If you’re wondering if the new year is going to be the time you decide to make the leap from petrol/diesel to electric, then you might want to read on to help you with your decision.
Firstly, are you considering going fully electric? The world of electric cars may seem like a daunting one, and if you weren’t already aware there are a whole host of options available to consumers. Some may be more suited to your lifestyle than a fully electric car.
On the market currently are:
• EV/BEV
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The electric vehicle or “battery electric vehicle” doesn’t have an internal combustion engine. They run entirely on battery power. Owners can charge them at Level 1 or Level 2 charging points, commercial vehicles can use a Level 3 point which is more powerful.
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Despite only running from 1 power source, EV/BEVs can run further on a single electric charge than hybrid vehicles can.
• HEV
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Next is the HEV or the “hybrid electric vehicle”. As the name suggests, hybrids run both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The motor runs using energy saved in the battery. This battery does not need to be charged like an electric vehicle does. The HEV uses regenerative braking to store kinetic energy.
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The HEV is more economic as using the stored kinetic energy cuts down on the fuel used by the engine.
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However, the HEV cannot run entirely on electric power alone.
• PHEV
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Also known as “plug-in hybrids” these vehicles have both the internal combustion engine and electric motor; however, this battery holds enough energy to power the electric motor itself and can cut fuel usage down by 60%. Unlike the HEV, the plug-in can travel up to 40 miles using the electric motor alone.
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There are also 2 categories of PHEVs - there are “extended range electric vehicles” also known as EREVs, and “blended PHEVs”.
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EREVs use their motors to accelerate the car as the ICE creates the electricity. When the battery in out of power the electricity stored in the engine will become the sole power to the car. Blended PHEVs use both in parallel to push to car.
(Information credited to www.marketwatch.com)
Price Points
However, even though an EV/BEV may sound like the perfect solution for you, they don’t come cheap. Currently a fully electric car is sitting at the most premium end of the market.
For example, a BMW X3 starts at a price of £44,205, with petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid options. The fully electric equivalent, iX3 starts at a handsome sum of £60,970, according to the BMW manufacturer website.
With this hike of price in mind, a plug-in hybrid may be more accessible if you’re starting your venture away from the ICE.
But which is more environmentally friendly?
We know that the government’s sustainable development plan has put pressure on the automotive industry to commit to creating more green solutions for transportation, but for the consumer, which is the best?
Hybrids are said to be the halfway house between EVs and ICE cars. So naturally they are designed to produce fewer emissions than petrol or diesel-powered engines.
Some people have concerns that the manufacturing process of creating EVs is what is hiding a contribution to the worlds climate crisis. This is because EV batteries contain raw materials like cobalt and nickel which have to be mined from underground. This process is what creates the most emissions when assembling the battery for an electric car.
However, according to CarbonBrief, after 2 years of driving your EV the carbon released during the manufacturing process will be cancelled out.
Therefore, it seems that long-term, fully electric vehicles are the most carbon conscious choice of transportation.
What else do I need to consider?
Unfortunately, if you are planning on buying a brand-new EV in 2022, there are a whole host of other things you need to consider.
The shortage of semi-conductors is still halting the delivery of thousands of cars into the UK, causing the longest wait times we’ve seen for decades on new cars.
This means that unless the dealership you visit has your car in stock there and then, a brand-new model to your specification could keep you waiting months.
In addition, you also have to consider your at home charging capabilities. New homes now have a government mandate to be fitted with car charging points, but if you don’t live in a new home, it’s something you’ll have to sort out. As well as choosing the correct tariff.
There’s so much more to think about than there has been with buying a traditional ICE car in the past.
Are you looking to purchase an electric car/van in 2022? Let us know in the comments!
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