Elon Musk would most likely respond, “Electric cars, since it is the future,” if you were to ask him this question, What would you choose? -Electric Car vs. Petrol car! A car might be a tad challenging to purchase because there are many alternatives. However, you would want to think about everything before choosing a car if you were to buy one.
With the increase in the manufacturing of electric cars worldwide, it’s worth considering them as they are a good option. Australian new electric car sales rose by 65% in 2022, but adoption is still far behind that of other nations.
If you are confused about whether to go for an electric or a petrol car, this article will give you an understanding of electric Cars vs. petrol Cars. A car that uses petrol powered by an internal combustion engine produces CO2 emissions. On the other hand, an electric vehicle has an electric motor powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that doesn’t make any CO2 emissions. They are fully automatic cars
Internal-combustion engine cars have been running all over the world for more than a century. But due to the emergence of electric vehicles, petrol cars may slowly be out of the market as electric cars are environmentally friendly and cheaper to run.
Electric Cars Vs. Petrol Cars: Advantages and Disadvantages
Petrol cars are motorcars that use spark-ignited internal combustion engine that consumes petrol or gasoline. Electric cars are cars that can run partially or wholly on electric power. Here, the electricity is stored in the car’s rechargeable batteries, which help to start the electric motor and run the car.
The advantages and disadvantages of electric cars are as follows:-
Advantages of Electric Cars
• Electric cars are highly energy efficient.
• These vehicles offer high performance.
• There are very few moving parts inside electric cars. Due to this, electric vehicle service is less. Hence the maintenance cost of electric cars is meagre.
• The emissions levels of electric cars are almost zero.
• It reduces your fuel cost. The price you pay for recharging your car’s batteries is much lower than petrol.
• Most Australian states now offer financial incentives to customers who switch to electric vehicles.
Disadvantages of Electric Cars
• Electric cars are a bit more expensive than petrol or diesel cars.
• Electric car batteries take a lot of time to get charged.
• Electric Vehicles can cover lesser distances as compared to petrol cars.
• There may arise a need to replace the batteries of the electric car, which may be very expensive.
• Electric Vehicle repair may take considerable time and effort.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Petrol Cars are as follows:-
Advantages of Petrol Cars
• The running cost of a petrol car is less than that of an electric car.
• Petrol cars offer longer service life than electric vehicles.
• The engines of petrol cars make less noise. This helps individuals enjoy quiet rides.
• They are pretty economical in price.
• The engines of petrol cars are more accessible to tune in and tune-up.
Disadvantages of Petrol Cars
• Petrol car engines offer low fuel efficiency.
• The cost of petrol is very high, which increases the overall running cost of a car.
• Petrol cars release so much CO2 that it pollutes the environment.
• Petrol cars demand frequent maintenance.
Electric Cars Vs Petrol Cars: Effect on the environment
Petrol cars release dangerous gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, etc., into the environment. Around 20% of overall CO2 emissions worldwide originate from road traffic. With the increase in the number of petrol cars in the city, the atmosphere will be more polluted. However, electric vehicles come with little or no emissions as there is no fuel burning and no exhaust pipe to release the gases into the atmosphere.
But there is something you shall know about electric vehicles also. The production of lithium-ion batteries that electric vehicles use emits 1.43 times more CO2 than the production of internal combustion engines. Moreover, the power plant that produces electricity needed for EVs can also significantly produce CO2 emissions by burning fossil fuels.
Electric Cars Vs Petrol: Cars price in Australia
One of the critical factors to consider while buying a new car is its price. Here petrol cars are leading as compared to electric cars. This is because petrol cars are much older and more refined. In comparison, electric cars are a new technology, so the price of electric cars is higher than petrol cars.
The minimum costs of electric cars in Australia range between $40000 and $50000. Small hatchback cars are available around this price. Currently, the cheapest electric car models available in Australia are MG ZS EV and Hyundai Ioniq, the best electric vehicles in Australia. In contrast, Australia’s new petrol car will cost around $19000.
An incentive scheme is available for customers who purchase electric cars in specified regions. In addition to these base levels, electric vehicles have unique features not found in petrol cars. However, the initial cost of buying an electric vehicle is much higher than a petrol car. In addition, you also need to spend expenses to install the charging station at your home. This increases the overall cost of the entire electric car range.
Electric cars vs. Petrol cars: Running cost
The significant benefit of an EV car is that the cost to run it is less costly than a petrol car. Hence, the running cost of an electric car is relatively low compared to a petrol car. But the amount of money you save will depend on several things: Some of these factors are the distance you drive, electricity provider, time of the day you are charging the car, etc. Despite these factors, the running cost of electric vehicles will be less. If you have a solar panel installed at home, you can charge your electric vehicle at no additional cost.
Electric Cars Vs. Petrol Cars: Range
Range refers to how much distance a car can travel on a single tank of petrol or a fully charged battery in the case of Electric vehicles. The petrol car with the highest range is the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, which is 1875 km and filled with a full tank. It is almost three times that of the highest-performing range of the electric car. The highest electric car range is of Tesla Model S, which is 647 km.
But one needs to understand that petrol stations are available everywhere in Australia. So there is hardly any chance that you will run out of fuel. On the other hand, when it comes to electric charging stations, they are only 2307 in entire Australia. There would be a shortage of charging points if more cars were there.
Electric Cars Vs Petrol Cars: Maintenance
Concerning the maintenance of a car, petrol cars require too much work. Electric vehicle repair saves much of your time as it doesn’t need oil changes and other mechanical repairs. Electric vehicle repairs are minor such as brake pads, tires, suspension checks, and replacements. So buying an electric car can save a lot of your maintenance costs.
Electric Cars Vs Petrol Cars: Performance
Driving an electric car can give you a smooth and silent experience as the only moving part while driving is an electric motor. Total energy from the battery is transferred to these motors, which give high torque pick-up speeds. On the other hand, while driving a petrol car, a lot of energy has to be processed through gears, clutches, and the engine to move the car. In general, the battery of an EV is equivalent to the size of the fuel tank.
It means the electric vehicle range is sufficient for one city commute day. But the concern is that EV charging stations aren’t yet so widespread. In addition, electric cars may take a long time to recharge the battery, but this is not a concern in a petrol car. So petrol cars are better for the long journey whereas electric vehicles are suitable for daily commutes in the city.
Electric Cars Vs. Petrol Cars: Life
The first battery of an electric car is costly compared to a petrol car. But in an electric vehicle, one needs to change the battery only after every five years; thereby, electric vehicle service is extended considerably. At the same time, this is not the case in petrol cars. Here the battery needs to be replaced every 2-3 years. Apart from these component failures, replacements and maintenance of worn-out components in a petrol car can incur too many expenses after a couple of years of usage.
Are electric cars better than petrol cars?
If you are ready to invest a more extensive amount for long-term savings, you can go for electric cars. The electric car is a better pick for commuting in the city daily, costs less to recharge, and has fewer maintenance costs. But if you are a person who loves to go on long drives in cars and can’t miss out on the convenience of having petrol pumps around everywhere, then petrol cars shall be the right choice for you.
Conclusion
Electric vehicle technology is developing quickly, which is exciting for both consumers and automakers. We’re racing toward a future with driverless automobiles and zero-emission standards. Drivers are prepared to accept the opportunities.
According to Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, EV market share will reach a staggering 60% by 2046, potentially preventing the release of 18 million tonnes of CO2 into the sky. You can’t ignore this figure if you accept the truth that electric cars are the future of the automobile industry.
