Electric vehicles: Owners share reasons for choosing them over ICE cars

With so many IC-engine cars already in the market, there are way too many options. Some people want to stand out from the crowd and even today, a green plate car manages to attract some attention on the road.

After getting so many insightful replies on the reasons why you WON’T buy an EV thread, it’s only fair if we look at the other side of the coin. While there are some shortcomings to EVs in India today, there are a bunch of positives as well which has made them popular.

Zero tailpipe emissions

This is probably one of the primary reasons why even the government is promoting EVs. The zero-emissions concept in today’s day and age, especially in metro cities is highly valued. It shows that you care about the environment. There have been plenty of debates on the net carbon footprint, but let’s not deflect the conversation to that topic. All in all, environmentally conscious people do prefer using electric vehicles over internal combustion (IC) engine vehicles.

Cheap running and maintenance costs

If you are charging at home, the running cost of EVs is much less compared to IC-engine cars. Some EVs can easily achieve the Rs. 1 / km number in real-world conditions. The number can go higher when you use fast charging on the highways, but it would still be less than that of a petrol or diesel car. Further, since EVs have fewer moving parts, the maintenance costs are also low. Brake pads last longer and there’s no engine oil, oil filter or air filter replacement to worry about.

A great second car

An EV makes for a great second car! In this debate of IC-engine cars vs EVs, if possible, why not have the best of both worlds? You can have a 5 / 7 seater petrol or a diesel car for your highway runs and an electric one for city driving or your office commute.

Easy to drive

With a single-gear drive, you don’t have to worry about a complicated transmission with multiple gears. Moreover, EVs are very straightforward to drive, and you don’t have to worry about engine rpm or shift points or rev-matching or any of those things. Also, without the engine and transmission, the only noise you might hear inside the cabin is the motor whine which is also very low. Hence, you have an easy-to-drive car which is also very silent when on the road. What’s not to like?

Performance

The instant torque that’s available from the moment you put your foot down is something you can get addicted to. Most EVs can not only keep up with but are even faster off the line than IC-engine cars that cost twice as much.

Enough range

As mentioned above, if you are primarily using a car in the city, a 250-300 km range is more than enough. Even if you want to take an occasional highway trip, you can do so given that the charging infrastructure is improving. One break for fast charging, maybe in the middle, and you can reach your destination where you can charge the car and return the same way.

Can charge at home

IMO, this is one of the most underrated advantages of owning an EV. If you are using your EV for city use only, you can always charge it at home! With an IC-engine car, you HAVE to visit a petrol pump every time and plan your commute/trip accordingly. With an EV, manufacturers provide a home charger. With proper planning, you will probably never have to use any other charger apart from your home charger. No need to go to a petrol station and wait in line. Just plug in when you get home from office!

Bored of IC-engine cars

With so many IC-engine cars already in the market, there are way too many options. Some people want to stand out from the crowd and even today, a green plate car manages to attract some attention on the road. Also, with changing priorities many people make the change to EVs for easy driving and they don’t want the hassle of driving an IC-engine car or maintaining it.

So, if you have bought an EV in 2023-24, or you would buy an EV in the near future over an IC-engine car, do share your thoughts.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Checked almost all of the above. A missing point is that EV is the perfect replacement for heavy users like myself who can no longer buy diesel.

Fact is that once you get used to the smoothness, the noiseless drive and the instant torque of electric, there is no going back.

My Nexon EV LR has done over 10k km in four months, including a few outstation runs, and I have loved every bit of it. That my running costs have been zero (home solar zindabad ) is an added bonus. I would have spent 1L rupees easily on diesel + maintenance had I clocked this in my Hexa or Compass.

Here's what BHPian speedmiester had to say on the matter:

Checked everything except the city runabout option.

My current ZS EV is my daily commuter, highway car, family car all in one. I have never felt it inadequate in any instances.

I will only upgrade to an EV going forward.

Here's what BHPian Hume had to say on the matter:

My 3 personal favourites if I may :

• Firstly, Democratization of power CANNOT be understated. If it wasn't for EVs, luxury car makers in the guise of refinement and power would be fleecing us for a very long time. Could you imagine a 0-100km in 4 sec for about 30-40 lakhs if it weren't for EVs? It's no longer a fantasy!
• Smooth driving experience, very easy to drive, no gears, minimum noise or vibrations is my next favourite
• Can charge at home which means no needing to go to a gas stations EVER!

Most other points are bonuses - some fairly significant including no-tail pipe emissions and contributing to environment

For me it's love for automobiles ALL OVER AGAIN

Here's what BHPian RogerEphraim had to say on the matter:

While I agree with most points in the poll, I have two other reasons which made me buy my second EV - a MG ZS EV as a replacement for my Nexon EV (Really need to write a post sometime).

• My wife has motion sickness, and the low centre of gravity means lesser body roll, means a smoother ride. Hey, happy wife, happy life, remember? She has been able to do long drives since I got an EV.
• Music! I enjoy my music. My lifestyle leaves me very little time to enjoy music at home. All my music listening is when I'm driving. And the quiet drive in an EV makes music all the more enjoyable. I am able to pick up notes I couldn't hear otherwise.

Here's what BHPian adrena had to say on the matter:

For me the decision was fairly simple.

The triggers:

• We needed to replace the Fiat Linea TJet+ with an automatic. It was getting difficult to choose between TQ, iMT, AMT and DSG. Engine and gearbox combos seemed off.
• Needed something higher off the ground thanks to broken roads in Mumbai
• It was time the missus stopped going to fuel bunks altogether. She's had way too many issues.

Never owned a diesel car but even petrol powered cars would not give the premium smoothness.

Now to get around all of this, the choice was very simple. Booked the car the moment it was announced in Jan 2020. Got it a few days before the lockdown and I've never been so thankful.

We had numerous emergencies in the society through the lockdowns and this car was always ready to go without the worry of getting fuel.

It's not the perfect car. Has a lot of small niggles but for a daily city runabout I can't fault it. So far, the only thing done to the car is to replace the stock speakers with JBL components in all doors and that is all it needed. 4 years on, there is no rattle, squeak or even noticeable degradation of the battery.

Here's what BHPian V.Narayan had to say on the matter:

First, I needed to replace my Volvo XC60 diesel SUV made obsolete by Delhi-NCRs Wasteful 10-year rule. To buy a car that will be immune to such knee jerk responses by the powers that be was a big factor. Then the Volvo C40 was a looker, a stunning head turner with torque, acceleration and grip that would put a BMW 3 Series to shame. After that it was a no brainer.

Second, I assessed that EV technology, while it has miles to go, has matured adequately to be worth investing into and the C40 with a real world range of ~475 kms is adequate for my city and near-city needs.

Third, I believe after waiting and watching for some time one must flow with technology. While ICE cars will be around for another 15 years or so and in a niche form thereafter tech breakthroughs are likely to be more in favour of EVs or green vehicles.

And once you get used to an EV there is simply no going back - NVH, smoothness, acceleration, torque, etc. The best example of that is that our driver has decided that the C40 is the main car and beater car rolled in one and takes it out at every opportunity he gets.

Immersion heater rods, coal heated clothes pressing irons, gramaphone record players, steam railway engines, children's viewfinders, floppy disks, Kodak films, ash trays and so many more - when a machine or item's time comes it comes. Sorry ICE lovers

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.