Here Are the Pros and Cons of Electric Cars (2021 Edition)
EVs offer a number of pros and cons in comparison to traditional ICE-powered vehicles.
Going Electric
Electric vehicles have steadily gained in popularity in recent years, and yet, there's still a lot of misinformation floating around about them. But there's a reason why automakers continue to build and sell more EVs and more and more people are ditching gas for electricity. There are a lot of good reasons to go electric, though there are obviously also some downsides to doing so. Thus, we thought it would be beneficial to round up some of the more important pros and cons to EV ownership right here.
Photo: Tesla
Pro: Save Money on Fuel and Maintenance
Despite what many may say, there's really no denying that electricity is almost always cheaper than gas. This will obviously vary depending on where you charge and the cost of fuel in your area, of course. Charging at home is cheaper than using charging stations, too. Regardless, you'll save a ton of money on maintenance, as EVs don't require oil changes or any other repairs associated with an internal combustion engine, and thanks to regenerative braking, they also go much further on brakes, too. In some cases, however, it's worth noting that EV owners oftentimes go through tires faster thanks to an EV's heavier weight and copious amounts of torque.
Photo: Volkswagen
Con: Expensive Entry Price
While you'll save a lot of money owning and operating an EV, it costs more to obtain one than a comparable ICE-powered vehicle. This is changing, of course, as battery components become cheaper over time, and there are various tax credits available depending on which model you buy and what state you live in. But for now, at least, there's still a bit of an EV price barrier that's preventing quite a few folks from pulling the trigger.
Photo: Tesla
Pro: Performance
Not every EV offers face-melting performance, but Tesla in particular has done a great job of proving that electric vehicles can not only be fun, but they can also out-accelerate everything on the road save for super-expensive supercars. And even the more mundane models are fun to drive thanks to their instant torque and, in many cases, the lack of a transmission means that they simply keep pulling with no hesitation.
Photo: Ford
Con: Longer "Refueling" Times
Range anxiety gets most of the press when it comes to electric vehicles, but most people don't drive enough in a day for that to be much of a concern. What will be a concern for some is the fact that it takes longer to charge an EV than it does to fill up an ICE car with gas. Things have improved in this regard, but there's no denying that taking a road trip in an EV will take longer than a gas car for this very reason. Then again, charge stops are also a great time to grab some food or take a restroom break along the way.
Photo: Audi
Pro: Environmentally Friendly
EV detractors like to point out that producing electric vehicles is more harmful to the environment than ICE vehicles, but it doesn't take long for EVs to compensate for that. Once an EV is built, it doesn't emit any tailpipe emissions, and even if you charge it from the coal-powered grid, it's a cleaner source of power than gasoline. Plus, you can install a solar system at your house and go completely green, and the grid is slowly transitioning to clean energy as we speak.
Photo: Chevrolet
Con: Lack of Options
For years, almost every legacy automaker has shunned EVs, but that's quickly changing. Regardless, at the moment, there are far more ICE-powered vehicle options than electric ones. There are many new EV models, including a bevy of pickup truck options, in the works with launch dates spread over the next two years or so, however, and soon buyers will have a veritable buffet of options to choose from.
Photo: Tesla
