Electric cars have been around for a while; in fact, the first electric car was made in 1884 — 24 years before the Model T Ford hit the roads. But it’s only recently that electric cars have become an option for most people and quite soon, they’ll be the only option. 

In the last few months, car manufacturers around the world have announced they will be moving away from petrol and diesel vehicles and going fully electric by 2030.

Ford is one of the manufacturers to make that pledge, announcing all of its cars will be completely electric by the start of the next decade and will be available in either electric or hybrid by 2026. 

Land Rover, Bentley, Volvo and Jaguar have all announced their pledge, and Mini is set to announce the move to electric soon. 

But moving to an electric car might be a big decision for you, and nobody could blame you for being a bit apprehensive. There’s a lot to consider, but there’s a ton of good reasons why your next car should be electric. 

Helping to save the planet

It’s no secret that cars aren’t great for the environment. In the UK, road transport makes up 22% of total UK emissions of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change. 

Then you’ve got to consider the air pollutants from cars, which include hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and other nasties, which all have damaging effects, not only on people’s health but on local wildlife and vegetation too. 

New technologies mean there are cleaner fuels that can cut emissions but, with more drivers on the road than ever, emissions are likely to keep rising. 

With an electric car, you’ll be cutting your emissions and helping to make the air quality around your home cleaner. 

Electrifying drop in prices

One of the biggest concerns you might have when considering making the move to an electric car is the price, and it’s not surprising. For years, electric cars have been seen as more of a luxury than a necessity.

But the move by so many manufacturers to all-electric in the next decade means that the price of electric cars should fall dramatically. Volkswagen recently announced that they are making a massive investment in battery production to cut the cost of electric vehicles (EVs).  

If you’re thinking about buying an electric car, you’re probably concerned that it’ll be expensive. And, while it’s likely that it’ll be more expensive than a petrol or diesel alternative, there’s a government grant available for buying electric cars, of up to £2500.

But if you’re looking to go electric as soon as you can, there are options available. Vehicle leasing is one of the more affordable and increasingly popular options with an extensive variety of different EVs available.

Saving money on fuel and tax

Having an electric car means you can save a lot of money on fuel. The average cost of charging an electric car is about 10-14p per KW and it could be even lower if you’re charging it in off-peak times. 

That means that if your electric car has a 40kw battery, you could charge it completely for under a fiver. 

You’re probably wondering how far a full charge will get you; most electric cars have a range of between 200-300 miles. That means you could drive from London to Nottingham and back and still have charge left over.

Plus, with a fully electric car, you’re exempt from road tax (providing the vehicle is in Band A) and you’ll also be exempt from the congestion charge, which means more savings.

Get ahead of the curve

There’s growing pressure on car manufacturers from governments across Europe to go electric. Already, carmakers in the EU are facing large fines if they don’t meet emission standards. In the UK, it’s been announced that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030 and France has set the same target for 2040. 

This means if you’re in the market for a new car in 2030, then you’re going to be buying an electric car. So why not get ahead of the curve and start driving your way to a greener planet?