Electric Vehicles vs. Petrol or Diesel - Pros and Cons

As manufacturers in the automotive industry gradually transition from internal combustion engine to electric, more Kiwis are wondering whether now is the time to switch. EVs are still a relatively new technology compared to petrol or diesel counterparts, and knowing whether electric is right for you isn’t necessarily a straightforward answer.

Let’s talk about some common pros and cons that you might find with EV vs. ICE. This along with our other EV resources are designed to equip you with more knowledge so you can make an informed decision on whether to ‘go electric’.

There’s plenty of reasons why motorists are opting for electric vehicles now. Here’s some of the most common:

Better for the environment

Even those not particularly interested in the car industry will probably know that EVs are more environmentally friendly than their fuel counterparts. And this is contributed to by a few things including:

• There are no emissions through an exhaust pipe to speak of. This reduces the amount of harmful pollutants in our atmosphere, which is a win for everyone.
• The end-to-end lifecycle of an EV is generally much less damaging to the planet than ICE vehicles. However, it’s not completely free of environmental impact as the raw materials of EV components still need to be produced, and the ongoing challenges around battery production and disposal continue. Each part of the process can still stand to become much less damaging to the environment, particularly through more renewable energy.
• With EVs, the power comes from the grid, or in some owners’ situations, through their own solar energy. For New Zealand and our 85%+ renewable energy, this makes powering the auto industry much more sustainable than before. Compare this to a petrol or diesel vehicle, and the major undertaking to get oil across the world, and it’s clear to see why many are preferring to opt for EVs as their next car.

Cheaper to run

The running costs really are much more compelling than traditional cars. And it’s not even close. Drive Electric states that the cost of charging an electric vehicle under typical daily use, will cost the equivalent of paying $0.40 a litre at the petrol pump. Even without the new technology and environmental benefits, the ongoing running makes it a worthwhile option to explore. Of course, you should also weigh up the upfront cost and determine if it's still the best deal for you.

Convenient to ‘fill up’ most of the time

And when your electric car does need a charge, the process is nothing like a petrol or diesel vehicle. Almost all electric vehicle owners will do their main charging overnight while everyone’s asleep and not driving anywhere. The car can slowly charge itself up efficiently with less battery wear than a fast charge, ready for a day of driving in the morning.

Keep reading for some possible drawbacks around charging an EV, as there are moments that it’s perhaps not as convenient.

Instant power

A traditional car’s acceleration requires a few different mechanical processes – all of which represent potential loss in power and efficiency. An electric car has virtually none of this. The electric motor can send power instantly to the wheels. This means that a standard electric vehicle off the mark can keep up with some high end sports cars. This access to quick acceleration is actually a benefit from a safety standpoint - it gives the driver more control to move the car where it needs to be, such as safely passing another vehicle.

But the power is also smooth and manageable - there’s no jerking or ‘steps’ that the car needs to go through as it does with a regular car with gears.

Integration with smartphone and software

Most electric vehicles offer a companion app that you use to manage your vehicle. These are invaluable to get the most out of your car, allowing you to control charging, locking and unlocking, controlling in cabin features and even monitoring the car when it’s parked.

Over the air updates

Along with the app, many EV manufacturers will release updates to the vehicle’s firmware and software to improve the owner’s experience. These updates may be released to fix issues with features or even adjust things like power delivery, battery efficiency or braking.

To really give a 360-degree picture of electric vehicles vs. petrol or diesel vehicles, it’s important to look at the possible downsides of EV – even if some are likely to be resolved in the future. Here are some negatives you might want to consider.

Upfront purchase price

At least currently, the entry point to electric vehicles is higher than their fuel-based counterparts. Around the late $40k mark is where the ‘affordable’ range usually exists for new, which is quite different from petrol vehicles that offer great new models in the late $10k to early $20k range.

You will want to determine for yourself and your financial situation if the larger upfront cost is manageable and worth it long term when factoring in the considerably cheaper running costs.

Range limitations

Range anxiety has been enough to put off potential buyers of EVs. And it’s a very legitimate concern as the infrastructure for charging in public is catching up to petrol stations. Manufacturers are continually working on ways to make EVs more efficient and batteries last for longer as this is among the complaints owners have.

Range can also be impacted by things like hills, temperature and load in or being towed by the car.

Older electric vehicles can present range limitations more than newer models, especially as the battery degrades over time.

The battery eventually needs replacing – and it’s not cheap

Batteries have a shelf life in any context. Your phone or laptop is just the same. The battery will gradually lose its maximum capacity as the components degrade. EV manufacturers will have a level of battery health under which the owner will need to replace it. The cost of this can go well beyond $5,000 depending on the make and model.

It’s a smart idea to factor battery replacement into your decision making – new EVs will often cover the battery for a certain length of time or distance driven.

Charging time

We talked earlier in our benefits section about the advantage of being able to charge your car while you sleep at home. But here’s a counterpoint – charging in public is (at least for now) not as fast as filling at the pump. Even fast chargers can require you to stop for 15 minutes at least.

Let’s remember this though – you’ll unlikely be charging from 0% battery (in fact it’s not a good idea to let the EV run out completely), so with some planning around your stops, you can get away with charging reasonably quickly. More shopping centres and facilities are introducing public charging, so you can even find ways to top up while you’re doing other things.

Susceptible to weather conditions

The weather can affect any vehicle, but EVs being entirely battery-based can experience issues in extreme conditions.

Cold weather can reduce the range of EVs as the battery is less effective at generating electricity. In essence, the car is working harder to deliver the same driving experience. Charging can also be less efficient in cold weather due to the same chemical reactions being slower. 

Now let’s look at the other side of the debate. A motor industry that’s been around for well over a hundred years and thousands upon thousands of different models of car have depended on petrol or diesel. The large second hand market of cars in New Zealand, especially the very affordable ones, is dominated by internal combustion engine vehicles. But as times are changing and manufacturers are committing to electric, it’s worth thinking about both upsides and downsides of fuel.

Fast to fuel up and more places to do it

While infrastructure changes, today there’s no question - you’ll find far more places to fill up your petrol or diesel vehicle across New Zealand. With networks of EV charging stations like Zero being installed in spots across the country, the future will likely look quite different.

Fuel vehicles also get a tick in the win column for speed to fill the vehicle as compared with an electric vehicle. In under a minute you can be all done and back on the road. As we mentioned earlier, EVs aren’t quite at that level and there’s a balancing act of speed to charge and protecting the health of the battery.

Cheaper and more options (especially on the secondary market)

Cost is something all of us think about when buying anything significant like a car. There’s no getting away from it – you will find far more options both new and used in the petrol and diesel space as compared to EV. This can make ICE cars preferable for younger drivers getting into their first car, but also anyone else on a tight budget or just doesn't want to spend much on a car – and that’s a lot of people!

With that said, it’s unlikely this will be our reality forever. More EV models are coming to New Zealand, and in turn the used market is slowly populating with older models. It’s not going to happen quickly, but as more car companies prioritise EV, things are likely to change here.

And today you still may be able to find a good EV deal on the used market. Check out our guide on used EV first.

No shortage of good mechanics to service

While EVs have fewer mechanical components and areas that can go wrong, they certainly aren’t perfect and things can go wrong. Much like infrastructure and cost, the industry will adapt to having to maintain EVs more. Currently however, you may find that you need to hunt around a bit more for a reputable mechanic that has good working knowledge of EV technology. With a typical vehicle, you’ll have a much easier time finding someone local and very experienced.

Good for heavy duty use

While urban, city environments are often ideal for an EV, there’s a somewhat slower adoption for more rigorous or long distance use cases. There’s a few reasons why petrol or diesel vehicles are preferred in areas like trades, farming or logistics:

• Long range and faster to fuel up - and you’ll often see utes carrying additional fuel in rural areas. In a work environment it might not always be practical to take time out to charge an EV.
• Rough and ready - petrol and diesel utes and trucks are well proven in different terrain and extreme weather conditions.
• Better towing and load capability - EV companies are working to improve their models’ hauling power but it’s still much easier to find a diesel or petrol vehicle that can carry or tow heavy loads.

Longer range on the open road

This one isn’t always the case, and there are many different factors that can influence how a car performs on long distance trips. But EV ranges are more susceptible to being impacted by things like cold temperatures, hills and health of the battery. Fuel based, while variable in their economy, don’t have these concerns the same way. There’s also the matter of speed to fuel up and how common petrol stations are across Aotearoa.

Now let's look at some of the reasons why more Kiwis are choosing to make jump to electric cars and away from the ‘old school’:

High emissions and pollution

Even the newest, most technologically advanced ICE vehicles that comply with emission standards are releasing harmful pollutants into the air. Older vehicles or those with inferior exhaust systems can be much worse. When you consider the millions of vehicles on our roads.

Non-renewable energy source

Oil is a finite resource. As renewable energy becomes more important for a sustainable future, it makes sense that our transportation is powered this way wherever possible. Electric vehicles are charged off the grid, and in some scenarios with the help of home or business solar energy. As our grid in New Zealand works towards the 100% goal, keeping cars on the road is going to be much kinder to the planet.

Fuel is much more expensive than electricity

Putting aside the big environmental concerns, petrol and diesel are simply expensive. In recent years, the pump prices have skyrocketed. But in any economy, fuel would struggle to get even close to the cost effectiveness of electricity. ICE vehicles simply cost hundreds of dollars a month in daily use, which is not the case for most EV users.

Unstable availability and price fluctuations

And those high prices of fuel aren’t even easy to budget for given the rate at which oil changes in price. World events can dramatically impact the availability of oil meaning that costs can change at a moment’s notice.

Potentially more frequent and expensive maintenance costs

As we’ve noted earlier, EVs aren’t immune to issues and maintenance, but there’s far fewer things to go wrong. ICE vehicles have parts from ignition to exhaust to transmission that periodically need servicing or repairing. As the car gets older, it will start to cost more to keep it in driving condition. There are just more mechanics to consider. Add to this general maintenance like oil changes and ownership of an ICE will almost always involve trips to a service centre.

Electric vehicles also come with the benefit of ‘Over the air’ updates which owners can install themselves through a paired app or in the car itself.

The future of ICE is uncertain

Is the decision being made for us by the evolutions in the automotive industry? And are environmental goals going to fast track the phase out of ICE? These are all big questions that countries across the world are working through. If you’re concerned about your petrol or diesel car becoming obsolete soon, then you shouldn’t be worried - we’ll likely live in a shared EV/fuel country for years to come. Time will tell!