Looking back a decade ago, very few people could have predicted the rapid rise of electric vehicles. The technology for electric vehicles has advanced so quickly that EVs are now a practical reality. With the many advantages and benefits of electric vehicles, you might not want to buy a gas-powered car again. 

What are the advantages and benefits of electric vehicles vs. gas-powered cars? 

There is still a great deal of misunderstanding about electric vehicles — and there is still room for improvement. However, EVs don’t have many of the negative qualities that some hardcore fans of gas-powered cars claim, as detailed by CarBuzz. Overall, electric vehicles are the superior choice for car buyers.

Advantages and benefits of electric vehicles over gas-powered cars include:

• Less maintenance
• High-level performance at a comparatively cheaper price
• Easy to drive
• Quiet ride and less noise pollution
• More available passenger and cargo space
• Higher efficiency
• Off-road capabilities
• Federal Tax Credit
• Access to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes
• Lower ownership costs
• Better for the environment

EV vs. gas-powered car: Less maintenance

With considerably fewer moving parts, electric vehicles require less maintenance than gas-powered cars. While an electric motor has only two moving parts, a gas engine can have dozens or even hundreds of moving parts. More moving parts translate to more things that can break down in an engine. Also, the higher number of moving parts in an engine causes a greater strain on other parts of the car.

There are many benefits of less maintenance for EVs. This includes paying less money for repairs, better reliability, and a safer ride.

EV vs. gas-powered car: High-level performance at a comparatively cheaper price

Electric motors are far superior to gas engines for performance. With their instant torque delivery, electric motors provide quick acceleration. In comparison, it takes more time for gas engines to reach peak torque output. Even if buying a budget mainstream EV, you’ll get excellent performance. With a gas-powered car, you typically have to pay a lot of money for high-level performance.

EV vs. gas-powered car: Easy to drive

One of the most common misconceptions about electric vehicles is that, since they use new technologies, they are difficult to drive. However, the opposite is true. For one, as mentioned earlier, electric vehicles don’t have as many moving parts as gas-powered vehicles. As a result, EVs have fewer complications. 

Also, with their regenerative braking capabilities, in most driving situations, you don’t have to use the brake pedal. You can just take your foot off of the accelerator pedal, and the regenerative braking system will automatically slow down the vehicle.

EV vs. gas-powered car: Quiet ride and less noise pollution

Another advantage of electric vehicles for car buyers is that they are considerably quieter than gas-powered cars. Internal combustion engines are a noisy affair, while electric motors operate a relatively quiet hum. In addition to a quieter ride in the cabin, the other benefit is less noise pollution. Less noise pollution creates better living conditions for people in residential areas. It is also beneficial for the environment, as there are fewer disturbances for wildlife.

EV vs. gas-powered car: More available passenger and cargo space

The electric motor and drivetrain in EVs are more compact than the engine and drivetrain in gas-powered cars. The advantage of this is that it frees up more space for both passengers and cargo. An electric vehicle with the external footprint of a compact car can have the interior space of a midsize car. 

Also, with more available space, another benefit is that EVs can have unique cargo compartments. For example, some EVs, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T, take advantage of the absence of an engine under the hood by offering a storage “frunk.”

EV vs. gas-powered car: Higher efficiency

Electric vehicles have a significantly higher efficiency than gas-powered cars. If you look at lists of the most efficient vehicles, you’ll find mostly EVs. Despite advancements in recent years, an internal combustion engine is still a relatively inefficient mechanism, for much of the energy is lost to heat. 

EV vs. gas-powered car: Off-road capabilities

Electric vehicles have a major advantage over gas-powered cars for off-road use. The instant torque delivery in EVs is a great benefit for navigating rough terrain. Also, as demonstrated by the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck, which has separate electric motors for all four wheels, an electric vehicle can channel torque to individual wheels as needed. 

Furthermore, another advantage of EVs for off-road use is the ability to have high ground clearance. With the electric drivetrain occupying less space, the R1T can have ground clearance as high as 14.9 inches.

EV vs. gas-powered car: Federal Tax Credit

To provide an incentive for consumers to buy electric vehicles, the U.S government provides up to a $7,500 Federal Tax Credit. Also, many state and local governments provide incentives and rebates for buying EVs as well. 

EV vs. gas-powered car: Access to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes

Many states, such as California, Colorado, Maryland, and Florida, offer electric vehicle owners the benefit of being able to access the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes — or carpool lanes. If you live in a city with frequent traffic jams, this benefit can be a big timesaver for you.

EV vs. gas-powered car: Lower ownership costs

On average, electric vehicles cost less to own than gas-powered cars. This includes lower costs for depreciation, charging/fuel, and maintenance. A recent study showed that a Tesla Model 3 costs around $10,000 less to own than a gas-powered car over a three-year period.

EV vs. gas-powered car: Better for the environment

The final advantage of electric vehicles is the most significant. EVs are better for the environment than gas-powered cars. While electric vehicles are only as clean as their original energy source and there are ecological problems for EV batteries, as a whole, they have less of a negative impact on the environment. 

With their electric powertrains, EVs don’t directly produce any carbon emissions. This is beneficial for addressing climate change, as well as not contributing to air pollution. Also, as noted earlier, the relatively quiet electric motors result in less noise pollution, which is beneficial for wildlife. Furthermore, in addition to the emissions-free electric powertrains, many electric vehicles, such as the Fisker Ocean, have an environmentally sustainable design. This includes the use of natural materials and recycled plastics. 

With their abundance of advantages and benefits, EVs are superior to gas-powered cars in many different ways. The next time you’re ready to buy a new car, you might want to go all-electric.

This article was updated on 7/20/2022.