for a few years until the technology has improved and the prices have come down? We look at some of the reasons for moving to an electric vehicle now

1. Air pollution

   Car engines that use petrol or diesel for fuel release dangerous gases and particulate matter into the air when they are running. When these chemicals are breathed into our lungs they can cause a whole range of health issues. They are particularly dangerous for the very young, very old and those with respiratory problems. Clean air is very important to us all and this problem will only get worse if we continue to increase the number of fossil fuelled cars on the road at the current rate.

2. Greenhouse Gases

   Burning petrol and diesel produces carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas. This means that our fossil fuelled cars are producing chemicals that are contributing to global warming. Global warming and climate change are fast becoming the biggest problems that our planet has ever had to face. Moving to an electric car, and cleaner energy, is widely seen as a step in the right direction.

3. Running Costs

   Electric cars are extremely fuel efficient. A petrol or diesel car costs around 12- 15p per mile to run compared to 2-3p per mile for an electric car. There is also no vehicle tax on zero emission cars costing less than £40,000 new.

4. Cost to buy

   If you want to buy a new car today, the number of petrol and diesel models available is much greater than the number of electric models. This means that there is a wider choice of cars to suit lower and higher end budgets. However, the big car manufacturers are releasing new models of electric car all the time and as the number of models increases the range of prices will increase too. In addition, the Scottish Government is currently providing interest free loans for new electric vehicles. Loans of up to £35,000 are available for new electric/plug-in hybrid vehicles and up to £10,000 for electric motorcycles or scooters.

5. Charging Costs

   Electric cars need to be charged. This means that in order to charge your electric car (electric vehicle – EV) at home you need to install an EV Home Charging Point. Grants are available to help with the cost of doing this, currently £500 from OLEV and £300 from the Energy Saving Trust Scotland. An electrician that is part of the SMART Electric Vehicle Installer network (EVi network) will be able to give you more information on applying for grants and what is involved in a charging point installation. The cost of fully charging your electric car at home has been estimated at around £3. In addition, the network of public charging points in Scotland is growing every day. ChargePlace Scotland network has already over 1000 charging bays and most are free to use.

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