The electric vehicle, or EV, has seen an exponential growth in interest in recent years, as major manufacturers release commercial models that rival the dominant form of vehicular travel, in cars powered by internal combustion engines.
Indeed, a recent study has found that EV sales are likely to overtake conventional petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle sales by as early as 2025. But what exactly has precipitated this unprecedented acceleration in EV adoption? And what exactly do EVs offer consumers that make them not only a viable alternative, but also a preferable one?
Declining Gas-Guzzler Sales
EVs are becoming a more convenient form of travel in the UK with every passing year, as EV charging infrastructure increases across the nation and car manufacturers continue to innovate more powerful vehicles that travel further on a given charge. But the projected overtaking of their gas-guzzling counterpart isn’t solely due to this convenience. Sales of gas-powered vehicles are also on the decline. This is part due to manufacturing issues plaguing the industry, but also a result of a UK government ban on the sale of new petrol or diesel vehicles, set to come into effect in 2030. As fossil-fuelled vehicles are beginning to be phased out, consumers are looking ahead.
Direct Benefits to EV Ownership
Much has already been made of the EV’s potential long-term benefits with regard to the fight against climate change, but EVs are also fast becoming a preferential option for UK motorists, from a number of standpoints. Firstly, besides the increased upfront cost, EVs are cheaper than petrol or diesel vehicles.
This is because an EV’s engine is much simpler, with less moving parts and hence less to maintain. EV running costs are also lower by virtue of their exemption from road tax and regional congestion charges, for the same reason: both charges relate to carbon emissions, which EVs do not produce. While these benefits make for serious cost-saving in the long-term, they do not exempt EVs from regular servicing – and it will still be necessary to book an MOT online for your EV if it is more than three years old.
Best-Sellers on the Market
Tesla Model 3
Elon Musk’s famous electric car brand, partly responsible for increase in public interest in EVs, is at last available in abundance in the UK – and has the sales figures to prove it. The Tesla is a formidable car for its price, with a futuristic dashboard as well as an impressive range.
BMW 330e
BMW’s hybrid-electric entry to the 3-series is one of the best-selling gateway cars to the EV market. It still has a 2.0 litre petrol engine, but its auxiliary electric motor and battery can give drivers more than 30 miles travel, and bring emissions down to as little as 31 grams per kilometre.
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf was one of the first long-standing car manufacturer entries into the EV space, and maintains its place near the top of sales lists for its reliability as well as its handling in urban centres.
