Last Updated on March 1, 2024
Electric cars (EVs) are dominating the market right now. With most car manufacturer’s stepping up the gears to design the next big thing with more battery power, impressive designs and bursting with more tech than you could dream of, there’s never been a more exciting time to upgrade your car to an electric model.
With lower running costs and environmentally friendly appeal attached, there are plenty of reasons to upgrade to an EV. Throw in the imminent UK ban of new petrol and diesel car sales in 2030, and the race is on.
Not convinced? Here’s why your next car should be electric:
The industry is moving toward pure electric
There’s no escaping it, by 2030 in most countries, buying a new petrol or diesel car will be impossible. Take the UK, for example. That year will see a ban on new fossil-fuel-operated vehicles across the board. Five years later, even hybrids will be outlawed.
Every car manufacturer is answering the net-zero emission call by producing electric versions of their most popular models, with a view to entirely devote their attention to the development of electric-only vehicles in the decade to come. From the VW ID.3 to the BMW i3 and Jaguar iPace, the market is getting more exciting week by week.
Here is a list of the brands that will be all-electric sooner than you think:
- Alfa Romeo: The brand will transition to all-electric only by 2027
- Bentley: With plans to be all-electric by 2030, Bentley will sell exclusively plug-in hybrid or electric cars by 2026
- GM: While the company has pledged to go all-electric by 2035, Cadillac will lead the charge by going all-electric by 2030
- Jaguar: By 2025, Jaguar’s “Reimagine plan” will be in full swing with its bespoke EV platform “Pantera”
- Lotus: While the iconic brand is currently working on a limited run Evija (an all-electric sports car), Lotus plans to be totally electric by 2028
- Mercedes: The brand have announced that they will go electric by 2030, but they haven’t ruled out selling combustion vehicles to markets that have the demand
- MINI: You can already buy an electric version of the Mini Cooper! But even better news comes from BMW, that the brand will be all-electric by 2030
- Toyota: Finally, Toyota have jumped on the bandwagon and will be all-electric in Europe, China and North America by 2030, with the rest of their markets following suit by 2035
You can also expect to see Volkswagen and Volvo to be all-electric by 2030, followed by latecomers such as Audi and Chevrolet by 2033-2035.
A cheaper, more affordable option
This year fuel prices have hit record highs, with petrol averaging £1.65 and diesel £1.77 per litre in the UK alone. With most drivers totting up at least £1,000 per year on fuel compared to charging up for less than £150 annually, you can already see the savings by switching to electric.
But, it is often the upfront costs of an EV that put people off as their diesel and petrol counterparts are still considerably cheaper on the forecourt. However, the government’s Plug-in Grant scheme will shave a healthy £1,500 off your final bill straight away if you go for a sub-£40k vehicle.
Then you need to consider car finance. After all, it’s the most popular way to buy a car – with over 90% of new purchases fulfilled by finance deals in Britain. With low monthly payments, you can drive away in your dream EV and pay back the reaming balance without the pressure of dipping into your savings and breaking the bank!
Even bad credit car finance is a viable option for those who have been rejected for loans in the past, making EVs accessible to everyone (within reason), despite their circumstances.
Reduced emissions
Owning an EV automatically reduces the amount of tailpipe emissions produced each time you drive. So each time you are sat in idle traffic, you won’t be adding to the rising emission levels in our cities.
While we all know EVs run off a battery, they also cleverly create and expel energy through regenerative braking. This turns your car’s kinetic energy into electricity, charging your EV battery as you drive and boosting your vehicle’s efficiency all at the same time.
You will also be exempt from low emission zone charges, such as London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ )and Bristol, Birmingham and Portsmouth’s Clean Air Zones (CAZ). With more of these schemes popping up across the country, you will make further savings by dodging the enforced emissions taxes that traditional combustion engine drivers will face.
But more importantly, fewer emissions will cause a reduction in greenhouse gasses and help support the UK to move toward sustainable and renewable sources of electricity.
No more queuing at the fuel station
One of the most fantastic perks of owning an EV is that you can plug it in overnight and be ready to jump in and drive off in the morning. Charging your EV is not only cost-efficient, fast and straightforward, but it gives you more freedom to just be at home without worrying about how much time you’ll lose waiting at the pump.
You may also be eligible for a £350 government grant to install an all-weather home charging unit outside your home.
Think of it as no different to charging your mobile phone! Most EVs can charge to full capacity within 5 to 10 hours through a 7kW home charging port. If you’re out and about and need a top-up, rapid chargers are available at most major supermarkets, fuel stations, airports and carparks.
Even employers are investing in charging ports so that you can plug in while you’re at work – minimizing stress and maximizing your time in the long run.
The benefits of owning an electric car make the switch a no brainer. From helping to improve air quality to saving you time and money, it just makes sense. Are you ready to upgrade to electric?