Why Ghanaians need to switch to electric cars

Ghanaians now have the opportunity to opt for electric cars for the first time in history without importing the vehicle.

It follows the successful launch of the first electric car (KONA) onto the Ghanaian market by Hyundai Motors and Investment Ghana Limited.

Speaking to Asaaseradio.com, General Manager of Hyundai, Ganesh Phadale, said the vehicle will not only help save money, but also preserve the environment.

“We are the first to bring electric car to Ghana, so that is a proud moment for us. Although people are not ready for electric but there are a lot of advantages such as zero emission, no fuel, no maintenance and you also fulfill your responsibility to the environment,” he said.

Phadale added: “People are still not familiar with electric vehicles but somebody has to start, so that is why we decided to start, we don’t expect people to buy more now, but hopefully the market will pick up slowly.”

The Company recently introduced KONA electric vehicle, an SUV, and it is hoping to be the market leader for the vehicle in the coming years. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of owning an electric car?

According to environmentally conscious websites such as earth 911 and energy sage, owning an electric car comes with the following advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

They are better for the environment

Many car buyers are convinced to switch to an electric car because they are better for the environment. Because fully electric vehicles (not hybrids) don’t use an exhaust system, they have no emissions. Without pumping any fumes into the air like gas engines do, electric cars can help achieve cleaner air and fewer greenhouse gasses.

Electricity can be a renewable resource, gasoline cannot

Electric cars can be powered naturally with renewable resources like solar, wind, and water power. Gasoline, however, is created using oil, which is a natural resource, but not renewable. For those who want to keep the renewable energy flowing even more, having solar panels installed in your home will in-turn power your electric car in your garage.

Electricity is also cheaper than gas. Electric cars typically cost one-third the cost of gas-powered vehicles to run. Many electric vehicles also use regenerative braking to add to the energy the car needs to run, which is completely cost-free.

They require less expensive and less frequent maintenance

Without the use of a gas engine, electric cars don’t need oil. That means no more oil changes. Also, you’ll forgo any other maintenance and repairs associated with a traditional gas engine. Electric cars are typically easier on brakes as well leading to fewer brake replacements, accord to AutoTrader.com.

They are quieter than gas vehicles

Electric cars run very quietly, especially when running fully on battery power. In some states, legislators have considered requiring electric cars to have noise makers installed to let pedestrians know they’re coming. According to MYEV.com, the 2019 Jaguar i-Pace electric car adds engine noises to the vehicle when the driver accelerates quickly for the feel of a traditional engine.

There are tax credits available for owners of electric cars in some countries

Original owners of electric cars can receive credit on their tax returns simply for owning a car that’s better for the environment. You’ll need to be aware of the fine print that always accompanies tax situations like this, but you can get as much as $7500 in credit in some states in the US  for certain cars. Specific makes and models receive different credit amounts. If you’re interested in learning about what kind of credit you could receive, there are several online resources available.

There are special highway lanes in some countries for electric cars

Some major highways have HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes that can bypass traffic during rush hour. This is known as the carpool lane, but is also available to electric car drivers. Even if your electric car is just carrying you, you’re entitled to use this special lane.

What are the disadvantages of owning an electric car?

According to Plugincars.com, there are a few disadvantages of owning an electric car, including:

Electric cars have a shorter range than gas-powered cars

Although auto companies are finding more and more ways to make electric cars go further, they still have a shorter range than traditional cars. Usually, an electric car can get between 60 and 100 miles on a full charge. Depending on the fuel efficiency of a car and the size of its gas tank, some can make it up to 400 miles on a tank of gas.

Recharging the battery may take time

Filling up a gas tank might take up to three minutes at the gas station, while recharging the battery of an electric car takes much longer. Depending on the model, an electric car can sometimes take up to 20 hours to fully charge. Newer and more expensive models can charge in as quickly as four hours. However, having a charging station in your garage helps make this more manageable and kits are available to help cut down the charging time.

They are usually more expensive than gas-powered cars

The fully electric models of specific cars are always more expensive than their gas-powered equivalents. Basic electric models start at around $30,000 with luxury model prices climbing to $80,000 and more. Usually, a car buyer will pay at least $10,000 more for an electric car than they would for the same type of car in a gas model. As technology continues to evolve, this price gap is likely to close.

It Can sometimes be difficult to find a charging station

Some areas have lots of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in various parking lots and on the sides of the road. This isn’t the case in every city. Road trips can be difficult in electric cars. You can’t take your home charging station with you on the road. More charging stations are popping up around the country as more people are driving electric cars, so this may not be a disadvantage for much longer.

There aren’t as many model options

Finally, car makers have been building traditional car models for over 100 years, but mass production on electric vehicles as we now know them didn’t start until the ’90s. With less of a history, there just aren’t as many electric models available as there are gas-powered.

“There are a lot of advantages to buying an electric car, especially if the health of the environment is important to you. Make sure you don’t miss out on incentives if you do buy one.”

Fred Dzakpata

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