To EV or not to EV

Whether you love them or loathe them, electric cars (EVs) are now firmly a part of life in the UK as of 2022. One in every six cars sold is now fully electric, and we have recently surpassed the milestone of 1 million electric cars here in the UK. For some, they represent a positive step forward towards a cleaner, less polluted planet. For others, they are considered expensive, boring, and limited in their utility. The truth, of course, lies somewhere in between. However, the most crucial factor is you and your family's needs and what you require from your car.

Let's address the cost first. It's true that, until recently, electric cars were considerably more expensive than their petrol or diesel counterparts. However, this is changing, driven in large part by new Chinese entrants in the market. In my last article, I discussed how the car market was evolving, with market forces driving prices down for the first time since the pandemic.

Range, or the lack of it and the anxiety it can cause remains a significant issue with EVs. Most modern EVs still have a maximum range of 250 miles at most, and in winter, this can be considerably less. If you regularly drive long distances, you'll have to contend with the public charger challenge. Although more chargers are being built all the time, they still face reliability issues (how often do you see a petrol pump out of order?), and the pace of charger installation doesn't seem to be keeping up with the rate of EV sales. On major trunk roads, there can often be queues at chargers. If you're embarking on journeys, plan for them to take longer and bring a good book!

Another consideration for many is battery life; it's never going to be cheap to repair or replace a battery. Right now, though, I don't think this is a huge concern. Most manufacturers offer extended warranties on the batteries, with Tesla and Porsche, for example, providing 8 years cover. MG offer 7 years cover for the entire car. Car dealers will have to find ways to build confidence in purchasers of used electric cars, so I'm sure further solutions will be found. What it means for the private sale of out-of-warranty electric cars, though, remains to be seen—they will have to be priced competitively to mitigate the risk.

For business users with limited mileage (less than 200 per day), EVs are still a 'no-brainer.' The tax incentives available can make them significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel cars. Similarly, for private car owners, if you can charge at home, there are savings to be made in running costs and unnecessary sausage roll purchases at petrol stations. However, if you can't charge at home or regularly undertake long journeys, careful consideration is still needed.

At Red House Automotive, we've sold, owned, and lived with electric cars for the last 2 years. We can offer free impartial advice to guide you in the right direction. Call or WhatsApp us on 07949047391, whether you're ready to join the EV revolution or stick with an engine for just a little bit longer.