Over the last few years, there’s been a growing amount of interest in electric cars and they have just started to be able to compete in prices with traditional gas- powered cars. However, the functionality and implications of cars with different energy are far broader than just the price.
Here are the three biggest areas of difference between gas versus electric cars.
Cost
Let’s get the financial aspect out of the way first. Nowadays, there are electric cars available for the price of a high-end vehicle such as a BMW or Mercedes. In the long run, choosing an electric vehicle can lead to significant long term monetary savings; a 2018 study showed that the average cost to operate an electric vehicle in the US was only 40% of that of a gas-powered car.
While electric charging might be cheaper, electric vehicles have a shorter range of miles before needing to be topped up: an average of 75 miles compared to gas vehicle’s 250. However, on average, most people drive around 30 miles a day, so this shouldn’t be a major point of differentiation.
Environment
Everyone knows that electric cars are far better for the environment, but exactly by how much? Studies have shown that electric cars have benefits in three different areas. Firstly, less pollution; due to the zero-tailpipe emission the local air becomes cleaner, which has a broad range of positive consequences for the neighborhood. The fewer greenhouse gas emissions are so much better for the ozone layer, slowing down the rate of global warming.
You can reduce your carbon footprint even further by using renewable energy, like solar panels, to recharge your electric car. Finally, car manufacturers are striving to use more eco-friendly production methods and materials for its electric vehicle range.
Variety
When it comes to a variety of models with gas versus electric cars, the traditional gas wins with no doubt. There are currently only around thirty purely electric models of car, although many manufacturers are producing hybrid gas-electric models also.
There are an innumerable number of traditional gasoline cars available due to their century-long head start over their electric alternatives. All car manufacturers have several models, each coming with different customization options.
However, the electric vehicle market is growing, with Volvo recently announcing that they are moving away from combustion engine vehicles, phasing them out by 2019. Other leading manufacturers have followed suit, with BMW, Jaguar/Land Rover, and Volkswagen all making announcements to greatly expand their electric vehicle ranges.
Overall
There is a definite shift away from gas vehicles towards electric cars. All over the world, people are becoming more and more aware of the environmental consequences of their actions and car manufacturers are scrambling to keep up with the shifting trend. However, for the next few years at least, traditional gasoline cars are going to stick around.
