Should I buy a new petrol car or a new electric car?

If you’ve been seeing reports that electric vehicles are the future of transport, you may be wondering if your next car should be a new petrol car or a new electric car.

Or perhaps you’re already thinking about replacing your petrol or diesel car with a new electric car.

Either way, we’ll explore if now is the right time to buy an electric vehicle and why you should consider replacing your petrol car with one.

Is now the right time to buy an electric car?

There are going to be a few things that you’ll need to take into consideration before you answer this question.

Charging your electric vehicle

To reap the financial rewards of driving an electric car rather than a petrol or diesel car, you’ll need access to a charging point.

Preferably, this will be at your home or workplace. However, not all properties are able to have a home charger. If your property can, the UK government is offering a £350 grant towards the installation of a charger.

More electric cars to choose from

Right now, there’s more choice when it comes to electric cars than ever, and the selection will only increase. You’ll find options to meet various budgets, certainly more than you would have when the first few electric cars were being introduced.

If you buy now, you can start to benefit from some of the early incentives that will be introduced for electric cars. Or you can hold off in the hope that prices may start to come down and the choice will increase even further.

How often do you drive and where?

It’s important to consider if owning an electric car will fit into your lifestyle and driving habits.

If you tend to take a lot of short journeys across town, an electric car should suit you well. You can plan your weekly shop to coincide with charging your car or even charge it at work as part of your daily commute.

That’s not to say that you can’t take longer journeys in a new electric car. You’ll just need to plan charge stops on the way.

Now is as good a time as any to buy a new electric car. And here are a few more reasons why people are doing just that.

Why do people buy electric cars?

It’s also worth considering why people are choosing to buy electric vehicles in the first place.

One of the main reasons will be the impending ban on petrol and diesel cars.

In 2030, the UK will see an end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. Because of this, the purchase of a new electric car is on many people’s radar.

But that’s not the only reason. For a lot of people, the fact that electric cars are better for the environment will be a key factor in their decision to buy a new electric vehicle.

The environmental benefits of electric cars

With no exhaust and zero tailpipe emissions, electric cars don’t produce carbon dioxide. This will mean fresher air in our towns and cities.

Research has shown that the electricity required to fuel an electric car produces 30% less carbon emissions than driving a petrol or diesel car. This increases to 70% when they are powered by renewable energy.

Electric cars produce less carbon emissions in their whole lifecycle. Combine this with the use of renewable energy to fuel them, and they can truly become a 100% eco-friendly mode of transport.

Incentives for buying a new electric car

As well as the environmental benefits an electric car can offer, there are also financial benefits.

Alongside the UK government’s home-charger grant, other incentives have been introduced to encourage people to buy new electric cars.

Green number plates

The green number plates for new electric cars will give local authorities the opportunity to introduce specific incentives for zero-emission cars. These could include:

• access to bus lanes
• free entry into zero-emissions zones
• cheaper or free parking

Grants, investments and scrappage schemes

The UK government is now offering a plug-in car grant which gives £2,500 towards the price of a new electric car.

They’re also investing £500 million towards battery development and the production of electric cars.

In London, a £25m scrappage scheme will allow people to replace older cars and motorbikes.

Are you ready to buy your first electric car?

Hopefully, we’ve set your mind at ease and answered the question, should I buy a new petrol car or a new electric car?

If you’ve decided that now is the time to make the change to a new electric vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

Come and see our fantastic selection of new electric cars for yourself. The plug-in car experts at Nathaniel Cars are ready and waiting to answer your questions at our Cardiff and Bridgend showrooms.