Benefits of electric cars
Transportation is a basic requirement of modern life, but the traditional combustion engine is quickly becoming obsolete. Gasoline and diesel vehicles are highly polluting and are rapidly being replaced by fully electric vehicles. Fully electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions and are much better for the environment. The electric vehicle revolution is here, and you can be part of it. Will your next vehicle be electric? Here are some of the benefits of electric cars:
Lower running costs
Running an electric vehicle costs much less than running an equivalent gasoline or diesel vehicle. Electric vehicles use electricity to charge their batteries instead of fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel. Electric vehicles are more efficient, and that, combined with the cost of electricity, means charging an electric vehicle is cheaper than filling up with gasoline or diesel for your travel needs. Using renewable energy sources can make driving an electric vehicle even greener. Electricity costs can be cut further if you charge with renewable energy installed at home, such as solar panels.
Low maintenance costs
Electric vehicles have very low maintenance costs because they don't have as many moving parts as an internal combustion vehicle. Their maintenance requirements are lower than those of conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles, so the annual cost of running an electric vehicle is significantly lower.
Zero tailpipe emissions
Driving an electric vehicle can help you reduce your carbon footprint, because there are no tailpipe emissions. You can further reduce the environmental impact of charging by choosing renewable energy options for your home electricity.
Tax and financial benefits
In Costa Rica, the Electric Transportation Incentives and Promotion Law (Law 9518) gives electric cars benefits such as tax exemptions and a lower marchamo (annual road tax) during the first years. In Costa Rica, electric vehicles are also exempt from the license-plate-based driving restriction.
Gasoline and diesel are destroying our planet
Fossil fuels are limited, and using them is destroying our planet. Toxic emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles have long-term adverse effects on public health. The emissions impact of electric vehicles is much lower than that of gasoline or diesel vehicles. In terms of efficiency, electric vehicles can turn about 60% of the grid's electrical energy into power at the wheels, while gasoline or diesel cars can only convert 17% to 21% of the energy stored in the fuel. That's about 80% wasted.
Fully electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions, and even when electricity generation is taken into account, gasoline or diesel vehicles emit almost 3 times more carbon dioxide than the average electric vehicle. And in Costa Rica, where more than 90% of electricity comes from renewable sources, an electric car is even cleaner.
Electric vehicles are quiet and easy to drive
Electric vehicles have no gears and are very comfortable to drive. There are no complicated controls: just accelerate, brake and steer. When you want to charge your vehicle, just plug it into a home or public charger. Electric vehicles are also quiet, so they reduce the noise pollution that traditional vehicles contribute to.
The convenience of charging at home
Imagine being stuck at a busy gas station during rush hour while you're running late for work. An electric vehicle makes those problems easy to avoid. Just plug your vehicle into your home charger for 4–5 hours before you plan to leave. If you can get a charger where you park at home, it's very convenient to plan your trips well ahead of time. What if one day you forget to plug in your car? You can easily use a fast charger on the road.
No noise pollution
Electric vehicles run silently, since there's no engine under the hood. No engine means no noise. The electric motor runs so quietly that you'll need to look at your instrument panel to check whether it's ON. Electric vehicles are so quiet that manufacturers have to add artificial sounds to keep them safe for pedestrians.
I encourage you to take the plunge, do your research and decide whether an electric car is what you need!