Electric vehicles have become very popular for a number of reasons. Nevertheless, some people are still a bit concerned over their functionality. For instance, could an electric car stand up to the rigours of a long road trip? This is a debate that many travellers are having, with some wondering if it’s even possible to drive an electric car for long periods at a time.
Well, the short answer to this debate is that you can drive an electric vehicle on your next road trip. Perhaps a better question is, should you? After looking into things, there are some clear reasons you definitely should consider this, and only one potential issue to worry about. We’ll discuss them all if you carry on reading down below…
Better for the environment
Needless to say, driving an electric car is much better for the environment as you’re driving around with zero emissions. Imagine you are driving for many hours a day, for a week or two. Think of all the gas you’ll emit into the air with a traditional petrol engine. It’s not the most eco-friendly approach, so opting for electric vehicles is a more environmentally-conscious way of travelling around. Especially as there’s a lot of talk about how bad travel is for the environment at times with planes and stuff, opting to go on an electric road trip can be very smart.
Save money on fuel
Another reason to consider using an electric car is that it can save you lots of money during your trip. Clearly, you will need to stop and refuel your car a lot during this long journey. You might drive around an entire country or continent – the fuel costs will add up! With electric vehicles, you negate the traditional fuel costs, paying to charge your car instead. If you’re ever wondered how much can electric cars save you, the short answer is…a lot! Annually, you could save around $1,300 on fuel costs, so imagine how much you’re able to save during a road trip. It can make the entire thing far more affordable and may allow you more comforts on the journey – such as staying in nice hotels overnight.
The problem: charging your car
Seeing as we’re talking about charging your car, this throws up the biggest issue with a road trip. Your trip depends on your ability to find charging stations for your vehicle. In some countries or places, this won’t be a problem. In others, it might be impossible for you to plan your trip as there’s nowhere to charge the car. The best thing to do is look online for all of the electric car charging stations in the area that you’re travelling to. From here, plot a route that lets you go on a road trip while ensuring you are always close to a charging station if required.
So, should you drive an electric vehicle on your next road trip? The answer depends on the final point above; are there enough charging stations on your route to make it possible? If so, then you most certainly should give it a go to save money and protect the environment.
