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Have you been considering taking the plunge into running an electric vehicle, but were not quite sure what it entails? Perhaps you are still put off by thoughts of how you would be able to adapt to driving one, maybe range anxiety or cost are a concern? If you are one of those people who, as someone said to me a few months ago, does “not believe in electric cars” (hey I drive one… I can assure you that they are real!) then probably this article is not for you, but if you would like to know a little about the basics of acquiring and running an electric car, then maybe this could be helpful.
Let’s start with the driving experience. Over the years I have organised several electric car events in the Grand Duchy, typically involving driving a route of 100 km and discovering interesting things about the place we call home, while giving people the opportunity to experience driving a variety of electric vehicles. The first thing I have always asked participants during the pre-event briefings is “who drives manual cars, and who drives automatics”? The difference in driving experience between switching from a manual transmission petrol or diesel car to an automatic is far greater than the difference between switching from an automatic thermic vehicle to an electric… all mainstream electric cars are automatic, and pretty well everything else operates in the same way as a non-electric car. The driving experience in most electric cars is generally hushed, pleasant and relaxed. Additionally, because of the way that electric motors work, the full power of the engine is always available, so the initial throttle response is instant, which is very handy for executing quick overtaking manoeuvres or getting out of a junction.
Another area of concern for many people is recharging, particularly the famous “range anxiety” which seemed to have been on everybody’s lips when they were talking about the disadvantages of electric cars just a few short years ago. Battery technology is advancing rapidly, as are the efficiencies of energy recovery, aerodynamics and electric motors. Thus the typical 100-200km range of the 2010s can now be expected to be anything between 300km and 500km even for every day models, and in some cases over 600km. Additionally, for those people who drive longer distances than the range of their cars (as I do), recharge times are forever reducing, with most cars able to refill from 10% to 80% of ever increasing battery and range capacity in around 30 minutes… just enough time to get a leisurely cup of coffee and use the facilities… or walk the dog. Fast chargers are available at most large motorway service stations in Western Europe and also strategically placed at many other locations. Note though that, frustratingly, very few are actually covered with a roof, so you may get wet or hot depending on the weather while plugging in and activating the charging process. An increasing number of cars is capable of reaching those same recharge figures now in less than fifteen minutes at suitably powerful charging points… if this is a must for you, look out for cars such as many of the Koreans which have 800v charging capacity. Note that energy consumption is expressed in terms of Watt hours per km or, more usually, Kilowatt hours per 100 km. As with their petrol and diesel equivalents, some electric cars consume more, and some less, with perhaps unsurprisingly the heavier and more powerful cars consuming more than the lighter and less powerful ones. For most main brand cars expect a typical official (WLTP) energy consumption of between 14 kWh/100km and 20 kWh/100km. Even at public charging points this equates to roughly 3 kWh per Euro, which means that an electric car that consumes 15 kWh/100km will cost about €5 in energy for those 100 km. This stacks up very well in comparison to similar petrol or diesel vehicles. Of course, charging from home offers even greater savings. Do be aware that winter, or extreme summer, conditions will have a negative effect of up to 25% on available range, although this figure is reducing all the time through heat pump and battery technology improvements. Also it is entirely usual to expect that in normal driving, most people will expect to achieve no more than 75%-80% of the quoted official range of the vehicle. However, in many cases, reasonably careful driving should allow most people to get much closer to, or even exceed, the official figures.
As far as cost is concerned, this is a whole article in itself. However, the principle things to consider are, as always:
1) Acquisition Price
The list price of electric cars is typically higher than their thermic equivalents. However, this is largely, if not entirely, offset by the government subsidy which, up until now, has been €8,000. Earlier this year the government announced a new approach to the subsidies, so that subsidy is linked to energy efficiency. There will be a transition period under which vehicles ordered before 1 October 2024 (and immatriculated before 1 October 2025) will still be eligible for the existing subsidy, as will vehicles that are leased for no more than eighteen months. From 1 October, all new purchases and leases will attract a lower subsidy of €6,000 for vehicles whose energy consumption does not exceed 16 kWh/100km, further reduced to €3,000 for vehicles that consume between 16.1 and 18 kWh/100km. If you plan to invest in an Porsche, Maserati or any other car that officially consumes over 18 kWh/100km, sadly you will no longer be eligible for subsidy unless it is for a vehicle of seven seats or more destined for a family of at least five people.
For those who prefer to lease, those vehicles ordered from 1 October 2024 must be taken for a minimum contract period of three years in order to be eligible for the relevant subsidy. This is to stimulate the emergence of a second-hand electric vehicle market.
2) Depreciation
Owing to the significant subsidies on new electric cars, the high cost of replacing an ageing battery pack, and ever advancing technology, it should have come as little surprise (although it seems it did) that the depreciation on most new electric cars is higher than on their thermic cousins. To go some way towards reducing this impact, the government now also anticipates a subsidy of €1,500 for the purchase of second hand electric cars that are at least three years old, and not being sold to another member of the same household.
3) On the road costs
Although insurance costs can be higher, not least owing to the high cost of replacing a battery pack damaged in a collision, other costs such as maintenance, fuel and tax are significantly cheaper, and electric cars also have the advantage of being able to enter many European emission zone areas.
Currently there are many private operational leasing deals which offer a better return on your investment than buying and, even without considering the cheaper energy costs, in many cases represent better value for money than taking a similar diesel or petrol car. Check with dealerships, and also with your bank, to see if there is a package which could suit you.
In summary, electric cars, if selected correctly, can be cheaper to run, more pleasant to be in and as engaging, if in a different way, to drive as their thermic counterparts. Having been in a 100% electric household for over three years, and driven as far as Italy and Scotland several times during that period, I can confirm that there are few if any compromises to driving electric. If your lifestyle allows it, and you are still considering switching to electric go ahead and take that plunge… you won't regret it!