A MOTORS expert has shared the 10 major problems with EVs you should know about before getting one.
Shari Prymak from Car Help Corner took to his YouTube channel to run through some of the key issues holding back electric car ownership.
AlamyA motors expert has explained 10 major issued with owning an EV[/caption]
Shari said: “Although more and more consumers are becoming interested in electric vehicles, there are many serious concerns with EV ownership.”
Public charging
One of the most commonly cited problems with owning an EV is the charging infrastructure to support them.
In the UK, over 12 million people in rural areas have just 6,000 chargers to share according to the latest figures from the Department for Transport.
Likewise, a majority of UK council areas have no public roadside EV chargers and large swathes of the country have no access to charging at all.
Long waits for charging points have led to cases of “charge rage”, with marshals forced to keep the peace between furious motorists.
Shari also cited the fact that charging networks are not uniform, with many different companies operating across the nation.
This means that drivers have to find a charger compatible with their car and download seemingly endless apps to be able to use all the stations available.
Unpredictable range
Shari said: “Even though an electric vehicle might advertise a certain driving range, the real-world range can be very different.
“It’s well-known that extreme weather conditions…can have a very severe impact on the driving range.”
This leads to range anxiety amongst drivers which, coupled with the lack of proper charging infrastructure, only adds to the stress of driving and makes road trips harder to plan.
One driver found this out while range testing his Tesla until it died in the middle of the road in a nightmare scenario.
Battery degradation and potential failure
If you’ve ever noticed your phone’s battery life growing shorter the longer you own it, it may come as no surprise that the same thing can happen to EVs.
It’s even harder to overcome your range anxiety when, the more you drive, the lower the range becomes.
Not only that but, when the battery does eventually die, they are expensive to replace and there are relatively few specialist mechanics with the skills and equipment to do so.
This could see you slapped with repair bills running well into the hundreds of pounds.
And according to the RAC, the average EV battery lasts only around 10 years, while the average age of traditional cars with failed engines is around 14 years.
While many dealers do provide a long battery warranty, if yours fails outside this period it effectively renders the car “worthless”, according to Shari
Tyre maintenance
Shari said: “If you’re buying an EV, you may think you’re going to save yourself a tonne of money on maintenance.
“One maintenance items that’s known to not last very long are the tyres.
“Because electric vehicles typically have a lot of power going to the wheels and they’re also much heavier than normal vehicles this puts a lot more wear on the tyres.”
He claimed that this could see you having to change your tyres two or three times more often than with a petrol or diesel model.
This can be costly too as EV tyres need to bear a greater load and so are often more expensive, while some manufacturers like Tesla recommend their cars only be fitted with their specially-made tyres.
Cost of repairs
Related to the previous issues, EV repairs, maintenance and services can be extremely expensive.
This is largely due to the need for specialist kit, parts and knowledge that most garages don’t possess.
Even dealerships have to offset the premium placed on knowledgeable mechanics and the high initial production cost of the vehicles.
This could even contribute to the long-heralded death of the DIY car restoration, as EV tech becomes far too complex for most gearheads to take on at home.
Moreover, because EVs haven’t been in circulation for that long, there is relatively little data on their reliability 10 or 20 years down the road.
This could mean hefty unforeseen bills mounting up in the years to come.
Cost of insurance
High repair costs also mean high insurance costs, especially on higher-end models.
Combined with the uncertain risk over features like autopilot and autopark, the potential cost of an accident can send your premiums through the roof.
Fire risk is also a costly factor, with two major companies recalling several popular EVs over the concerns just this month.
Resale value
EVs relative lack of time on the market also ties in to the next major problem, the collapse of their resale value.
If it turns out you do want to get rid of your electric car because of any of the other issues mentioned, then you’re likely to get far less than you paid for it.
Rapidly evolving tech and concerns about long-term reliability has seen second-hand prices crater for older models.
Upfront costs
Shari said: “This one is really no secret.
“It is well-known that most EVs are extremely expensive.”
For example a Tesla model 3 retails at around £42,000 at the bottom end, while cheaper options like the Nissan leaf are still around £28,000, a fair bit more than their petrol equivalents.
The scrapping of many of the incentives around EVs, such as road tax exemptions, in the next few years also contributes to the impression that they are out of budget for most motorists.