Are you considering buying an electric car? Before you buy one, you should definitely understand the pros and cons of owning an electric car. Here’s where we’ve discussed the benefits of having an electric car and what concerns you might encounter.
Pros and Cons of Owning an Electric Car in India
The trend of electric cars is increasing rapidly in India; now you will see one out of every 10 cars on the roads, which are electric. It is expected that electric vehicles on Indian roads could exceed 30% by 2030.
Electric cars are not only better for the environment but also provide significant savings to people. For every kilometer traveled, electric cars cost around ₹2, while for petrol and diesel cars, it is more than ₹5.
There are not only advantages to having an electric car; it can also cause you problems. If you want to know the pros and cons of having this type of vehicle, then you are requested to read this article completely.
Key Takeaways
| Pros | Cons |
| Low running cost (~₹2/km) | High upfront cost |
| Government subsidies and tax benefits | Limited charging stations |
| Eco-friendly, zero emissions | Long charging times |
| Smooth and quiet driving | Battery loses capacity over time |
| Advanced features like apps and infotainment | Fewer models and options available |
Pros
The pros of electric cars are low running costs, government incentives and subsidies, environmental friendliness, a smooth and quiet driving experience, and technological features. Let’s understand each one:
- Low Running Costs: Electric vehicles are much cheaper to operate than petrol and diesel vehicles, as we all are aware of the fact that the cost of batteries is much lower than petrol and diesel.
- Government Incentives and Subsidies: Almost all the state governments in the country provide subsidies of up to ₹2 lakh on electric cars and also waive off registration and road tax.
- Environmental Friendliness: The use of electric vehicles does not cause any pollution, thus keeping our environment safe. We are all aware of the impact environmental degradation has on our health.
- Smooth and Quiet Driving Experience: The electric motor delivers instant torque, making acceleration smoother. Unlike diesel or petrol vehicles, it makes less noise, reducing noise pollution that results in a smooth driving experience.
- Technical Features: All electrics generally have unique technological features, for example, regenerative braking, advanced infotainment systems, connected apps for remote controlling, etc.
Cons
The cons of having an electric car are high upfront cost, limited charging infrastructure, long charging times, battery degradation, and limited model and feature choices. Let’s discuss each one:
- High Upfront Cost: It is natural that electric cars are more expensive than diesel and petrol cars; one of the biggest reasons behind this is the presence of lithium batteries.
- Limited Charging Infrastructure: Although the adoption of electric taxis has picked up pace in India, there are still not enough charging stations, which can cause problems in travelling long distances. Currently, charging stations are only in cities and not at all in rural areas.
- Long Charging Times: There are currently two options available for charging your EV: a DC charger and an AC charger. Charging with a DC charger at a charging station only takes about an hour, while charging with an AC charger, which you can use at home, takes the entire night.
- Battery Degradation: The batteries installed in electric vehicles lose their capacity with time. Suppose you have a 50 kWh battery in your car; then it is likely that after 5 years the batteries will lose their capacity and come down to 35 kWh.
- Limited Model and Feature Choices: Electric vehicles are gradually increasing their reach in India, due to which currently people do not have many options, but it is possible that in the coming years Indians will have hundreds of options to choose EVs from.
If seen overall, buying an electric car is better than buying a petrol or diesel car because the charging problem will get resolved with time, and if we talk about battery degradation, then the companies will definitely find some solution for that too.
