The top pros and cons of electric cars
Electric vehicles have become cheaper, quicker to charge, and have longer range—but there are some tradeoffs.
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EnergySage partners with Qmerit, the EV charger installer trusted by BMW, Ford, Tesla, and others to provide you with an instant estimate for fast, reliable at home charging.
Key takeaways
Pros of electric cars | Cons of electric cars
|
|---|---|
| Energy efficient and reduce emissions | Range is still shorter than most gas cars |
| Cost less to fuel | "Fueling" takes longer |
| Require less maintenance | Upfront cost tends to be higher than comparable gas cars |
| Pair naturally with home solar to reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel prices | EV insurance costs more |
| Perform well and are becoming easier to charge on the go | Charging stations are not as available as gas stations |
Many of the same benefits that apply to all-electric vehicles also apply to plug-in hybrids. PHEVs use 30% to 60% less fuel than comparable gas-powered cars, and for short trips, many can run entirely on electric power with no tailpipe emissions at all. That advantage grows further if the electricity charging the battery comes from renewable sources like home solar.
PHEVs also solve one of the biggest hesitations people have about going fully electric: range anxiety. Because they still have a gas engine as backup, a PHEV can keep driving even after the battery runs down, without needing to find a charger.
PHEV batteries are smaller than those in all-electric vehicles, so they charge faster on a Level 1 or Level 2 charger, though most PHEVs don't support DC fast charging at all. Cost is a similar story to full EVs: PHEVs generally carry a higher price tag than an equivalent gas-only vehicle. Some state and utility incentives may help offset that gap, so it's worth checking what's available where you live.
The biggest downside of PHEVs is that you have all the drawbacks of a gas-powered vehicle: You still have to maintain and repair the engine, get frequent oil changes, etc. There are also more potential failure points because of the duality of the vehicle.
EnergySage partners with Qmerit, the EV charger installer trusted by BMW, Ford, Tesla, and others to provide you with an instant estimate for fast, reliable at home charging.
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