Especially with rising gas prices and the climate crisis, it’s no surprise that people have been considering making the switch from a traditional gasoline-powered car to an electric car instead. However, before you rush to get an electric car and install an electric car charging station in your home, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself the pros and cons of having one first to make sure it’s the best choice for you and your current situation.

The Advantages

They’re a Greener Solution to Transportation

Many people are drawn to committing to an electric car due to how environmentally friendly they are. Electric vehicles don’t have an exhaust system, which means they have zero emissions. On the other hand, gas-powered vehicles are some of the largest contributors to the greenhouse gas build up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Electricity is Cheaper than Gasoline

In 2021, the average American spent .56 cents per mile driving gas-powered vehicles. In contrast, many electric vehicles—like Tesla’s, for example– run at one third of that cost. Not only that, but with electric vehicles, you’ll never have to grapple with constant, ever-fluctuating gas prices.

Lower and Less Frequent Maintenance Costs

Think about it this way: electric cars aren’t built to run on oil like gas-powered vehicles are! Thus, no oil changes are necessary. In fact, studies show that electric cars–on average–cost $4,600 less in repair and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle compared to a gasoline-powered car.

The Disadvantages

Big Upfront Investment

If you’ve never shopped for an EV before, you might experience a bit of sticker shock upon beginning your research. Even the more affordable electric car models start in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, while luxury models can be upwards of $80,000.

Charging Station Availability

Charging stations, as you might have guessed, are few and far between as opposed to gas stations, especially in more rural areas of the US. Thus, especially if you’re a road trip lover, you may have to wait a little while longer for electric vehicles to become more and more normalized across the country before taking the plunge.

Of course, installing an electric car charging station in your home is a must, especially if you live in an area in which charging stations are few and far between. At Piper Electric, our technicians can offer you a variety of solutions when it comes to electric charging station installation.

Recharging Your Electric Car Can Take Some Time

Adding gas to a fuel tank doesn’t take much longer than five minutes whereas recharging an electric car can take a while, especially when the battery is fully depleted.

When you install an electric car charging station, you’ll notice it may take upwards of two days to get a full charge on a battery pack using normal outlets, depending on car type and battery size. Even the fastest charging stations will take 30 minutes to get near 80 percent capacity.

The Takeaway

As with any big investment, there is certainly a lot to consider when it comes to gauging whether an electric car is the right vehicle for you and your family. While an electric car has long-term saving benefits and is environmentally friendly, there are significant upfront costs and convenience factors that may be challenging for some folks to handle.

If you’re in the right position to bite the bullet and buy an electric car, we would strongly recommend getting an electric car charging installation for your home. When you install an electric car charging station, not only will it make charging up your vehicle easier, but you’ll be able to take your sweet time at the charging station so you can get your car charged and ready to hit the road at your own pace.

Piper Electric has the track record and expertise to make sure your electric car charger installation service is done right the first time. Contact us at our 24-hour service line and we can get the ball rolling together: 303-422-9219.