Should you buy an electric car? - BBC News

Electric cars are increasingly taking to our roads but many people still have reservations. Common worries include the price of the vehicles, where you can charge, charging times and the wider environmental costs of manufacturing them.

Reality Check looks at how valid these concerns are.

Motion graphics by Jacqueline Galvin

Presented by Ben Butcher

Edited and produced by Nadeem Shad

[FarmYardGaming]

Leave this to Top Gear, BBC.
*OH WAIT...*

[jaroessa]

The reality is...the vast majority of consumers can't afford an EV. A baseline Tesla M3 runs you nearly $45K after you add in all the taxes, fees, surcharges and incidentals. That is an expensive car for your average consumer just to have an alternative powertrain. All of these hype and sales pitch videos talk about 'the future'. But...until the total price of EV's come down to the price of an entry ICE vehicle ($15-20K), and until they address the concerns of range and charge times in the package of a $20K car, ICE vehicles will continue to remain very popular for years to come.

Just ~2% of all auto sales in the USA for 2018 were EV/Hybrid vehicles, with 98% of consumers still preferring to purchase an ICE vehicle when given the choice; and projected EV sales for 2019 are expected to stay at 2% or decline because of the now-discontinued massive tax credits the government was giving to consumers to 'convince' them to buy an EV.

[bossadave]

When they have a range of 1000 miles, can be charged in 10 minutes and are cheaper than a diesel to buy. Then I will consider one. That might well be 20 -30 years away.

[luminator]

What app did you use to make this video?

[dominopicamation]

I’m not going to buy an electric car. I would get an electric bicycle though. They’re cheaper and are actually more eco friendly.

[Martin-dxzs]

I bought an electric car as my first car. 50, 000 miles on it and still full battery life. Had practically no running costs and no maintenance. Have to be a mug to buy anything else. Plus they offer incredible performance. Why would I want to for to run a slower car?

[danielwhyatt]

Over 24h to fully charge? I'm afraid for the vast majority of electric cars, 'this just isn't true at all. I can't think of a single car that takes that long.

[ianmattox]

Volvo have already admitted that electric cars are70% worse for the environment due to the energy used and time in producing the parts for them.

[jonny]

My company travel thousands of miles a week, the cost of having an electric fleet of vans and charging them multiple times a day means it's simply not viable for us and other companies to go electric.

[sbwende]

I'm definitely keeping my old diesel going a few more years but no question my next car will be an EV. Maybe a Sono Sion.

[michaelrch]

I have been lucky enough to get a Hyundai Kona Electric. It's just awesome. It's probably the best car I've owned. It's brilliant fun to drive, incredibly relaxing and easy to drive and waaaay cheaper to run than the old car.
Range is 300 miles driving in town and A/B roads and I have never had any anxiety whatsoever.
Once you drive an electric, you will not go back :)

[jackhughes]

In other words, wait for a few years until the tech is all figured out

[manishmandal-]

Electric cars will increase electricity usage and thus more power generation which in turn will contribute to pollution.
Only good option I see is nuclear power, but it has it's own risks.

[manwithcorsae]

Don't watch this if you want to know the truth about electric cars. This is so negative and massively out of date with current technology. Watch Fully Charged, EVM, Zero Tailpipe or similar. or similar channels.

[MartFish]

That really was of no help at all in deciding whether or not buying an electric makes sense for me. Sounds like the real answer is don’t until it costs the same as a diesel car. I think we’ll be a few years before we get there

[MrGonzonator]

Totally failed to explain that electric cars are much cheaper to run and maintain, or that the majority (66% in England) of households in the UK have off street parking.
Additionally, they pointed out potential environmental impacts of electric cars without balancing the argument with the known impact of ICE cars. Usual BBC scaremongering.

[alexsakanoff]

Don't buy a car. Use public transport.

[Tremu]

I already hate having to charge batteries on my phone, my earpieces, my power tools, etc. Definitely would hate having to charge batteries on my vehicle, especially in an urgent or emergency situation.

[paulhoskin]

I prefer noisy cars so that Jeremy clarkson voice can't be heard

[klipkultur]

More cars is not a solution. We're doomed I tell ya!