If you’re looking for a new family vehicle, chances are, you’re creating all sorts of checklists to ensure that you choose the right vehicle for you and your family’s needs. Recently, electric vehicles have been being touted as the cars of the future. Governments around the world are encouraging us to consider going electric and there are now a fair number of family-suitable electrical vehicles on the market. But are electric vehicles really the best choice for your family right now? When it comes down to it, they can be a great option, depending on your individual needs. Here’s some advice that can help you to choose the best electric vehicle for your budget.
The Benefits
- They’re environmentally friendly – of course, the biggest selling factor of electric vehicles is that they’re eco-friendly. They’re much better for the environment than petrol or diesel cars and can help your family to leave a smaller carbon footprint on the planet. This can help you to leave a better world to your children.
- Lower cost – most families are actively looking to save money. The cost of living is expensive and saving where you can can free up more money for family activities and purchases for the kids. Electric vehicles generally cost less to run and are considerably cheaper to maintain in the long run. It’s cheaper to charge than pay for fuel. You can also make the most of tax incentives that are being offered to electric vehicle owners.
- You can charge at home – when you have an electric vehicle, you don’t have to make stops on your journey to charge up. Instead, you can charge at home and your vehicle will be ready to go in the morning. Look into EV charger reviews to find the best charger for your home in particular.
- Less wear and tear – did you know that electric vehicles tend to experience less wear and tear than petrol and diesel vehicles? They generally only have three main components (the motor, inverter, and charger). Fewer moving parts, means lower rates of damage.
Choosing Your Electric Vehicle
If all of this sounds good to you, it’s time to start choosing your electric vehicle. As with any car purchase, it’s recommended that you spend a lot of time researching different options and determining which are most suitable for your family. Consider elements such as how many seats you need, how many doors are necessary, how much luggage space you require and what safety features you’d like included. You should also set yourself a budget. This means determining how much you can genuinely afford to spend on the car. Remember the cost of the car isn’t the total cost of the car to you. You’ll also need to consider charging costs, insurance costs and maintenance costs like MOTs, services and repairs.
As you can see, electric vehicles can be completely family-friendly. They’re a good investment and could suit you down to a tee. So, start browsing, reading reviews and make sure to book a test drive on any vehicle you’re considering!
Therese has completed the ‘Advanced Child Car Seat Training Course’ at TRL (Transport Research Lab) and is a CPD accredited car seat expert. She blogs about in-car safety, car seats, tips, reviews, giveaways and advice. She’s a mum on a mission to change the law and raise awareness. She is also a breastfeeding advocate and gentle parenting promoter who loves cloth nappies, baby-wearing, BLW and co-sleeping/bed-sharing.