Buying a car is in itself one of the most important adventures a driver can have, as he must faced with the choice and acquisition of durable consumer goods which will involve the mobilization of a large amount of resourcesand that it will suffer progressive depreciation and, at the same time, you will have to bear a high cost if you decide to finance it with an APR of between 7 and 8 percent.
If the problems seem few, add one of great importance: The automotive sector is undergoing a structural shift towards electric vehicles. This reality leads us to different alternatives to evaluate: the internal combustion vehicle, the electric vehicle and two intermediate options: standard hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEV).
Standard hybrids use regenerative braking and the internal combustion engine to charge a battery and provide additional electrical power. They cannot be charged at an electric car charging station, unlike PHEVs. This makes PHEVs more similar to fully electric vehicles.. PHEVs generally have larger electric batteries than standard hybrids, with the ability to drive on electric power alone.
Everything seems to indicate that we headed towards the electric car. Therefore, we are adopting technology that is maturing. And it is that, according to BloombergNEF, the decreasing cost of producing batteries for electric vehicles, combined with dedicated production lines in car manufacturers' factories, will make it cheaper to buy, on average, over the next six years than conventional carseven before any government concession.
The existing problem is that we are in 2022 and we are in the middle of a transition and we are faced with several variables to take into account when trying to get the purchase of a vehicle right.
The initial extra cost of the electric option and subsidies
Due to the technological difference between vehicles with a combustion engine and electric vehicles, we can see that the electric version of the model has a extra cost between 5,000 and 10,000 eurosalthough sometimes it is above this value.
This is due to the cost of batteries, which is still expensive but decreases over time. According to Transport & Environment, a non-profit organization based in Brussels, new battery prices will fall by 58% between 2020 and 2030, to US$ 58 per kilowatt-hour.
A reduction in battery costs to less than US$100 per kWh is seen as an important step towards greater adoption of all-electric vehicles and would largely eliminate the financial appeal of hybrid electric vehicles, which combine a battery with a conventional engine. . better positioning for the consumer.
Here subsidies come into play, and the Government offers financial support from the Moves III Plan that varies depending on the type of vehicle chosen. Factors such as range and whether or not the replaced car will be scrapped will have a decisive influence on the subsidy values.
If we focus on the 100% electric vehicle (BEV) we have a subsidy of 4,500 euros if you do not deliver your previous car. On the contrary, if the replaced vehicle is handed over for scrapping, it amounts to 7,000 euros. These values apply to cars that offer at least 90 km of electric range. Its maximum price must be 45,000 euros and, in the case of 8 seats, 53,000 euros.
We also support the plug-in hybrid (PHEV). If the vehicle is not delivered, the subsidy is 2,500 euros. And if it is delivered, we reach a grant of 5,000 euros. In this case, we have a maximum price of 45,000 euros and a range in electric mode between 30 and 90km.
As we can see, one of the keys to take into account is if our vehicle has a market value of more than 2,500 euros or not.
At the same time, there is only a difference of 2,000 euros between the hybrid and electric option, which makes the hybrid option more attractive today.
Of course, it will depend on our needs as a consumer. And is that the hybrid vehicle is oriented towards those drivers who make a short daily trip because you can run on electricity most of your driving time.
Costs after purchase
Today and with current prices, it is estimated that recharging an electric/hybrid car every 100 km is a 40% cheaper than a diesel or gasoline vehicle.
Many variables are integrated here that will cause the spread to increase or decrease. The most important thing is whether we are recharging during peak hours (10am to 2pm and 6pm to 10pm) or off-peak hours (12pm to 8am) or which power station or gas station we go to.
Broadly speaking we could save around 600 euros per year if we focused on electric driving. Depending on the choice of vehicle and the extra price of its electric version, it will take more or less years to pay off the second option.
As a reference calculation, if after subsidies, the price differential is 2,500 euros, the amortization would be made in 4 years and if it reaches 5,000 euros it would take a little more than 8 years.
In addition to paying for fuel, there is other associated costs in possession of a vehicle. Maintenance costs, in particular, are an important source of money for any car owner.
Engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and belt replacements can add up over the life of a hybridalthough at a lower rate than gasoline/diesel vehicles that depend exclusively on their combustion engine.
Electric vehicles avoid costs associated with combustion engines. However, they still have maintenance expenses in the form of universal car problems like tire changes, insurance plans, and structural damage.
All-electric and hybrid vehicles are at risk of battery degradation. If you are still within your car battery's warranty period and your battery degrades beyond the warranted point, you won't need to worry about paying for a replacement battery.
However, if the warranty has already expired, replace the battery Complex electrical work can end up costing a significant amount of money. Most electric or hybrid vehicle owners don't have to worry about paying to replace their car battery, but it's a risk to be aware of.