INSIGHTS & GUIDES
Which is better petrol or electric cars
Which is better petrol or electric cars?
With changing legislation, advances in technology and confusion over which option is more cost-effective in the long run, it's no surprise that many customers are uncertain about what to choose.
There are pros and cons to both petrol and electric cars but we have to remember by 2030 the governement has banned the sale of new petrol cars.
What is an Electric Car?
Electric vehicles (EV) essentially are an automatic vehicle with an electric motor powering it. A fully electric car does not run on or have a petrol or diesel engine. An electric car does not have a traditional combustion engine, instead it has one or more electric motors which are powered by a large battery pack. They generally have one fixed gear and provide near-silent and smooth progress.
What's the main difference between an Electric and Petrol car?
The biggest difference between electric vs petrol cars is the power source. EVs use electric motors whereas petrol cars use an internal combustion engine. An electric vehicle has one moving part, the motor, whereas petrol vehicles have hundreds of moving parts.
What are the Pros and Cons of Electric vehicles?
Benefits of electric car
- Zero emissions
- Lower cost per mile compared to petrol cars
- Government grants offered on certain EVs
- Exempt from charges in clear-air zones
- Minimal servicing requirements
Drawbacks of electric car
- Pricing tends to be higher than for similar petrol models
- Range is lower than in most petrol cars
- Charging takes longer than filling with petrol
- Charging infrastructure isn't up to speed just yet
- Enviromental impact of building an EV can be more than an equivalent petrol car
What are the Pros and Cons of Petrol vehicles?
As a customer you may be thinking when can you no longer buy petrol cars or when should I stop buying petrol cars? The government's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will come into effect from 2030 with the sale of hybrids being outlawed from 2035. After 2030 you will still be able to drive a petrol car or buy second hand, the ban only affects the sale of new petrol vehicles.
So if you buy a petrol car have you ever wondered how many miles do petrol cars last? If a car is serviced and maintained in all probability it is capable of doing 200,000 miles.
Are electric cars more reliable than petrol cars?
The latest technology often takes a while to become as reliable as what it replaces e.g. it was years before you could count on your mobile phone to make a call without cutting out while the landline was reliable each and every time. The same is true in the automotive industry, by going electric you are often signing up to be a beta tester.
So are electric cars more reliable than petrol cars? Recent survey by Which found that electric cars are less reliable than petrol equivalent. A survey of nearly 50,000 drivers found that 31% of EV owners had experienced a fault in the first12 months compared to 19% of petrol drivers. However, the study showed that the majority of problems with EVs were software related rather than mechanical which could generally be fixed more easily and often without having to visit a dealer. So the findings should be taken 'with a pinch of salt'.
Benefits of a petrol car
- Lower price tag compared to EVs
- Petrol engines are easier to tune and tune-up
- Refuelling is quick and convenient so range anxiety is not an issue
- They offer better agility - acceleration and speed - than EVs
- Broader range to vehicles to choose from - for now
- Engines last longer than electric motors, petrol cars typically have a long service life
Drawbacks of a petrol car
- Ever tightening regulations will limit the viability of petrol cars in the future
- Charges apply to drive in low-emission and clean-air zones
- Higher overall enviromental impact compared to EVs
- More expensive servicing and running costs
Are electric cars cheaper to buy than petrol?
Electric cars generally have a higher list price than petrol equivalents because they are produced in smaller numbers and use newer, more expensive technology. To offset this electric vehicles are much cheaper to charge than filling up petrol cars.
Can I still buy a Petrol car?
When can you no longer buy petrol cars?
In 2030 the governement will ban the sale of new petrol vehicles although you can still buy second hand petrol cars.
