10 Disadvantages Of Electric Cars

Electric cars are revolutionizing the market and impressive innovations appear every day, however, it is also necessary to know their downside

Buying an electric car is an option that users choose more and more frequently. It is well known that the future of automobiles is electrified, and ICEs are on the verge of extinction. But EVs will lose their charm once their mainstream and we will see them so often on the street that they will no longer attract anyone’s attention. The advantages are many and have to do with both individual and collective issues, however, not everything is rosy, at least at this stage of the industry’s development.

Anyone who wishes to buy a car of any kind must take into account issues such as price-quality ratio, autonomy, lifespan, resale price, performance (in the city and on the road), safety, and comfort, among other aspects. The fact is that electric cars do not always adequately meet all the requirements in these fields, and it is necessary to know which models are best suited to the user’s needs and tastes. There is no doubt that these disadvantages will be overcome in the long term given the prospects of the industry, but whoever wants to buy an electric car today cannot overlook them.

Related: 10 Unspoken Rules Of Owning An Electric Car

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10

Charging Times Are Still Not On Par With Filling Up Gas

BMW

MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 Being Charged

One of the biggest disadvantages of EVs versus ICEs is the time it takes to get a full charge. In the case of combustion cars, it is a purely mechanical process: pouring a liquid into a tank. In the case of electric cars, it is not so simple. Charging times vary from twenty minutes to more than six hours depending on the source, voltage, and type of vehicle. As for the latter, you could opt for a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), but as far as charging time is concerned, there is no doubt: a PHEV is better, which in some cases is fully charged in 10 percent of the time it takes to charge a BEV. In any case, the future is promising. Some companies are testing prototype charging systems that take just 72 seconds!

9

Not Enough Charging Stations To Cater The EV-Boom

Ford

Red 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E 

A great advantage of electric cars, if we have the right equipment, is that we can charge them at home. However, this will always be slower than charging at a charging station, and besides, we have a car precisely to get away from home, so we can travel. There are currently more than 56,000 charging stations in the United States and more than 375,000 in Europe, but all forecasts indicate that many more will be needed in the future to meet the huge demand expected in the coming years. On the other hand, the distribution is not homogeneous, and you could arrive in an area where you simply cannot find a charging point for your vehicle.

Related: 10 Electric Cars With The Lowest Range

8

Very Few EVs Offer 400+ Miles Of Range

Tesla

Tesla Model S Front View

Another classic problem that electric car developers faced in the past and still face today is that of range. While much progress has been made, a range comparable to that of conventional cars has not yet been achieved. Among the EV models with the longest range you could choose from are the Mercedes EQS 450+ AMG Line with 453 Miles, the Lucid Air Dream Edition with 425 miles, and the Tesla Model S Dual Motor all-wheel-drive with 405 miles. Not bad, but you must remember that these are the best cars on the market and therefore far exceed the average range, which is below 300 miles.

7

The Longevity Of Batteries Is Still A Question

Ford

2022 Mustang Mach-E Ice White Appearance 

You use batteries all the time: in your cell phone, in your laptop, in your smartwatch, and even in your conventional car. Maybe it has ever happened to you that you had to change the battery in your car and put in a new one to make the electrical system work. Well, in the case of EVs, the battery is the heart of the vehicle (not just its brain), and you depend on it for transportation. In temperate climates, a good quality battery can last between 12 and 15 years if you maintain it properly, while in extreme temperature zones, the durability drops to between 8 and 12 years. In any case, brands such as Tesla or Hyundai offer warranties for their batteries that reach 100,000 Miles or 8/10 years.

Related: 10 Maintenance Tips For Electric Cars

6

EVs Are Costlier Than Equivalent ICE Cars

Abu Hasim A/Shutterstock

Front three-quarters action shot of a blue Tesla 

Nowadays, an EV has a higher purchase cost than an ICE of similar technical characteristics and amenities. The gap is decreasing year by year, but batteries are still very expensive and the investment in new technologies and research takes a good part of the cost. However, keep in mind that the cost of maintenance and use of an electric vehicle is usually lower than that of a conventional car. Electric charging (depending on your area and the efficiency of your vehicle) is frequently cheaper than gasoline charging. Moreover, governments tend to subsidize the development of renewable energies and particularly EVs, meaning that the benefits may increase considerably in the future.

5

Replacing A Battery Is An Inexpensive Affair

Ford

2023 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition Nite Pony Package

As mentioned above, the battery is the heart and brain of EVs. While the lifespan and efficiency are increasing, it is a part that is relatively inexpensive in an ICE, while it is particularly expensive in an electric car. Prices had dropped consistently since 2010, but in the last year, they went back up due to the rise in the price of lithium. The average price of the battery pack used in electric cars reached a price of $151/kWh in 2022 but is expected to drop to less than $100 /kWh in the next few years. You may never have to replace your car’s battery (you may sell it sooner), but you should keep these prices in mind in case you have a problem.

Related: 10 Best Electric SUVs That You Can Buy

4

EVs Aren’t As Environmental-Friendly As They Seem

GMC

A front 3/4 action shot of a GMC Hummer EV driving through a shallow body of water. 

One of the greatest advantages of electric cars, it has been said many, many times, is that they do not pollute the environment. Since they do not use fossil fuels, they do not generate greenhouse gases and the air we breathe is not affected. In addition, the lithium in the batteries and some of their components are reusable. However, to extract lithium and other heavier materials, complex industrial processes must be carried out, which also generate harmful gas emissions and usually have a greater impact on the countries from which these materials are extracted, such as Chile or Bolivia (which are not the countries where EVs are most widely used).

3

EVs Are Quick To 60 mph, But Don’t Have High Top Speeds

Maserati

Maserati GranTurismo Folgore to be Released in 2023

Electric cars have a lower top speed than conventional cars, at least on average. One of the fastest electric cars on the market is the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, which reaches about 299 MPH and is expected to be released in June 2023. That’s an astonishing number, no doubt about it. However, the average is well below that number, and to get close to it, you have to aim for the best cars on the market. Even so, several ICE cars exceed the speed of this Maserati, so you will have to wait at least a few years for these speeds to be equalized. The reasons for this difference have to do with the manufacturers’ objective of prioritizing the battery’s durability and efficiency before its performance in the face of great demands.

Related: Here’s What Needs To Happen For Hydrogen Cars To Take Off (And, Why EVs Hold Them Back)

2

Fixing EVs Is A Different Ballgame

Kia

2022 Kia EV6 front motor

If you are thinking of buying an electric car, you should make sure that you have the support of a car repair shop specialized in this type of vehicle, especially if you are going to buy it second-hand. When you buy a new electric car, you generally have the manufacturer’s assistance, which will be enough to give you the proper maintenance and solve minor problems. Now, imagine you are on the road, thousands of miles away from home, near a small town, and your electric car breaks down. Specialized car repair shops are not available everywhere, as it requires very high qualifications to understand how these cars work. It’s not an impossible problem to solve, but you should make a list of places you can take your vehicle in case of a problem during a trip.

1

EVs Are Part Of The Future, But They Are Not The Entire Future

Hyundai

Front-end shot of the Hyundai N Vision 74 Concept

In a few years, it will no longer be so common to see gasoline-powered cars on the road. All the plans of national governments and international organizations, as well as those of various companies, point to a radical change in the automobile market by 2030. However, the near future does not see only electric cars, and they may not even be the last stop in this technological revolution. In particular, hydrogen cars are gaining prominence among manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai. One of its main advantages is the charging time since it returns to the old mechanical system of incorporating a substance into a tank … in less than five minutes and with a very good range.