A CAR expert has revealed the biggest problems with EVs – and they won’t be fixed any time soon.
Nick O’Leary took to his YouTube channel to share the challenges he experienced while testing out an electric car over a week.
Nick O’LearyNick O’Leary revealed the major problem he encountered while testing an EV[/caption]
Nick explained to viewers why his answer to the question of whether he would buy an EV is “no, not yet”.
The biggest problem that he found was the fact that, since he does not own a home charger, he had to rely on the UK’s public charging network to keep him on the road.
This left him exposed to the higher prices charged by public chargers, which now even exceed the cost of filling up a petrol or diesel car.
While he did find that he could reduce costs by shopping around a bit, basically anywhere on the road was more expensive that if he was at home.
The charger he used was set at a rate of 79p per KwH, which he described as “steep”.
For comparison, the average home charging price in the UK clocks in at 30p per KwH.
Some quick sums revealed that to charge the car he was using, he would pay £19.41 at home compared to £51.11.
Assuming that he charges it up once a week, public charging would end up stinging him for an extra £1,612 a year.
Unfortunately, the solution is not as simple as just getting a home charger because, as Nick points out, not everyone is in a position to do so.
Those living in rented accommodation or blocks of flats will not be able to benefit from the advantage of domestically powered charging points.
In practice, that means that the higher prices of public charging would disproportionately affect the poorest drivers in society.
Nick said: “It’s kind of the thing that nobody’s talking about with electric cars.
“It’s something you won’t actually come across unless you buy one and you experience it for yourself.
“I love EVs…but do yourself a favour and make sure that if you can get a home wall box…charge at home where you can.”
And there was another blow to EV running costs last week as it emerged that electric car drivers pay much more for insurance, while some companies refuse to even cover them.
Social media commenters were stunned by Nick’s revelation.
One wrote: “Good video Nick, as always. The costs were always going to level up.”
Another added: “I have a hybrid and you’re right unless you have a home charger or better still a home wall box then it’s hardly worth getting an EV.”
It comes after a car whizz slammed EV chargers as a nightmare.
Meanwhile, there was an urgent warning over the batteries that power electric cars potentially exploding into flames.