The UK Government has announced their intention to bring forward a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2040 to 2035, and they have also added hybrids to the ban list.
With transport accounting for almost a quarter of the UK’s CO2 emissions, it’s easy to understand the push for more eco-friendly transport solutions as we strive to meet our target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
However, while electric cars certainly aren’t a new invention, the industry still has a way to go before electric vehicles offer the same level of convenience as petrol and diesel cars.
What does the ban actually mean?
This is a ban on the manufacture and sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles. There are currently no plans to impose any kind of UK-wide scrappage scheme, and the sale of used internal combustion cars will still be permitted. So, lovers of classic cars can breathe a sigh of relief!
Currently, less than 1% of the cars on UK roads run purely on electric – these are known as Battery Electric Vehicles or ‘BEVs’. However, following the government’s announcement, there has been a surge in online searches for electric cars. That, of course, doesn’t mean that drivers are quite ready to make the switch, but there has been a rise in the number of motorists who say they will choose a BEV for their next purchase.
Climate change, melting ice caps, air pollution resulting in respiratory illness and deaths… there are many reasons to move towards cleaner-running vehicles sooner rather than later. Many experts warn that without making drastic changes now, it’s going to be too late.
Things to consider before you make the switch
While the range (the distance you can drive on one full charge) of BEVs is increasing all the time along with technology, many still have a fear that a full charge won’t get them far enough. Again, this is something which has improved hugely over time, with newer BEVs offering a range of up to 250 miles on a single charge. That’s far beyond the mileage covered by the average UK driver in a single journey.
If you’re buying a BEV, it’s important to think about your own driving habits, and make sure the car meets your needs.
Maintenance
With fewer moving parts, there’s not as many issues that could arise with BEVs as there could be with petrol and diesel cars. Unsurprisingly, this means that general maintenance costs are lower for BEVs. However, there is an important consideration to bear in mind with this…
The electric vehicle industry is still in its infancy, and longer-term reliability remains unproven. Add to this the fact that these machines are much more complex, which means the days of saving money by getting your hands greasy under the bonnet with a spot of DIY may soon be over. This means that you’re going to be much more reliant on experts than you may have been before, which could come with a hefty price tag if and when something does go wrong.
This is definitely not a reason to put off buying a BEV, particularly given the social and economic benefits that they offer. It simply means that it is going to become more important than ever to be prepared for those unexpected eventualities.
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