EVs vs Gas-Powered Cars...Who Will Win?

The interest in EVs (electric vehicles) has grown exponentially. In the last few years alone, global sales have skyrocketed. However many people still have misconceptions about EVs and are hesitant to make the switch from a gas-powered vehicle to an electric one. Many of the reasons for their hesitancy revolve around issues such as cost (both upfront and long term), practicality, performance, and sustainability. In this article, we will review a number of these common misconceptions.

Are Electric Vehicles More Expensive Than Traditional Gas-Powered Cars?

Many drivers or consumers have stayed away from both electric cars and hybrid models because they simply assume that owning one of these vehicles comes with a very large price tag. The truth is both electric vehicles and hybrid models are now much more affordable to purchase than ever before. Not only is the purchase price more affordable, but they offer drivers greater cost savings in the long run.

Many EV and hybrid companies offer not only cheaper pricing than years ago but also various incentives. For example, when looking to drive an EV in and around a city to beat the hassle of traffic congestion, the ELVY SARIT is a safe micro EV to get people where they need to go (it can even be driven in bike lanes) with an affordable price tag of approximately $4,000-$5,000 CAD. The SARIT is also able to provide annual savings of around $12,000 compared to the fees needed to maintain and operate a gas-powered car. Companies like Tesla entice consumers with tax credits, while NIO has an EV battery subscription that is included in the vehicle’s price tag.

There are other cost savings to consider, such as not having to replace brake pads as often as a gas-powered car because EVs use regenerative braking, as well as saving money on oil changes. However, the battery in an EV needs to be replaced every ten years and is a costly expense. Many experts believe that the overall costs around EV battery production and the cost to the driver will go down significantly in the future around the time that many of today’s EVs will need to have their batteries replaced.
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Is An Electric Vehicle Able To Go Fast Enough?

Depending on what you need your EV for, they are more than fast enough. EVs accelerate instantly as opposed to a gas-powered car, which needs a certain amount of time for the engine to power the wheels. The simplistic motor of electric vehicles operates on a single-speed gear. As a result, EV companies must trade off between acceleration and top speed. That being said, most electric vehicles aim for a balanced approach. This often means a lower top speed for EVs compared to their gas-powered cousins. For city driving and transit hopping, a compact micro EV like the SARIT with a top speed of 32 kilometers per hour gets you where you are going without the hassle of traffic congestion.‍
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How Much Range Does An Electric Vehicle Get?

Exactly how far can a driver travel with an EV? It’s a concern that many consumers have regarding EVs. This concern can be put to rest as many newer EV models already match the range of an average gas car as performance keeps improving. An average gas-powered vehicle can travel up to 480 kilometres on a full tank, while most electric and hybrid vehicles have a range of 200-490 kilometres on a single charge. It really comes down to how far you are going and what type of EV you are driving, but an EV is very comparable to a gas-powered car while also lowering your carbon footprint. In the case of a micro-EV like the SARIT, it has a lower range of 80-100 kilometres, but the SARIT is made for city driving and that range is more than sufficient for urban commuting.‍

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What If There Are Not Enough Charging Stations?

A really big concern for consumers is running out of their battery charge and being left on the side of the road and if their current charging network is adequate. The reality is that this should not be a major concern at all, quite frankly is it a huge misconception. The average Canadian driver drives around 30-100 km per day, which means that they can simply charge at home overnight, without having to drive their EV to a public charging station. In the case of the micro-EV SARIT, you can charge overnight on a standard wall plug and never have to go to a public charging station again.‍

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Are Electric Vehicles Really Greener or More Sustainable?

This is probably one of the most important concerns for consumers because it is more than just a monetary issue. Are electric vehicles actually better for the environment? In a word, the answer is yes! For many years now, EVs have been paving the way for creating a greener and more sustainable future. Today, it is clear that driving an EV lowers your carbon footprint and play a significant role in building a more sustainable future. In terms of air pollution, it has been shown that midsize EVs outperform their gas-powered equivalent. Electric vehicles have another advantage over gas-powered cars: smart charging technology. Smart charging technology allows EV electricity consumption to align with renewable energy availability, thus making the charging of your electric vehicle cleaner. Many people, however, are understandably concerned with EV battery mining and production. It takes a lot of energy to produce an EV battery, which also causes emissions, but over time your EV will lower emissions. EV battery producers are looking into more environmentally friendly ways to make an EV battery and are confident that in the future we will have found more sustainable ways of producing them and recycling them. But when comparing an EV to a gas-powered car, EV is the clear winner in terms of lower emissions over time and carbon footprint. ‍

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In Conclusion

There is no doubt that gas-powered vehicles will be a thing of the past, and that electric vehicles are the future. We all need to focus on a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come and EVs will help get us there.