Electric vehicles are catching up with traditional gas-powered vehicles rather quickly. The motivation to reduce a person’s carbon footprint is one of the major factors driving this shift. Deciding to switch from a normal vehicle to one powered by electricity is not always easy.

There are pros and cons to owning both types of vehicles. At the end of the day, whether or not you should make the switch will come down to your vehicle needs. Do you use it mainly for commuting to and from work? Do you have a family that likes to travel? What safety features are you looking for? Are you environmentally conscious?

To help you figure out if it is time to make the switch to an electric vehicle, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of owning this type of car.

Pro: Environmentally Friendly

At this point, everyone understands that fossil fuels are not exactly great for the planet. Although one person’s vehicle may seem to have little effect on the environment when compared to large industries, it is still a step that many desire to take to reduce their carbon footprints. Gas-powered engines produce carbon emissions that seep into the atmosphere. Electric vehicles use a much cleaner form of energy to get around. If you are interested in reducing your impact on the planet, then an electric vehicle instead of a gas-powered one is an easy decision to make.

Con: Lack of Infrastructure

Electric vehicles rely on a charged battery to be able to move you from place to place. Though the technology improves every year and these vehicles can get further on a single charge, the infrastructure needed to maintain high volumes of electric vehicles is not in place yet. You can find gas stations in every town, on every major road, and at every rest stop that you encounter, making it easy to fill up the tank when traveling long distances. Unless you only plan to drive within population centers, then there may not be enough charging stations across the country to maintain a long trip. Plus, if you commute to a place that doesn’t have charging stations, you don’t have a place to power up the vehicle during the work day. 

Pro: Cheaper to Own

Once you have the vehicle, electric automobiles are a much smaller drain on your wallet. While charges currently may not take you as far as a full tank of gas, the average expenditure per mile is much lower. Additionally, maintenance costs tend to be lower for electric vehicles, as they run on motors that are much more efficient. The best use for an electric car may be driving in populated areas that are close by, or just commuting to and from work. This amount of driving will take full advantage of having enough charge and being able to save on fuel and maintenance costs.

Con: Battery Production Has a Downside

Although the final product is environmentally friendly by reducing carbon emissions, the production process still has a large impact on the planet. The batteries in electric vehicles require heavy mining of multiple materials like lithium and nickel. The mining process for these elements is very energy-intensive and can destroy biodiversity in the area that is affected. At this point, it is hard to reconcile the positive environmental impact of driving these vehicles with the harm that is done to the environment to make them. 

Pro: Potential Tax Credits

Many governments are offering incentives to those who make efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, which is one reason why many businesses benefit from adopting electric vehicles for commercial purposes. If you choose to invest in an electric vehicle, you may gain access to some tax credits that will help your bottom line once tax season rolls around. If you are a business owner, then there are many financial benefits to adopting electric vehicle fleets for your company’s purposes. 

Con: Heavier Than Other Vehicles

Because of the construction of electric vehicles, they are often heavier than gas-powered vehicles of the same size. This makes them potentially dangerous on the road should an accident occur, especially for other drivers. A collision with an electric vehicle could lead to injuries, in which case victims should reach out to a car accident lawyer to discuss the possibility of filing a claim. Additionally, electric vehicles can accelerate very quickly, making them a little harder to control. 

Is Now the Time?

Now that you know a little bit more about electric vehicles and the pros and cons involved with having one, you can make an informed decision about whether or not now is the time to make the switch. These vehicles are still a young technology, which means they will improve with time. Most countries are committed to helping the planet, which means EV infrastructure will increase. Hopefully, battery production becomes more efficient and has a smaller impact on the environment in the future as well. Do your research to determine if an electric vehicle will meet your needs.