Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Which One Should You Buy?

Image Source: Brogden, N. (2021, August 3). How long does it take to charge a Tesla? evee. Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://www.evee.com.au/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-charge-a-tesla/

What Are Electric Cars?

Electric cars are cars that do not require gas to operate: they run only on electricity. Although they are a new addition to the road, electric cars are quickly gaining popularity in all parts of the world. They are expected to overtake gas cars in popularity by the year 2040. The most famous brand for electric cars is by far Tesla, however, many others have joined in such as BMW, Ford, and Hyundai just to name a few. My personal favorites are Tesla and Lucid Air.

What Are Gas Cars?

By definition, gas cars are cars that run on gas. Most cars in the US and almost all trucks in the US are gas powered. Although they make up a majority in nearly all parts of the world, gas cars are expected to lose that positions to electric cars, as stated above. Many manufacturers, including General Motors, are turning away from gas powered cars for electric cars.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Both

Advantages of electric cars:

• No gas required: due to the unpredictability of gas prices, it's a smart move to purchase an electric car. It will cost you at most around $20 to fully charge a Tesla, depending on the model; in comparison, it costs over $100 to fill up some gas cars from an empty tank.

• Environment friendly: if you're an environmentalist or care about the environment in general, then you'll be interested in electric cars because they have significantly reduced CO2 emissions.

• Quick acceleration: because electric cars don't need any gas buildup when you press down on the pedal, they can accelerate incredibly quickly!

Disadvantages of electric cars:

• Price: on average, electric cars are more expensive than gas cars, however, you are expected to save up in the long run.

• Less range: although the range on electric cars is improving, they still lag behind gas cars when it comes to how far they can go on a full charge. It will be difficult to drive an electric car long distances.

• Lack of charging stations: building off of the previous point, you need a very specific type of charging station to charge an electric car. A simple wall socket won't do the job. With that said, there aren't many charging stations in some locations, meaning that it would be difficult for drivers to charge their electric car in those places.

Advantages of gas cars:

• Price: on average, gas cars are more affordable than electric cars.

• More range: it's preferable to use gas cars if you're driving long distances.

• Convenience: if you've ever been in a car, you know that gas stations are literally everywhere, which makes filling up a gas car hassle-free.

Disadvantages of gas cars:

• Gas prices: the price for gas is unpredictable, which makes it more costly to own a gas car in the long run.

• CO2 emissions: the transportation sector is the leading contributor of CO2 emissions in the world, and gas cars play a significant role in that.

• Maintenance: gas cars require more maintenance than electrics cars because their engines are more complex.

Overall

So, which one should you buy? It depends completely on the buyer. If you live in a state where you will receive benefits for driving an electric car and charging stations are easily accessible, perhaps you might want to look into an electric car. On the other hand, if you go on frequent road trips and/or commute long distances for work, maybe a gas car is more suited for you. Make the right decision based on your needs and surroundings.