*This is a collaborative post.
If you’re a parent, you know the absolute fear when you have to hunt for a new car. Safety-wise, car seat space, stroller trunk space, there seems to be a lot to consider. Although, one area you may not have considered is whether electric vehicles might meet your needs as a parent.
If you’ve never looked into electric vehicles before, you probably know that they are said to be better for the environment and that your local supermarket recently installed a charging point, but beyond that, what are the pros and cons of electric vehicles, especially for family?
This article will explore some of the things you didn’t know you needed to know about electric vehicles and how they can be a great choice for you and your kids!
Electric Vehicle Specialist
This benefit Owning an electric car is multiple. First, they are much better for the environment. They don’t release toxic fumes into the air that cause global warming. So you can sleep peacefully knowing you are part of the solution to the climate crisis, not part of the problem.
The EV is also very smooth, handling the road well thanks to a low center of gravity. They are actually more energy efficient than conventional engines, which means far less power is required to get into a football game or dance class.
Because of their efficiency, electric cars are very economical to run, costing about 10p per mile to charge, which is much cheaper than driving a mile in a diesel or petrol car, especially with the cost of the pump pushed up by recent oil price hikes .
Electric cars also have zero road tax, so you can instantly save between £20 and £600 a year on a combustion engine car, which is always a bonus! Electric cars are also cheaper to maintain than gasoline or diesel cars, so owning an electric car can save you money across the board.
If you want, you can even install solar panels in your home to charge your car, so it will actually cost you zero! Another great benefit is that EVs are free of congestion charges in many major cities, which will save you a lot of money every year if you travel a lot in cities that charge!
Disadvantages of electric vehicles
Critics point out that pollution simply moves from cars to the power stations that make them. This is mainly because the lithium batteries required to run electric vehicles are very expensive in terms of materials and manufacturing costs.
However, not all the power used to make a car is produced by burning fossil fuels. The fact that most of the energy is generated by wind and solar panels makes electric vehicles still an environmentally friendly option.
Another disadvantage of EVs is that trips must be planned around battery life. Most EVs now average 300 miles on a charge, so that’s a lot better than when they first launched; however, if you’re going on longer trips, you’ll need to plan stops to recharge.
Many car parks now offer free charging points, so this might not be as difficult as you might think. If you are traveling for a long time and need to charge overnight, many hotels now offer this service for free when booking, giving you more peace of mind.
The final downside to EVs is that there are no cheap older cars yet, as this is still fairly new technology. However, over the next few years you will start to see EVs being phased out!
Are electric cars suitable for families?
The ride of the electric car is very smooth and quiet, so there is no risk of waking the sleeping baby behind! They also have excellent road handling thanks to a low center of gravity, which makes for a safer drive, just what you need when you’re carrying your most precious cargo with you. Most EVs are also automatic, which means it’s easier to ride, which is great when you have kids in the back seat yelling for your attention!
Plus, there are obviously some great benefits in terms of operating costs, which leaves you with more money to spend on that family vacation!
More manufacturers are now stretching their muscles and increasing the size of their electric offerings, which is great news for families, there are even 7 seats available now, so there’s plenty of room for all those car seats ! As the new kid on the block, they also have a ton of extra safety features; electric cars, for example, are so quiet that they add noise that can be heard outside to warn you of pedestrians in the vicinity.
You might also like some of our other automotive posts – Top tips to help you choose the perfect car, How to buy and maintain a car on a budget and Car Insurance – Get the Best Price.
The cost of electric vehicles
Electric cars are undoubtedly more expensive than buying a diesel or petrol car, with the average electric car costing over £40,000. However, there are ways to offset some of the cost, and the payback in this area may not be as long as you might think given the lower running costs.
First, the government offers many incentives to try and get people to switch to electric vehicles. Some of these include plug-in car grants worth up to £5,000, which are claimed by the garage at the time of purchase, Electric vehicle door-to-door charging solutionwhich provides grants to renters and landlords to install home charging points, as well as a workplace charging program that will help your employer install charging points if you drive an electric vehicle to meet your charging needs at work.
Beyond that, if you’re a working parent with your own business, you’ll be able to deduct a significant portion of your car purchase tax bill If the vehicle is used for work purposes. In fact, if you’re going to buy a new car anyway and own an LTD, you’re basically getting it for free!
If you have limited funds but still want to buy an electric car, then you can consider electric car leasing. When you rent a car, many car maintenance costs are also included in your rental fee, and you always know that if you break down, you’ll have access to another car.
You can also save money on electric car insurance.Check electric People who specialize in pure electric vehicle insurance. In addition to that, they can also help you get a charging point at home at a very low cost if you don’t qualify for a government program.
Electric vehicles are a great way to save money, do your part for the environment and travel in style. The good news is they are super family friendly now too!
If you can’t afford to pay the upfront cost of an electric vehicle, leasing can be a very cost-effective option for you!
