From easy communications through high-end devices, simplified business transactions through cryptocurrencies and now electrical vehicles, the 21st century seems like the best time to be alive as more and better innovations continue to come up with each dawn. Electrical cars seem to have taken the world by storm with renowned companies such as Mercedes rushing in to cash in on this new craze. Unfortunately, not everyone understands how they work and thanks to that most countries are yet to legalize the presence of this current technology on their roads. That is why we seek to enlighten you so you can pass the message across to those who are in the dark by letting you in on everything you need to know about electrical cars. This article leaves no stone unturned as it guides you through the differences of these cars to the standard vehicles, the good, the not so good, the various electrical vehicles in the market currently and also their cost. So scroll through to find out more.
Differences between electric and gas cars
- Power
Judging from the names of the two categories, it is easy to tell them apart even before we dive into the other details. Electrical vehicles which are commonly referred to as EV's runs purely on an electric motor which is powered using a charging cable. While on the other hand, gas cars are the ones which make up a large percentage of vehicles on our roads. As their name suggests, they run on gas such as petrol and diesel. That is the main difference between the current technology of gas cars and the EV's.
- Emissions
Another significant difference between Electrical cars and gas ones lies in the exhaust pipe. You see a gas vehicle runs on petrol and diesel with the final product being CO2 which is released to the environment causing depletion. An electrical vehicle does not emit any gas. In short, it is clean and environmentally friendly than the conventional cars which is why most governments which have realized this benefit are now embracing this new technology.
- Maintenance
Even though both categories of cars have their maintenance costs, gasoline vehicles result in higher costs than EV's. Reason being they require constant servicing such as changing the engine oil, transmission fluids, coolant among many others while EV's are cheaper as there are no internal combustion engines which require such services. Thus making them more affordable.
- Range
When it comes to distance, cars running on gasoline are better as they can cover more miles than electrical vehicles without requiring a gas top up. For instance, a car running on a full tank can cover hundreds of miles while an EV needs recharging after 150 KM (although this may differ a little depending on its model).
How far can an Electrical car go before being recharged?
Although the distance covered by an EV relies on factors such as the motor and battery in use and the temperature, their range is lower. A cheap or average EV can run from 40 to 200 miles in one charge. While more expensive models like Tesla Roadster and Elon can cover about 300 miles. Again the recharge time varies depending on the model and in advanced electrical cars it can take about half an hour while in less advanced ones it can take hours. For instance, some models have rapid chargers which can recharge up to 80% of the EV in thirty minutes.
How are they charged up?
Most of these cars come with a charging cable which you plug in into a wall socket. That means while at home you will need a garage where you can pack it and leave it charging. The outlets vary depending on the model as some are compatible with the standard 8-10 amp socket while others require 18 to 16 outdoor outlets. Additionally, those with rapid chargers can be recharge in motorway service stations. There are more than 12, 790 public charging points in the UK which you can use when you need to recharge, and you are not at home. Therefore, if you own one, then a driveway or garage is essential.
Various models of EV’s, their cost and distance covered on a single charge
Below are some of the top electrical car models and the number of miles they cover on a single charge. All prices shown here are the manufacturer's retail prices so they may vary depending on where you purchase one from.
Model Price Maximum distance covered in a single charge
2017 Nissan Leaf $30, 680 107 Miles
2017 Tesla X $82,500 289-300 miles
Ford Focus electric $29,995 76 miles
Fiat 500e $32,600 87 miles
Kia Soul EV $34,500 97 miles
BMW i3 $43,395 114 miles
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV $37,495 238 miles
2017 Nissan leaf
The good about electrical cars
• They are energy efficient
• Easy to maintain
• Environmental friendly
• Low fuel costs
• Safe to drive. For instance EV's such as Tesla models are made of highly durable materials, and their batteries take sudden impact better than gasoline cars
The not so good
• They have a shorter range than gasoline
• Because of the constant charging and recharging, the battery quality degrades fast
• Takes long to recharge as it may take even an hour or more while refilling a full tank takes less than ten minutes
• Most of them have limited space
• Expensive as they use new technology it is difficult for an average person to afford one
