Is it worth buying an electric car and is it worth it?
Ecology
26 January 2023
Electric cars are capturing a growing share of the automotive market. Quiet, emission-free electric cars with lightning-fast acceleration are not only of interest to individual customers. Businesses and local authorities are also interested in vehicles of this type. But is it worth buying an electric car? We answer all the arguments for and against.
Is it worth buying an electric car - the price of a car
Electric cars are increasingly being seen on the streets of Polish cities. Their various advantages, such as, above all, zero-emission, make us use electric cars more and more often. However, it is worth knowing that there is no clear answer to the question of whether it is worth buying an electric car.
Why is this question difficult to answer? Due to the fact that the basic issue is the affluence of the wallet. Unfortunately, electric cars are expensive so far. The cost of buying an electric car or hybrid is a ceiling of at least PLN 50 000. The vast majority of brands and their models are much more expensive, costing from PLN 100 000 upwards.
The above prices are of course for brand new vehicles. Many people may therefore be interested in leasing or buying a used electric car. These are certainly available on the market. Nevertheless, there are far fewer of them in Poland than in the case of internal combustion engines. However, if one is determined to buy a battery-electric car, the cost of its purchase may be recouped in the form of relatively cheap operation.
Electric car and operating costs - charging
Is it worth buying an electric car? Those who choose to purchase this type of car can, in many cases, agree that using models with a battery instead of a tank is cost-effective. High prices for fuels such as petrol and diesel further encourage interest in electric cars.
Importantly, however, it is important to remember that reducing running costs through charging does not always mean reducing them almost completely. An electric or plug-in hybrid makes the greatest savings when it is charged from a socket, i.e. from a wall charger (wallbox).
For example, the cost of charging a vehicle with a battery capacity of 80 kWh is approximately PLN 40, with a price of PLN 0.50 per kWh of energy. This price can be reduced by using photovoltaic panels to store electricity. The range of a car with such a battery is approximately 500 km. However, the charging time can be up to several hours.
Do we really save on fuel by driving an electric car?
However, not every person has the ability to charge their car from the grid at home. For electric car users who will be topping up the battery in the city or on the motorway, it is less worthwhile. This depends on the speed of the charger. The faster it can supply the car battery with electricity, the higher the cost of the service.
The price of recharging generally varies between PLN 1-3/kWh. In the case of a car with an 80 kWh battery, this is therefore an expense of between 80 and 240 PLN for approximately 500 km of range. It is therefore worth considering which electric car to buy. For those driving mainly on short journeys (e.g. to work), vehicles with a shorter range, but also with smaller batteries, may be a better solution. 
Electric cars and the availability of charging stations
The debate about whether electric cars are worth buying has been going on for years, not only about the costs of purchasing and operating such vehicles, but also about the limited availability of chargers. Particularly in locations far from large cities and motorways, connecting a car to a socket is no small challenge.
The increasing but still small number of electric vehicle charging points in relation to petrol stations is also a problem for drivers living in major cities. The question of replenishing energy becomes more important, especially when planning a route outside the city, running mainly on local roads. This should be planned taking into account the charging stations along the route.
Those who travel frequently outside large urban centres can opt for a hybrid. Vehicles of this type are equipped with both internal combustion engines and electric motors, giving greater flexibility in the choice of route.
The problem of charging battery cars is undoubtedly the biggest one facing the automotive industry in the coming years. One may, of course, wonder which should come first - a large number of charging stations with still a small number of electric cars, or vice versa. Indeed, the construction of such stations seems economically unjustified. Nevertheless, without increasing their number, it will be very difficult to popularise zero-emission transport.
Electric cars and servicing
In addition to the significant disadvantages, there are also many advantages of electric cars, of which repair costs are one of the biggest. Such a vehicle can be serviced quite easily. Unlike an internal combustion car, it has far fewer parts and therefore a limited number of components that can break down.
Replacement costs depend, of course, on the design of the car in question. Regardless, the most expensive is the battery. In practice, it is not uncommon to spend as much as the price of the car itself, i.e. within the range of 50-100 thousand PLN for a new set of batteries. In such a situation, used batteries can be used. Such examples cost much less, around 20-30 thousand PLN.
Due to the high price of the replacement, it is important to consider where to buy an electric car. It is best to buy it from a manufacturer that gives the longest possible warranty on the vehicle. The average is 8 years. As the battery needs to be replaced approximately every three to four years, it can be replaced twice for free. In other words, you will only have to pay for the battery replacement service out of pocket after approximately 12 years.
The increasing number of service centres is also pleasing. In addition to authorised repair shops for electric cars, there are also an increasing number of other workshops. You can have batteries and other parts replaced in an electric car by service shops in virtually every major city.
Is it worth buying an electric car - ecology
The idea behind the development of electric cars is the most important reason for buying such a vehicle. This is because it makes it possible to do your bit for the development of ecological means of transport and a cleaner environment.
Electric car technology excludes the emission of harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulphide. The greater the number of electric cars, the fewer toxic substances enter the atmosphere. Among other things, this has the effect of slowing down adverse climate change. An example of this is the increasing frequency of violent atmospheric phenomena, such as storms and tornadoes, which pose a threat to human life and property.
Zero-emission is also a way to improve air quality, especially in large urban centres. Electric driving reduces smog in cities, thereby reducing air pollution. This, in turn, contributes to diseases, primarily respiratory diseases.
The answer to the question of whether it is worth buying an electric car for this reason is most positive. Nevertheless, such cars are only one step towards making the air cleaner. It is necessary to find ways to generate electricity in an environmentally friendly way and to popularise renewable energy. As is well known, at present electricity is mostly generated in an environmentally unfriendly way, mainly in coal and nuclear power plants 
.
Add-ons to buying electric cars - what are manufacturers and government encouraging?
Emission-free is a feature for which, like no other, electric cars are worth buying. But is it worth buying this type of vehicle for this reason alone? The personal benefits further encourage the purchase of electric cars.
One example is a subsidy for the purchase of an electric car. Under the government programme, it is possible to receive PLN 18 700 for a car costing no more than PLN 225 000. Holders of the Large Family Card can get funds of up to PLN 27 thousand.
In addition to discounts for individuals, there are also subsidies for entrepreneurs who want to buy, for example, electric vans. Local authorities that plan to purchase zero-emission city buses can also benefit from the government programme.
Local authorities are also taking care to popularise electric transport. One of the bonuses is the possibility to enter zones where combustion vehicles are not allowed. What is more, it is possible to travel faster in a congested city with an electric car than with a combustion engine. Electric models have bus lanes available.
The manufacturers' incentive is primarily the long warranty period. This usually covers not only the aforementioned battery replacement, but also other vehicle components such as headlights, transmission oil and tyres. It is also possible to have the air conditioning cleaned, tyre alignment calibrated and cameras and parking sensors set up, among other things.
Is it worth buying an electric car for something else? Yes, for regular software updates. For example, maps are constantly being made more accurate. Safety functions, such as increased information in the lane assistant and driving visualisation, as well as entertainment functions, are also being improved.
Is it worth buying an electric car - what might it look like in the future?
The electric car has many advantages, but it is currently difficult to operate. The advantages of owning such a car can be felt above all by people from abroad. The number of services and charging stations in Western Europe, the USA or Japan makes daily travel by such a vehicle much easier than in Poland.
Nevertheless, electric cars will also become more widespread in Poland. Automotive companies are already reducing the production of cars with combustion engines. The increasing number of electric vehicles will lead to price reductions. There will also be a large used car market. These factors will in time lead to the popularisation of zero-emission transport.
Is it worth buying an electric car? As you can see, there are many arguments to prove that it is. On the other hand, the significant disadvantages make it not a solution for everyone as yet. However, it remains to be believed that the initial problems will be overcome, allowing for better health and a cleaner environment in the future.
Czytaj również
