With the increase in popularity of electric vehicles in recent years, and models such as the Toyota Prius and Tesla Model S being especially prevalent in the international spotlight, one can’t help but ask why people are now opting to drive electric cars. And while the limited availability of charging stations was once a barrier to the adoption of the electric car, there have been recent dramatic improvements in infrastructure for electric cars. The fact that this trend is on the rise begs the question: what are the benefits of buying an electric car?
Reduced Fuel Costs
Buying an electric car will reduce your fuel costs simply because electricity is far cheaper than gasoline. Some estimate that you can actually reduce your yearly fuel costs by over 50% by switching to electric. And, while fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources and will increase in price as their supplies diminish, electricity is a renewable resource and will only grow cheaper as electrical infrastructure improves.
Reduced Fuel Emissions
While fossil fuel-burning cars release emissions that are harmful to the Earth’s atmosphere, electric cars actually don’t release any emissions at all. And while the very real threat of global warming may be hard to conceptualize, fossil fuel emissions harm all of us every day. Buying an electric car is a step towards avoiding a global climate crisis and towards creating a world with cleaner, more breathable air.
Reduced Noise Pollution
Fossil fuel-burning internal combustion engines make our roads and the surrounding areas extremely noisy, whereas electric cars produce considerably less noise. Noise pollution can interrupt the migration patterns of animals living in areas adjacent to major roads, and can lead to increased stress levels in humans who are overexposed to it. An increase in electric cars on the road could lead to healthier ecosystems as well as more peaceful neighborhoods.
Less Maintenance
Gasoline-burning cars typically require far more maintenance than electric cars due to the fact that the engines in electric cars are far less complicated. This means that electric car engines have far fewer parts that could potentially need replacing. Another beautiful benefit to buying an electric car is that you’ll never have to worry about getting a routine oil change again!
Cutting Edge Technology
Due to the fact that electric cars are relatively new to the market, most are equipped with the latest and greatest in terms of technology. Most come equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment systems with features such as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. They are also outfitted with some of the best safety features available in the industry such as blindspot recognition and pedestrian detection.
Electric Vehicle Credits
If you buy an electric car in the United States you become automatically eligible for a one-time $7,500 federal tax credit. Many states also offer additional tax credits on top of that to further incentivize drivers to go electric. When you combine that with how much switching to an electric car saves on fuel costs, it seems that going electric may be a very financially savvy move.
