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Common concerns with electric vehicles include the availability of charging points, range of the battery, and overall running costs. Some individuals and businesses could benefit from moving to electric, while others might find that electric vehicles are not going to be practical for their lifestyle.
The experts at Pure Vehicle Leasing take a closer look at how electric vehicles compare to petrol and diesel cars.
One of the most important things to consider when comparing the best types of fuel for a vehicle is the running costs. This is what will impact your daily life after purchasing or leasing the vehicle and it is vital you understand the differences between your options.
Petrol and diesel vehicles both require you to fill up on fuel, and the cost of this can be volatile. Petrol engines are not as efficient as their diesel counterparts, but neither of these combustion engines begin to compare to electric vehicles.
With an electric vehicle, you will need to pay to charge up the battery on a regular basis, but the cost of this will depend on the type of charge point you are using and where you are charging. For example, using a public rapid charger, you can expect to pay anywhere between £7 to £10 for a full charge, whereas charging at home will cost around the £5 mark.
The range of a fully charged electric vehicle will vary depending on many factors, but most modern cars will offer around 200 miles per full charge, but some of the top models offer in excess of 300 miles. In comparison, it costs an average of £55 to fill a petrol engine and diesel is generally slightly more expensive but is more efficient.
It isn’t just the cost of fuel that you should take into consideration when choosing a fuel type. Additional costs such as road tax and congestion charges are also a huge saving for electric vehicle drivers. Electric cars are not subject to road tax or congestion charges as of December 2021, whereas diesel and petrol cars can become quite costly in these areas.
Depending on how long you are planning on owning your next car, you might be interested to know the differences in lifespan between electric and combustion engines. Electric vehicles depend on the battery in order to keep running, and when the battery reaches the end of its life, so does the car.
Some people fear that electric cars do not last as long as combustion engines, and a few years ago this might have been the case. Today, advances in technology mean that electric vehicles have very long-lasting batteries.
The typical electric vehicle battery will last for roughly 200,000 miles, which equates to 17 years of driving 12,000 miles a year. The average combustion engine lasts for 12 years, although this number depends heavily on maintenance and care.
One of the biggest hassles with owning a vehicle is the maintenance. From regular servicing and MOTs to repairing faults, there is a lot that goes into maintaining a car. Electric vehicles typically need less maintenance than their combustion counterparts, simply because they have fewer parts.
Petrol and diesel vehicles are made up of radiators, engines, spark plugs, fuel pumps, cooling systems, exhausts, pistons, and so much more. These are all things that can become worn-out and damaged over time and require maintenance and repair. Electric vehicles do not have half of these parts, so there is a lot less potential for something to go wrong.
If you are considering purchasing a new vehicle outright, then the cost is going to be one of the biggest deciding factors. Electric vehicles are more expensive to purchase than combustion vehicles, and petrol is generally considered the cheapest option. It is important to bear in mind that while buying an electric car might set you back more, to begin with, you can quickly offset that cost through fuel and maintenance savings.
Though it’s worth considering leasing an electric vehicle as you need not worry about the upfront cost and can simply pay monthly. Leasing electric vehicles offers consumers and businesses an affordable route into more sustainable travel, as the majority of electric vehicles come with a hefty price tag when purchased outright.
Many drivers are anxious about finding places to charge their electric vehicles, and this is something that puts many people off going electric. Years ago, electric charge points were few and far between, but today there are hundreds of thousands of chargers across the country. When you have a petrol or diesel car, you have peace of mind that there is always going to be a petrol station nearby should you need to fill up.
With an electric vehicle, refuelling isn’t quite as easy, but it also isn’t a total inconvenience. Most service stations, shopping centres, and major streets have charge points available for public use. It is also very easy to get a domestic charging point installed at your own home.
Overall, there are many things to consider when comparing electric vs petrol and diesel vehicles. The simple advantages of an electric vehicle are:
● Cheap running costs with recharging being considerably less than refuelling
● Zero road tax or congestion charge.
● Cheaper to maintain.
● Long lifespan.
● Zero emissions and more eco friendly
The disadvantages which you need to be aware of include:
● Expensive purchase cost.
● Limited range.
● Recharging can take time.
● Range anxiety
Electric vehicles are not going to be the best option for everybody, but for a lot of people, they offer many advantages over petrol or diesel cars. For someone who drives a few miles to work every day and runs local errands, an electric vehicle is probably going to be a perfect choice. However, someone who regularly makes long journeys and motorway drives might be better off with a combustion engine for the time being.
To find out more, visit our electric vehicle guide or contact us today about our electric car leasing deals!
