[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/why-evs-arent-the-future\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/why-evs-arent-the-future\/","headline":"Why EVs Aren’t The Future","name":"Why EVs Aren’t The Future","description":"Electric cars may be rising in popularity, but are they just a fad? Here’s why EVs aren’t the future, they’re not even the present. Everyone seems to have an opinion on electric cars these days. EVs definitely have their advantages, but it\u2019s clear that adoption of these 4-wheeled whizzers has been anything but fast. Although governments, businesses and consumers continue to invest in them, we think that it\u2019s possible that EVs aren\u2019t the future at all. In fact, we think […]","datePublished":"2018-07-23","dateModified":"2018-08-01","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Why-EVs-Arent-The-Future-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Why-EVs-Arent-The-Future-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/why-evs-arent-the-future\/","about":["ELECTRIC CARS","HYBRID","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":871,"keywords":["electric cars","EV","EVs"],"articleBody":"Electric cars may be rising in popularity, but are they just a fad? Here’s why EVs aren’t the future, they’re not even the present.Everyone seems to have an opinion on electric cars these days. EVs definitely have their advantages, but it\u2019s clear that adoption of these 4-wheeled whizzers has been anything but fast. Although governments, businesses and consumers continue to invest in them, we think that it\u2019s possible that EVs aren\u2019t the future at all. In fact, we think they\u2019re not even the present. Here\u2019s why\u2026EVs are not built for long distance drivingElectric cars excel at short distances, it\u2019s a fact. On the other hand, if you\u2019re going on a long journey comprising mostly of motorway driving, you\u2019re in for a different experience. The estimated range that EV manufacturers give does not usually apply to motorway driving. In other words, if Nissan say you\u2019ll get 70 miles out of your 2013 Nissan Leaf, expect to get about 50 miles when mainly driving without stopping.This is because a good portion of the range comes from the regenerative braking, where the car will regain some energy through the brakes. If you\u2019re not braking, then no energy is gained back. In the best case scenario where you own a fancy Tesla Model S with a 240 mile range, you\u2019ll probably only get 170 miles before you need to stop for a charge. And this brings us to our next point\u2026Charging is not as easy as filling up with petrol\/dieselIf you do happen to outdo the range of your EV, then you\u2019ll have to stop and charge. Usually, when driving a \u201cnormal\u201d (non-electric) car, you would stop at a fuel station and spend 5 minutes filling up. The process is easy, smooth and most of all, not very time consuming at all.Firstly, charging a car takes a lot longer than filling it up with fuel. Even the fastest chargers available can take 30 minutes to get the car from near 0% to 80%. However, these rapid 50kW chargers are not supported on all cars and will not be found at all charging stations. So a 30 minute stop should not be expected as this is the best case scenario. The worst case scenario is that you and your family will be waiting at a charging station for several hours just so you can make it home.With that being said, charging technology is constantly improving and becoming more readily available, but how long will it take to get a well-connected infrastructure? But will charging ever be as quick and efficient as filling up with fuel? Probably not for a long time.Maintenance can be costlyDo you know a local garage that knows how to work on electric cars? Sure, anyone can change a tyre for you or carry out an MOT, but who do you go to when warning messages appear on the dashboard of your electric car? The dealership, that\u2019s who.In an ICE car, if your cambelt breaks or your starter motor konks out then you can usually just go to your local garage and get it sorted for a small fee. With an EV, there is no engine under the bonnet and all of the important things that make the car drive are hidden away under \u201cstrictly no access\u201d panels. The technology is alien to 99% of mechanics, which means you always end up taking it to the dealership and\/or contacting the manufacturer. This usually results in waiting weeks for a fix and paying more than you should do. Just how long will it take for EV tech to be implemented in mechanics\u2019 training? Ten, perhaps twenty years?Noise is a big selling point sometimesFor many car enthusiasts, the sound the car makes is a structural point in a car\u2019s meaning. With electric cars, no matter how far you push your foot down, you will only be met with that sci-fi whirring noise. Not quite as nice as that explosive roar from your favourite sports car.You\u2019ll never be able to enjoy rolling your window down and revving in a tunnel, or the sound of the initial start of the engine when turning the key. It\u2019s like an entire slice of the driving experience will be taken away, which is a deal-breaker for many motor-mad car buyers.Hydrogen fuel could be the true futureLike electricity, hydrogen can be 100% renewable and have 0 exhaust emissions. Unlike electricity, hydrogen could potentially fuel cars without limitations on range and the use of heavy, environment-killing, flammable batteries. The only problem is that we haven\u2019t been able to harness it in a practical way yet.However, the World Endurance Championship have made it clear that they will introduce hydrogen-powered cars for the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours. Most big car manufacturers are either already looking into hydrogen technology, or planning to in the future. It seems like the hydrogen phenomenon is about to make a big splash, it\u2019s only a matter of when.Let us know what you think of the recent rise in electric car sales. Is it a fad or will they make ICE cars obsolete?"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why EVs Aren’t The Future","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/why-evs-arent-the-future\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]