Is it really worth having an electric car?

For many drivers, yes. Electric cars (EVs) can have lower running costs, require less maintenance, and help reduce your environmental impact as they produce no tailpipe emissions. They're also currently exempt from many Clean Air Zone and ULEZ charges. However, if you frequently take long trips or can't charge at home, the benefits may not outweigh the challenges yet.

Will an electric car really save me money?

Yes, in some cases. While EVs are usually more expensive upfront and may require purchasing a home charging point, they often have lower long-term running costs. Charging at home can be cheaper than buying petrol or diesel, and EVs need less maintenance because they have fewer moving parts and no oil changes. Additionally, you can avoid ULEZ and Clean Air Zone charges.

Is it better to have an electric car?

Electric cars are better for the environment due to zero tailpipe emissions. Whether they're better for you depends on your lifestyle. They're ideal for city driving and short trips, offering smooth and quiet driving with exemptions from clean air charges. However, petrol or diesel cars might still be more practical for long-distance drivers or those who prefer a traditional driving experience.

Are electric cars the future in the UK?

Yes. With the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, EVs are set to become the norm. Charging infrastructure and battery technology will continue to improve, and prices are expected to fall as they become more common. Used petrol and diesel cars will still be available, but new ones will no longer be sold.

What are the main pros of electric cars?

Key benefits include lower running costs, environmental friendliness, reduced maintenance, exemption from Clean Air Zone charges, a quiet driving experience, and the convenience of home charging if you have off-street parking.

What are the main cons of electric cars?

Challenges include higher upfront costs, longer charging times, limited public charging infrastructure, restricted driving ranges, and potentially expensive battery replacements. Cold weather can also affect battery performance.

Electric cars pros and cons: Is an EV right for you?

Written by Joe Achillies Updated 22 Oct 2025

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More people are thinking about making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV). Better for the environment, better performance, and lower running costs? It's easy to see the appeal. But should you buy an electric car?

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve broken down some of the electric cars pros and cons, covering everything from charging and range to price and maintenance so you can feel more confident when purchasing your next car.

EV pros and cons at a glance

First, let’s look at some electric car advantages and disadvantages in a side-by-side comparison:

Pros of electric cars	Cons of electric cars
Lower running costs	Higher upfront price
Better for the environment	Charging takes longer than refuelling
More efficient	Public chargers less available
Less maintenance	Limited driving range
Quiet and smooth driving experience	Fewer options to choose from
Easy to drive	Less engaging driving experience
Home charging convenience	Cold weather can affect the battery
No Clean Air Zone or ULEZ charges	Battery replacement can be expensive

As you can see, there’s a pretty even split of pros and cons to electric cars. So to help you decide on your priorities, here’s a more detailed breakdown of some of their good and bad points.

Why are electric cars good?

There are several reasons why EVs might be growing more and more popular. So let’s look at some benefits in detail.

The main advantages of electric cars:

Lower running costs

One big benefit of EVs is that they’re generally cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars. Though electricity prices do fluctuate, electricity typically costs less per mile than fuel. So, charging an EV might work out cheaper than paying for petrol or diesel at the pump.

Charging at home overnight could cost just a few pence per mile, which is significantly less than what you'd pay for petrol or diesel (especially with today’s fuel prices!). Public rapid chargers might be more expensive than home charging, but these could still work out cheaper overall compared to refuelling.

Better for the environment

Another one of the major benefits of EVs is their impact on the environment. Because they have no exhaust, they produce no tailpipe emissions like nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxide, which could help reduce air pollution massively. Even factoring in emissions from production and manufacturing, overall, they seem greener than their fuel counterparts.

More efficient

Electric vehicles tend to be more energy-efficient than traditional petrol or diesel cars. While internal combustion engines lose a lot of energy as heat, electric cars are better at turning stored energy into movement.

In fact, EDF Energy says that EVs can actually be 70%-90% efficient, while most fuel-powered cars convert under 40% of the energy into movement. It’s one of the major benefits of EVs, because it means you’re using more of the energy you pay for, mile for mile.

Less maintenance

Electric cars are simpler than combustion engines. They don’t need oil changes, they have fewer fluids, and with fewer moving parts, fewer things could go wrong. Plus, they don’t need gearbox repairs or clutch replacements, because most of them don’t have a traditional gearbox at all.

This could be one of the reasons why electric cars could seem better than petrol and diesel cars, when it comes to managing your finances.

Quiet and smooth driving experience

You’ve probably noticed it yourself – EV cars are quieter than combustion engines. Less revving and engine noise is preferable for some people, especially on long journeys. And as well as a smooth, quiet driving experience, EVs also have instant acceleration, even at a standstill. This makes them feel super responsive to drive compared to older petrol or diesel cars.

Easy to drive

Another major perk of EVs for some people is that they’re easier to drive too. Many EVs use a single-speed gearbox, which means you don’t have to worry about changing gears when you’re driving and have one less thing to think about. This ease of use, combined with good handling, could be one of the reasons many people say driving an electric car is easier and more enjoyable day to day, especially in stop-start traffic.

Home charging convenience

Some people worry about charging EVs. But, if you can install a home EV charger, being able to charge your vehicle overnight might be a major plus. It could reduce the worry about running out of charge, especially if you’re headed out on a long drive. Plus, there’s still an EV government charging grant for houses with on-street parking you may be able to take advantage of.

No Clean Air Zone or ULEZ charges

If you live in a major city or travel for work, one of the big pros of electric vehicles is that they’re currently exempt from many Clean Air Zone and ULEZ charges. This could save you money over time if you regularly drive into city centres. Just bear in mind that policies can change, so you might not be able to rely on this benefit long term.

Why are electric cars bad?

Higher upfront price

One of the major cons of EVs could be the upfront cost. There’s no getting around it; electric vehicles are often more expensive, especially if you're looking at brand-new models. This is mostly due to the cost of the battery, which tends to be the most expensive part of an EV.

But, it’s worth noting that the running costs of EVs may be less over time than petrol or diesel once you factor in fuel and maintenance. And, getting an EV through car finance could help you spread the cost in manageable payments.

Charging takes longer than refuelling

Even with rapid chargers, charging an EV takes more time than filling up a petrol or diesel tank. A quick top-up might take 30 minutes, while a full home charge could take several hours overnight. This isn't usually a problem for daily use, but it could be less convenient if you're on a tight schedule or taking a long trip.

Public chargers less available

At the moment, one of the cons to EVs is the limited availability of public charging infrastructure. In some places, especially rural areas, it may be hard to find an available charger. This might make longer journeys more stressful or require extra planning.

However, as EVs become more popular over the next decades due to the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, there should be more chargers available and this won’t be as much of an issue.

Limited driving range

Linked to the lack of public chargers is another downside of EVs: their lack of driving range. Many EVs have ranges between 150–300 miles on a full charge, depending on the model. While that’s more than enough for daily driving, longer trips might require one or more charging stops. For some drivers, this could lead to “range anxiety”, when they fear running out of charge before reaching a charger.

Fewer options to choose from

While the number of electric vehicles on the market is growing, there are still fewer makes and models to choose from compared to petrol or diesel cars. If you’re after a specific style, size, or price point, you might find your options more limited than combustion engines, especially if you’re buying a used car.

Less engaging driving experience

Though EVs are said to be easier to drive, quiet and smooth, this might actually be a downside for some people. Without engine noise, gear changes, or that traditional feel of a petrol car, the experience may feel too quiet and less engaging. It really depends on your driving style and what you want from a car.

Cold weather can affect the battery

EV batteries are sensitive to temperature changes. In cold weather, your car’s range could drop noticeably if more energy is used to heat the car making the battery less efficient. This doesn’t mean the car won’t work, just that you might need to charge more often in winter.

Battery replacement can be expensive

While EV batteries are designed to last many years, they do degrade slowly over time. If a replacement is eventually needed, it might be expensive. That said, many manufacturers could offer battery warranties of 8 years or more.

Should I buy an electric car?

Still debating your decision after weighing up EV pros and cons? Ultimately, it really depends on your lifestyle and driving habits.

Who EVs are right for

An EV might suit you if:

You mostly drive short to medium distances
You have off-street parking with access to home charging
You want to reduce your environmental impact
You live in or around a ULEZ or Clean Air Zone
You’re happy to plan your journeys around charging stops

Who EVs are wrong for

A combustion engine might suit you better if:

You drive long distances often with limited access to chargers
You can't install a charger where you live
You’re not ready for a potentially higher upfront cost

Ultimately, deciding whether an EV is right for you comes down to your lifestyle, budget, and driving habits. There are many pros of electric vehicles: they may have lower running costs, fewer maintenance worries, and they’re much more environmentally friendly. But the cons to electric cars are also there. They’re generally more expensive to buy at the moment, and public charging points aren’t as readily available as fuel stations yet.

If you mostly drive short distances, can charge at home, and want to try and save money on fuel and city charges, an electric car could be a better choice. On the other hand, if you take frequent long trips or can’t easily charge where you live, it may be worth waiting until charging infrastructure and batteries improve.

Only you can decide if they’re the right choice for you, or if the reasons not to buy an electric car still outweigh the pros of EVs for now.

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