Right now, we have reached a stage where the climate crisis is unavoidable. With President Biden using his first day in office to re-join the Paris climate agreement and the UN’s recent climate poll revealing that people support more comprehensive policies to help take urgent action, it’s clear that momentum is building in the fight against the crisis.
While governments around the world are taking steps to reduce the damage caused, there are things that the public can do to help. One of these is to make the switch to electric vehicles EV).
Research by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) revealed that electric cars are better for the environment. They emit less pollutants and greenhouse gases than petrol and diesel cars, making them one of the main access points for the public to help make a difference.
So, are you thinking of making the switch to electric? Read on to find out more about why EV could help build a better future for the world climate and more about what makes these motors so appealing.
Why did EV become important in tackling the climate crisis?
As well as EV being scientifically proven to be beneficial to the environment compared with petrol and diesel cars, there is another reason why electric motors are a significant swap for the vehicles we drive now. They are a key feature in meeting global climate change goals, and form part of the plans to help reduce warming to below 1.5 to 2⁰C. This would be in line with the Paris Agreement.
While this all looks good for introducing EVs, it’s important to note that they are powered by electricity, which is mostly still produced from fossil fuels. However, they have lower emissions over their lifetime than their diesel and petrol counterparts, making them a worthwhile investment for reducing the impact on the climate.
The introduction of the ban
To help us make the move towards electric, a petrol and diesel ban is scheduled. With this ban being just nine years away, it’s likely we’re going to see an increased number of EV on the roads.
Emitting zero carbon is within our reach, however the government was warned that setting the ban at 2040 would be too late to achieve this zero carbon target. By setting the ban at 2030, the public still has enough time to research electric cars and how they’ll become part of our lives.
The cost of EV
One of the main considerations will be how much EV cost. To begin, you’ll need to look at how much it costs to buy an electric car. Overall, EVs are £107 cheaper on average than petrol cars.
The government has also introduced a plug-in grant. This offers up to a £3,000 discount on the price of your low emission EV via motor dealerships and car manufacturers.
Also, as well as being significantly less of a pollutant than petrol and diesel cars over their lifespan, EVs also hold their value for longer, according to data from AutoTrader. While petrol motors tend to lose almost a quarter of its value (24%) after a year, EVs come in at half that.
Other considerations will be how to protect your car. You’ll need to look into warranties and compare insurance to ensure your motor is covered if something doesn’t go to plan.
Take your time to research the electric car that could suit you and your family. It will not only benefit you and your wallet, but it will also help the planet.
