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With the growing popularity of electric cars, it’s difficult not to feel intrigued and ponder whether electric cars will replace gas-powered cars as the mainstream mode of transportation.
While the use of gas-powered cars is prevalent in most parts of the world, the appeal of electric cars has been on the rise, thanks to the newfound concerns about the environment and how fossil fuel (the kind of fuel used to run gasoline cars) is aggravating the already deteriorated climate situation.
In 2020, global electric car sales reached 3.2 million, from just 450,000 units in 2015. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 45 per cent!
The growth has been particularly strong in Europe and China, where national governments have incentivised the adoption of electric vehicles. Chevrolet Bolt EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4 and last but not least, Tesla Model 3 are some of the popular electric car models at present.
The key advantage of electric cars is, as mentioned earlier, their low environmental impact. With no tailpipe emissions contributing to air pollution, electric cars can almost be considered the 'ideal' mode of transport.
Secondly, electric cars have a lower operating cost. While their initial purchase can cost a fortune, once bought, electric cars require less routine care than gasoline cars do; for instance, they don't require regular oil changes.
Many electric cars nowadays have a range of over 200 miles on a single charge. Electric cars also offer instant torque and acceleration, allowing switching between speeds easily.
Despite a myriad of advantages, possessing electric cars comes with a number of challenges. First and foremost, charging stations aren’t a frequently established infrastructure, and drivers may have a difficult time recharging their vehicles. Gas-powered cars possess an advantage in this case, with gas stations being available almost anywhere.
In addition, electric cars require a longer time to recharge than gas cars require to refuel. Gas cars can travel much further on a single tank of fuel than electric cars do with a single period of charge, making gas cars more suited to long-distance journeys.
Besides, all batteries degrade over time, and the batteries of electric cars are no different. This will take a toll on the overall efficiency and performance of the vehicle.
While modern batteries are designed to last at least a couple of years, the batteries will eventually require replacement, which is quite expensive.
Furthermore, these batteries are heavy and make electric cars less agile than gas-powered cars. Also, gasoline cars have been around for over a century and are a reliable, well-proven technology.
Electric cars are relatively new in the market, implying that consumers will need time to get accustomed to this technology. Predicting whether electric cars will completely take over the automobile market is difficult. Still, there’s little room for doubt that they will become as popular as gasoline cars.