The increasing popularity of EV cars can be attributed to their minimized global warming emissions, less frequent maintenance, and quieter driving. However, due to its cost and the limited number of electric vehicle charging stations in some areas, an EV car is not a valuable asset for everyone.
The following are crucial factors one has to think over before driving an electric car:
The initial price
Since they are powered by costly rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles tend to be more expensive than conventional cars. The high cost comes from the cathode that requires high purity metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These metals need to be mined and processed before they can be used as a raw material for battery production.
Electrical Vehicle Charging stations
It would take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to fully charge an EV car depending on the model. Some fully charged EV cars can drive between 60 and 100 miles while other models offer 200 to 300 miles. And in a city where EV cars are everywhere, finding an electrical vehicle charging station is easy. However, it would not be practical to visit rural or suburban areas where charging stations are not available or scarce.
Maintenance
Unlike gas-powered cars, EV cars do not require regular oil changes and other maintenance tasks associated with the combustion engine. Furthermore, the brakes on EV cars outlast those of conventional gas-powered automobiles. However, most licensed mechanics are not experts on EV cars and pose a challenge when these units break down. Parts are also not quickly accessible and would require you to reach the vehicle manufacturer.
The real environmental impact
While conventional cars use fossil fuels (from extracting crude oil to transporting gasoline to filling stations) to power their combustion engine, EV cars rely on mined and processed elements to manufacture their rechargeable batteries. Also, the emissions from generating the electricity to charge an EV car should be considered as well. And unless the source of their energy comes from renewable sources like solar or wind, electric cars cannot be considered a green alternative to diesel-powered vehicles.
There’s no doubt that EV cars can help alleviate the increasing global temperature as they emit lower emissions than gas-powered automobiles. Still, it is imperative to strike a balance between environmental sustainability and cost- efficiency alongside other factors.
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