electric car vs. combustion engine: for whom is the switch worthwhile??
25. January 2022 – 11:18 a.m
By mireilla zirpins
We see them more and more often – at the charging stations on the parking decks of large supermarkets or at the socket in front of our homes: electric cars. In view of expensive gasoline prices, more and more people are asking themselves: could this also be something for us?? And when is the switch worthwhile?? See what happens when you make the switch in the video above. The schuster family has done the everyday check.
Why an electric car? Is that environmentally friendly?
They are considered emission-free and thus ecologically acceptable: vehicles with electric motors. In fact, gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles are not doing so well with everything they blow out of their exhausts. But there is also criticism of the sustainability of the electric car, because the production of the drive battery, which is criticized for its production conditions and problematic materials such as lithium, manganese and cobalt, is greenhouse gas intensive. But some manufacturers are making efforts to change that. CO2 is also released during the generation of electricity for electric motors, unless you buy green electricity or feed your own charging station with solar energy from the roof. This is where opinions differ – depending on the political and ecological position. How environmentally friendly a vehicle is depends on the model and the electricity mix used.
Less "noise pollution" from electric cars
Noise is also an important factor. Because electric cars are not only quieter in their own cars, they also produce less "noise pollution" outside. Because the constant exposure to sound from motor vehicles not only has a massive impact on wildlife. Studies such as one by the German Federal Environment Agency from 2018 show that people also suffer greatly from the influence of sound. 75 percent of germans feel affected by traffic noise at home. The consequences can be serious: tinnitus, sleep problems, heart disease. The newer electric cars are so quiet that they even have to emit artificial noises at speeds below 20 km/h to warn blind people, elderly people, children and cyclists.
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Leasing an electric car? Support also possible here
Until now, e-cars were usually much more expensive than the same model in the combustion version. But until the end of 2025 there are very attractive purchase incentives. A mix of government subsidies and dealer incentives lets us save up to 9.000 euros for electric cars and up to 6.750 savings with externally rechargeable plug-in hybrids. You can ask your dealer to show you all the options, because sometimes it’s even cheaper to lease an electric car. Even the purchase of a used e-car is eligible for subsidies.
If you don’t want to buy a new e-car because of the ongoing development of batteries, you can also lease a car. RTL auto leasing* offers a wide range of electric models – simply "filter" through them making the right choices. leasing is also subsidized, the subsidy amount can be added to the monthly payment.
Simply lease e-cars
Simply leasing e-cars
The costs: is an electric car really more expensive than a gasoline or diesel engine??
Internal combustion engine or electric vehicle, which is cheaper now?? You have to compare the energy price for the kilometer driven: how much electricity or fuel does the vehicle consume per 100 kilometers?? What do insurance, taxes and maintenance cost?? The ADAC has tested gasoline and. Diesel variants compared with the electric or hybrid versions of popular car models. What can be said is that maintenance and operating costs are often lower in the long term for electric models – fewer wearing parts, no oil changes and usually lower consumption costs per kilometer.
Another bonus is that cars with e-plates are exempt from vehicle tax for ten years from the date of first registration – a rule that, as things stand, will apply to purchases up to 31 December 2011.12.2030 applies. For companies there are other interesting tax regulations.
Overall, the models with electric drive are becoming more and more attractive in terms of price thanks to the environmental bonus and falling purchase prices and due to higher production figures. This is also reflected in the statistics.
Extremely long charging time for electric cars? Not necessarily!
The most important argument of the electric car opponents is the long charging time with a relatively short range. In fact, a purely electric car is not so well suited for longer vacation trips. If you want to race from cologne to the mediterranean in ten hours, you’ll have a hard time doing it with an e-car. Even when driving at a leisurely pace that is easy on the battery, the car has to be completely recharged after half the distance at the latest. And it takes time, even if the new models and charging stations are now much faster than before.
At fast-charging stations, it can now be done in less than an hour – if the vehicle is equipped with the appropriate charging technology. And then the battery can’t be filled up to 100 percent using the turbo method. At standard public charging stations or the wall box in front of the house, it can take between two and six hours, and even longer with household electricity. But the slower charging is supposed to be better for the life of the battery.
The charging time also depends on the vehicle model. So if you want to take another trip with an electric vehicle, you have to plan well in advance if you want to take advantage of a longer break for charging and research in advance where this would be possible and with which power or charging station. In which time the local station makes the car roadworthy again, while he has lunch or explores the intermediate destination on foot.
E-car range: how far do the "electric" cars go??
The lack of range of the vehicles is also often criticized. There are indeed car models that do not go 200 kilometers on one charge. However, it is perfectly adequate if you use it as a second car and only go shopping twice a week or take the children to the sports grounds. And on vacation, the family van – gasoline or diesel – is the way to go.
Or if you have a charging station close to your home or workplace and do not usually travel long distances. But the latest models can also cover 450-500 kilometers, or some even more in the case of high-end vehicles, depending on the driving style. That makes you much more flexible. Or you can opt for a hybrid vehicle (see below) that only runs on electricity over short distances.
Are you still driving or are you already using electricity??
Whether you’re happy with an electric car or better off with a vehicle with an internal combustion engine depends on the model and, above all, on your own personal lifestyle. Generally speaking, electric cars are not yet the first choice for people who only drive long distances, such as salespeople. And not all models are available as electric versions, especially station wagons and panel vans are still in need of further development.
If you live in a rural area and have to drive for everything, you may find the longer and more frequent charging inconvenient. On the other hand, he will certainly have to fill up his diesel more often than others. This is of course faster. If you are reasonably organized and know where to find charging sockets in the vicinity, you can make your rural life electric by choosing a vehicle with a longer range. Only maybe not so spontaneous.
And even a field service employee who often has to travel longer distances and return the same day can, under certain circumstances, recharge at the customer’s premises. If you ask nicely, you already have a topic for discussion. Because charging options also determine whether an electric motor is the right drive for us. If you own a property, you can even have the installation of your own wallbox subsidized if you buy green or eco-electricity. If you live in an apartment, you have to go out to charge it. But they may not even have to pay for electricity if they use free charging points.
Hybrid, gas& hydrogen: alternative drive systems for those who want to protect the environment
Those who cannot decide between an internal combustion engine and an electric motor can have both in one: in the hybrid vehicle.
There are two types here: on the one hand hybrid vehicles, they do not need an external charging station and charge their battery themselves while driving. With them you can drive only short distances 100% electric. However, the battery supports the gasoline engine when starting or accelerating.
plug-in hybrid on the other hand, are equipped with a battery that is recharged externally – for example, at the power socket at home. They are also more likely to manage inner-city journeys with ranges of around 50 kilometers purely on an electric basis. For longer distances, these vehicles then switch to fuel.
Also on the way are vehicles with gas drive and usually have a carbon footprint that can compete with e-cars or electro-hybrids. The natural gas vehicles are also available as hybrid variants – in addition to the gas reservoir with an additional gasoline tank for emergencies.
Another alternative are hydrogen cars. But so far, there are very few models on the market and not yet a dense network of hydrogen filling stations. Their environmental footprint is the best together with pure electric cars – as long as they are powered by renewable energies.
If you’re still not sure which model is right for you, you can try it out without any obligation at car-sharing. Many fleets now rely on e- or hybrid models. You can simply try it out and then decide whether you want to drive it permanently.
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