7 Reasons to Buy an Electric Car in the UK in 2022
Are you still stuck on whether you should buy an electric car in 2022?
Is an electric vehicle worth it? In this article, I will answer these questions by giving you seven reasons why this is the best time to buy an electric car in the UK.
However, before we get to the reasons, I’d like to point out that technology can only improve. In 2018, there were about 11,000 charging points in the UK. In 2022, this figure almost doubled with about 21,000 charging points across the UK.
In 2022, the UK currently has about 34,000 charging points spread across 20,534 locations — a more than 200% increase in 4 years.
Let’s get to 7 reasons why an electric vehicle is worth it.
7 Reasons to Buy an Electric Vehicle in 2022
- You get to save money
According to NimbleFins, an electric vehicle owner can save up to £899 a year on fuel and another £150 in vehicle tax savings. In 5 years, you would have saved about £5,268.
That’s not all. You also save money on engine oil changes, frequent maintenance, fixing a clunking sound, and many other issues that come with an internal combustion engine vehicle.
An electric car can be pricey when you’re first paying for it. Paying up to £25,000 for a vehicle can be expensive, but what you get in the car over the years pays back more than what you paid as the initial cost.
According to some electric vehicle users, you can power your home with an old and replaced electric car battery — giving you extended life usage and helping you save on your light bill.
- Silent and smooth ride
As much as some petrolheads still want the revving sound of a petrol engine, many more people just want to drive after a long day at work in silence.
Many parents who own classic cars have pointed out on social media that their kids and young adults prefer less noisy vehicles. This trend shows a change in taste that will shape the future generation of cars.
An electric vehicle does not have a combustion engine that makes noise. So, you and others are free from the noise pollution that would have come from a petrol engine.
You can enjoy soothing music without having the sound of your engine humming in the background or a clunking sound from the engine.
- Clean and free of fumes
Every time you drive to the filling station, you can’t help but inhale the irritating smell of petrol. Apart from being smelly, it will leave your hands dry if your skin comes in contact with it.
It is worse when you change your engine oil. You had better get a glove, or else you’d have black engine oil on your hands.
An electric vehicle frees you from that. You smile anytime you drive past a filling station, and you won’t have to worry about the need to change the engine oil.
- The feeling of fulfilment that comes with being eco-friendly
Not everyone may be able to plant a tree in their lifetime. However, using an essential eco-friendly item like a car reduces your carbon footprint.
An average petrol vehicle produces CO2 from its exhaust pipes. Electric cars don’t emit CO2 as they are electric-powered. With more electric vehicles on the road and fewer petrol-engine vehicles, we contribute to a sustainable environment and breathe cleaner air.
- It is cheaper to charge a car than to fuel it.
Petrol prices have never been higher as the price of a litre hit 167 pence in the UK. Who knows what lies ahead? OPEC decides the world’s supply of petrol, and the amount of crude oil the earth has is not unlimited.
One thing is for sure, the price of petrol cannot see a steep decline until demand for it has drastically dropped. Currently, countries are projecting beyond 2030 as their target year for net-zero emissions. While the possibility of this is slim, you can project ten more years of rising petrol prices.
Shouldn’t you free yourself from uncertainty and rely on electricity as fuel? With more sustainable ways of producing electricity like solar, wind, and hydropower, electricity can only get cheaper. According to Fast Company, the price of solar electricity has dropped by 89% in 10 years.
- Better Performance
Tesla Model 3 is rated to go from zero to 96.56 kph in 5.8 seconds and comes with a top speed of 225 kph. This performance is the kind you get with sports cars.
A performance like this is possible because electric cars can instantly deliver maximum torque. The difference between a slow and a fast car is the amount of torque available and how quickly the engine can deliver it.
- Enjoy tech at its best
Electric vehicles come with cutting-edge technology. With the Tesla Model 3, you can get up to 429 km on a single charge. That aside, you have a large computer screen, computer-controlled functions, and an average level of self-driving capabilities.
Many electric cars produced as far back as 2019 can self-diagnose, so you don’t need an expert before you know the nature of a problem with the vehicle.
Should you buy an electric car?
Yes, from saving on petrol and constant maintenance to being able to control your car with your phone, an electric vehicle packs more punch than the petrol engine cars polluting the environment.
FAQ
How much does it cost to charge an electric car in the UK?
Charging at home may cost you about £15 for a 60 kWh battery that can go about 321 km. However, charging is free at public charging points at supermarkets and parks. Many employers also install charging points, and these are also free.