Electric Cars vs. Diesel Cars: Pros and Cons

So, you’ve finally made the decision to buy a new car, but with so many makes and models out there, it can be a tough decision to make. A lot of hype has been created around electric cars, especially after the government of UK announced the ban of petrol and diesel cars after the year 2040.

First things first, identify the type of driving you’ll expect from your new car. Are you buying a car to travel to work, drive around town, on the highway or maybe a combination of them all? Make sure to keep all these factors in mind before choosing the type of engine in your new car.

Whether you want to stick to the traditional options of petrol and diesel or choose an electric car, it’s all going to impact your driving experience, your wallet, and the environment. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of both diesel vs. electric cars so that you can make an informed decision before spending your hard-earned money.

Electric cars

An electric car is powered by rechargeable batteries that are installed inside the car. An electric car looks the almost the same like other vehicles, except that it doesn’t have an exhaust system. They work entirely through electricity. The sales of electric cars are rising by each passing year, but about 0.2% of cars worldwide are currently electric. Some of the popular electric cars include the Tesla Model S, Renault Zoe, and the Nissan Leaf. Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of buying an electric car:

PROS

• Zero emissions

One the biggest advantage of buying an electric car is that you’ll contribute towards building a healthy environment. Since electric cars don’t consume any sort of fuel, there are no harmful emissions in the air.

• Minimal noise pollution

Electric cars are quiet as compared to diesel cars and contribute towards the reduction in traffic noise. Traditional cars create a lot of noise that consists of the engine noise, tire noise, road noise and wind passage noise. The faster a fuel-based car is running, the more sound it will create.

On the other hand, electric cars almost eliminate the engine noise. A relatively high-pitched noised is emitted from the engine of an electric car, but it doesn’t travel far.

• Attractive tax incentives

If you own an electric car, you will get a grant from the UK government to clear a part of an electric car’s purchase price. Plus, electric car owners are also exempted from road tax, congestion charges, and fuel tax.

• Lower running costs

Many people assume that electric cars will cost them more than a traditional car. But you’ll be surprised to know that the maintenance of an electric car is up to 35% cheaper as compared to a fuel-based car. You can charge the battery of an electric car for as low as £3.

Cons

• Expensive to buy

Electric cars cost around three times more than your standard car. The ‘budget electric car’ Tesla Model 3 roughly costs around $35,000 (about £27,000) in the US. Its price in the UK is also expected to be similar.

• Cannot travel long distances

Since the cars require state of the art electronic charging stations, which are rare, you’ll be stranded if the battery dies. There are limited electric charging stations in the UK, so traveling long distances on your electric car can be a little tricky.

• Takes a lot of time to recharge

Electric cars take around 30 minutes to charge, that too if the station offers rapid electric charging. Otherwise, the battery of a typical electric car charges overnight.

• Not ‘green’ in the long run

We tend to forget that electricity itself is generated by stations that are powered by fossil fuels. So, the true meaning of ‘going green’ is lost. Imagine the volume of electricity that will be required if thousands of electric cars are seen on the streets?

Diesel cars

Diesel cars were considered the choice of an environmentally conscious driver a few years ago. You’ll be surprised to know that even the government promoted diesel cars as the clean alternative. However, as time passed, people realized that diesel isn’t as environmentally-friendly as they thought, so their popularity dropped down considerably.

PROS

Affordability

The lifetime cost of diesel is much less than petrol, so there is lower depreciation. Diesel is also more fuel efficient, especially for longer routes. Diesel is around 25% more efficient as compared to petrol so you’ll be saving some serious money. This is why diesel is considered a cheaper alternative as compared to petrol, even though it costs more than petrol.

Easy maintenance

Diesel engines are really sturdy and much more reliable than petrol fueled cars. So, the overall maintenance of diesel cars is easy, and you’ll find yourself making less frequent trips to the mechanic.

Lower tax than petrol

Diesel cars produce less carbon dioxide as compared to petrol fueled engines. This is why their road tax is also lower than the counterparts.

Highest pulling power

Large diesel cars are known for their higher torque or pulling power. This is why most commercial vehicles run on diesel as it can pull greater loads than any other fuel options.

The cons:

• Diesel cars are more expensive

Diesel cars cost a lot of money to buy and insure. If you buy a diesel car, it can take you at least 5 years to earn back the money through fuel savings. Even though they are less likely to break down, a trip to the mechanic comes with a hefty price tag.

• Not suitable for driving within the city

The latest diesel cars are specifically designed to be driven at high speeds. They have a diesel particulate filter (DPF), which turns the harmful chemical to ash. This is why, if you don’t drive at motorway speeds regularly, the filter can clog, and you will end up damaging your diesel car’s engine. What’s more, diesel fumes have also been linked to severe health conditions like Asthma.

Conclusion:

As we’ve discussed, each type of car has its own pros and cons. Ultimately, your car-buying decision should be based upon your usage and type of travel you prefer. If you are looking to buy or sell a car, then contact a reliable online car buying and selling platform such as We buy cars today. With a tagline that says We buy cars today!, you’ll get your hands on a brand-new car within no time.

We hope our quick guide helped you gain some insight into the positives and negatives of each fuel type.