Though the pandemic has made the past period rather difficult for many different industries, car dealerships have experienced a significant surge in demand for new cars, particularly electric vehicles. This news is fantastic for various reasons, the crucial one being direct benefits for the environment. However, for many people, switching to an electric vehicle still seems uncertain as this requires making well-informed decisions. Would it be so bad to buy an internal-combustion vehicle again or should you embrace the future in green with an electric one?
The way we see it, the switch to more sustainable options is already well under way. In other words, greener future is coming, so why not start now? Here are five key reasons we have singled out if you’re considering switching to an electric car this year:
No Carbon Footprint
Let’s start off with the most crucial reason – zero emissions! The fact that electric vehicles do not produce any harmful emissions whatsoever will directly impact on pollution levels in towns and cities, helping to reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse gasses, as well as the fine particles coming out of car exhausts, which have been shown to have a harmful effect on health.
Here at DIB, we encourage all our clients to opt for carpooling options when commuting to their meeting locations during their business trips. In addition, with our new car-rental option, why not choose an electric or at least a hybrid car and try it out during your trip?
Cost-efficiency
Research shows that the overall day-to-day running costs of electric cars are much lower than with regular, non-green cars. Firstly, the price of fuel and regular top-ups is several times more costly than charging your car at home. What’s more, just like with your mobile phone and other devices, you would charge your EV overnight, using electricity at a lower rate than the one during the day. Some estimates show that charging your car fully at home will cost only a few euros, which is significantly less than the fuel price for the exact same mileage. Naturally, when it comes to charging your car outside your home, the cost will also depend on where, when and how you charge your car, just like the price of refuelling your car varies at different gas stations. Fortunately, electric car sellers offer the option to install a dedicated home charging point to economise even more.
Government grants and incentives
Upon comparing the prices of a petrol/diesel car to an electric one, it is evident that the latter is much higher. However, many countries and their governments are working on coming up with various incentives to bridge this gap and motivate the driver to switch to a more sustainable option.
For instance, the British Government is working on a Plug-In Car Grant, which would cover up to 3000 pounds of the cost of a brand new electric car. Some of the conditions for this grant include that the vehicle must have CO2 emissions under 50g/km and for it to be able to travel at least 70 miles on electric power. This is why it is crucial for every driver to check whether their new electric car is eligible for any type of green incentive in their respective country.
Sweden too is planning on switching to 100% renewable energy by 2040, so there are many helpful incentives on the way!
Increased Mileage
Many potential EV owners worry about their car’s battery levels, an issue often referred to as Range Anxiety, which most commonly deters drivers from switching to this greener option.
However, contrary to popular belief, an electric car can, in fact, cover a much larger range. FG Barnes explains that the Nissan LEAF e+ provides up to 239 miles/384 km, which is the distance between Stockholm and Helsinki, all on a single charge, with miles still remaining. In addition, more and more gas stations offer EV charging points. If you’re still anxious about the trip, you can check which charging points exist, so you can plan out your green itinerary in detail and be worry-free.
Comfortable drive
As opposed to fuel/diesel car, EVs are much more sound-friendly, i.e. they make far less noise, particularly inside of the car itself. In fact, electric cars are noise-free to that extent that EV manufacturers are adding sound generators in order to make sure that both pedestrians and other vehicles on the road are aware of their presence. Finally, an EV’s battery takes much less space than the usual engine, which consequently leaves more room for the passenger compartment.
A complete switch to sustainable options can hardly happen over night. Though it’s a gradual process, it is important to start considering greener steps in time and make sure we make our planet a better and greener place, electric vehicles being one of many changes to come. At DIB Travel, we have developed numerous features that help our business travellers offset their carbon footprint and go on greener trips – read more here.
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