Environmental Benefits of Electric Cars

Electric cars are becoming more and more popular and for good reason! Not only do they save you money on fuel, but they also have a ton of other benefits. This article will focus on the environmental benefits of electric cars but first, we’ll also look at some of the other benefits of electric cars which should not be overlooked.

When electric vehicles were first introduced to the main consumer market, they tended to be very small and were often shunned by people who needed a larger family car and/or something looking perhaps a little more sophisticated. Nowadays, the options are vast as an increasing number of manufacturers want a share of the electric car market. It is now impossible just by looking at the design and appearance of a car whether or not it is an EV.

Historically, one of the biggest aversions to choosing EV was low mileage before the battery needed a top-up and lack of charging points, but both those issues are being addressed.

Most people charge their vehicles at home, ideally with a dedicated home charging point installed for speed and safety. But the availability of charging points in numerous situations is changing dramatically. Many companies now have EV charging points for their employees and there are an increasing number of public charging stations across the country including at motorway service stations. Public options in or just outside city centres, for example, often include charging points in a way that means free parking too, an added bonus.

Let’s look at some of the other financial benefits of electric cars

Financial benefits of electric cars

Naturally, the biggest financial benefit is the saving in fuel costs which can be substantial according to the mileage and type of car you are currently driving, especially as we are seeing fuel prices increasingly rise with no indication that is expected to level off any time soon.

Electric vehicles tend to be more expensive than their counterparts, but that is offset by government grants of up to £1,500 for electric cars priced under £32,000, with currently around 20 models on the market.

Additionally, pure electric vehicles are exempt from vehicle tax.

Electric cars also have a much higher resale value than petrol or diesel cars. This is because electric cars are still relatively new technology, and there is a limited supply of them. As more and more people switch to electric cars, the resale value will continue to go up. Anyone who is genuinely interested in sustainability but still needs to use a car is more likely to purchase a second-hand vehicle than new.

It is estimated that electric cars hold around 48.9% of their value after three years or 36,000 miles. For traditional petrol and diesel cars, this figure is around 40%. Naturally, there are variances according to model and mileage but nonetheless, another good financial reason for going electric reason, as well as the huge saving on fuel.

As we shall see below, the availability of electric vehicles makes it more affordable for people to get their precious first driving license.

Clearly changing to an electric vehicle is good for your wallet as well as the environment!

Safety benefits of electric cars

Electric cars offer a much better and safer driving experience than petrol or diesel cars. They are smoother and faster, and they handle better in bad weather. Electric cars also have a much lower centre of gravity because of a high weight battery located in the floor which makes them less likely to roll over in a crash.

The majority of electric cars are automatic because of the greater efficiency and broader power band inherent in EV motors.  Automatic transmissions make driving an electric car safer because they allow you to focus on steering and braking rather than shifting gears.

The majority of people who are used to driving with gears adapt quite seamlessly to an automatic transmission, but you can always book a few extra lessons if you need additional confidence. But the move to EV is a particularly big bonus for learner drivers as it makes sense to apply for a license for automatic vehicles only which are much easier to learn to drive and can therefore cut costs and time considerably. This website shows that automatic driving lessons in Manchester, as an example, can be an affordable and time-efficient way to get your first driving license.

Environmental benefits of electric vehicles

Environmental reasons are the main consideration for people changing to electric vehicles, with the government also encouraging this movement to help meet its net-zero target by 2050. These are the main environmental benefits of electric vehicles.

However, making the best decisions for environmental reasons is not always straightforward! If annual mileage is extremely low and your vehicle is reasonably fuel-efficient, and you do not really need a new car, do remember that every new vehicle has enormous amounts of embodied carbon i.e., the total of emissions that result from its production. It is estimated that a small electric car has about 14 tonnes CO2e. The larger the car, the larger the embodied carbon.

Currently, the energy used to build new cars will have come from burning fossil fuels. Batteries are currently carbon-intensive to manufacture. As manufacturing processes change and larger companies focus on net-zero plants, embodied carbon in electric cars, as well as other products, will reduce dramatically. So, if you are in that low mileage bracket and if you do not really need a new car now, it makes sense to wait a couple of years before swapping it in for an electric vehicle.

Nonetheless, let’s dig a bit deeper and look at the environmental benefits.

Electric vehicles reduce emissions and pollution

Electric cars produce zero emissions as they drive as long as the power comes from a renewable source. Driving an electric car is equivalent to getting over 100 miles per gallon! Pollution from cars contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming, therefore reducing emissions from cars helps improve air quality and prevents the negative effects.

CO2 emissions are not only an issue in terms of climate change impact but also air pollution that has a detrimental impact on public health. The NHS states that air pollution is linked to killer conditions like heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, contributing to around 36,000 deaths annually.

Electric vehicles help conserve energy resources

Electric cars can be plugged into a power source and charged. The electricity used to charge electric cars comes from a variety of sources, including coal, nuclear, solar, wind, etc. In terms of home charging, you can take control of the source of energy by ensuring you have a renewable energy tariff or, better still, perhaps you have your own options such as solar energy? Many businesses offering charging points will also be using renewable energy, although you will need to check.

They are quiet and smooth, so they cause less noise pollution

Electric cars produce significantly less engine noise than traditional petrol and diesel cars do for a number of reasons: electric engines are quieter, there’s no gear shifting sound, electric cars accelerate more gradually than traditional gas-powered ones do, etc. This means electric cars help reduce noise pollution from cars.

It is important to understand that noise pollution also has a detrimental impact on public health.

Electric cars require less maintenance

Electric cars have fewer mechanical parts than traditional fuel-powered cars do, which means they’re easier to maintain and keep in good condition over time. There is also no oil or transmission fluid required by electric cars. This easy upkeep helps extend the life of an electric car and reduces the number of pollutants released during routine car maintenance. Less maintenance means fewer emissions!

CONCLUSION

Electric cars are becoming more and more popular for a variety of reasons, but the biggest benefit is their positive impact on the environment. Electric cars produce zero emissions as they drive, which helps reduce pollution and conserve energy resources. They are also safer, quieter, and smoother than traditional petrol and diesel cars, so they cause less noise pollution.

And if the above reasons are not sufficient reasons to make the switch, the financial benefits should certainly encourage you!