We all have that friend who refuses to ever consider buying an electric car. It's always confusing for people, especially when there are so many benefits to purchasing this type of vehicle. We want to understand the meaning behind their reasons, but we also want to be prepared with an answer.
We have compiled a list of excuses people usually give when a discussion on electric cars come up. It can be hurtful to hear how they care less about the environmental impact they have, but people can change. Keep reading to learn about the 10 reasons why people won't buy electric cars!
10 10. Subpar Performance
This has been the major drawback these cars faced at the beginning of their release. They were horribly slow when they tried to speed up and their top speeds were not the greatest either. Fortunately, that is all in the past as car companies have released literal speed demons that run off of electric energy.
The Tesla models, as well as the Jaguar I-Pace, can beat plenty of gas-powered vehicles in a race. These companies have been working to improve the performance of these vehicles and it can only go up from here.
9 9. High prices
It is true that electric cars can be a bit pricey, but each year these companies are working to make them more and more affordable. You might think it is out of your price range, but if you do the math on the gas money you will save you might see it is really a deal.
This is also true of the maintenance aspect as they rarely require any sort of tune-ups as they are known to have very little issues and oil changes are nonexistent.
8 8. Increased Electric Bill
Many people claim their electric bills will be through the roof after they consistently charge their electric vehicle. This is true to an extent, but the change is not as big as one might think.
When you compare the price you were paying each month for gas and compare it to the change in your electric bill, you might realize how you were mistaken. You can plan to save a lot more than you are spending for the entire lifespan of your vehicle.
7 7. Short Range
There are some people who drive a lot for work or find themselves transporting their kids to numerous events in a single day. This is when the short range of an electric vehicle can become an issue.
This shouldn't rule out all electric vehicles, as there are some out there which also have the ability to use gas when the battery runs out of its charge. It can still seem improbable, but in the long run, it will still save these consistent drivers a ton of money.
6 6. Untrained Mechanics
Mechanics are not trained to be electricians, which means they must obtain specialty certifications if they want to be able to work on electric vehicles. There are usually dealerships around who can do the work, but in some areas, there is no one around who is able to repair the vehicle if it happens to break.
The good news is that every year more and more technicians are trained on how to repair them, which decreases the plausibility of this line of reasoning.
5 5. Charging Time
It is true that many electric cars can take up to eight hours to recharge when using a home's electricity, but this isn't true of all charging stations. There are charging stations located at public locations that can charge a battery eighty percent in around twenty to thirty minutes.
This time is phenomenal and usually, these charging stations are located in front of supermarkets or other large stores where shopping for this amount of time is not an uncommon practice.
4 4. Not Enough Cargo Space
Electric cars are usually built on the smaller side, but in return, it sacrifices cargo space. This can be true as there has not been a single electric truck built as of yet, but that doesn't mean there are no vehicles out there that might have the space you need.
There are quite a few with foldable seats or added storage to make up for the lack of room. These vehicles are also growing in size each year, which means that soon enough an electric vehicle will be on the market that can suit everyone's storage needs.
3 3. Cost of Replacing a Battery
Batteries may have been an issue years ago, but these days electric cars are known to keep driving well past the 500,000-mile mark. It is true that replacing a battery can cost around $5,000, but this issue has been resolved through technological advancements in this growing field.
Gas cars generally begin to die off at 150,000 miles, even though many make it past the 200,000-mile mark, but this fact still does not compete with the long lifespan of electric vehicles.
2 2. Lack of Government Incentives
The reason why electric cars do so well in Europe is because of the government incentives they offer to people who drive these vehicles. Yes, the United States offers a tax rebate after you purchase a vehicle, but there are no ongoing programs to support their owners. European countries offer ownership tax deductions so the owners can keep reaping the benefits, but in the United States, it's a one-time thing.
America is headed in the right direction and we can hold onto the hope that maybe one day they will offer more to incentivize consumers to buy electric vehicles.
1 1. Fire Hazard
There have been several reported fires involving electric cars in recent years, but what most people don't realize is that there have been just as many gas-powered car fires. The news tends to only report the electric cars to try and discredit them as they are a newer addition to the market, but it is a misconception to identify them as fire hazards.
It's more truthful to say that any vehicle on the roadway is considered a fire hazard, so this should not be the reason why people are held back from buying an electric car.