Electric Cars / Employee
13th September 2019
Electric vehicle adoption: overcoming the barriers part 5 – Performance
Anyone who’s ever had a ride in a Tesla will tell you that performance is not a problem when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs). Yet there’s a persistent doubt among some drivers that EVs don’t cut it when it comes to driving experience. We’re here to share the stats that will change your employees’ minds about EV performance and help you make the case for electric vehicles at your organisation.
THE MISCONCEPTION BEHIND THE POWER OF EVS
If your employees think EVs are about as exciting to drive as an electric milk float, it’s time for them to think again. Top brands, like Tesla, are no slouches – some of their models can achieve 0-60 mph in under three seconds.
For drivers and organisations whose pockets aren’t quite deep enough for the top-end Tesla models, there are more cost effective alternatives that still outstrip their petrol or diesel counterparts.
Take a 1.6l VW Golf. As the table below shows, the ULEV versions are actually quicker than petrol or diesel.
0-60mph in seconds
Diesel – 10.2*
Petrol – 9.8*
Battery Electric – 9.6*
Plug-in Hybrid – 7.6*
Why is this the case? Because electric motors produce all their power from a standstill, meaning they accelerate surprisingly quickly. EV drivers often report the joy of pulling away from all the fossil-fuelled cars as the traffic lights go green.
WHAT ABOUT TOP SPEEDS?
Because EVs deliver more power at lower speeds, their top speed can suffer slightly. This means many EVs don’t go much above 90mph.
However as the UK speed limit is only 70mph, this shouldn’t be a problem for your organisation’s drivers. Even those driving in Europe, where speed limits can reach around 80mph, will have plenty of speed under the hood of their EV. And top speed is likely to be even less of an issue in the future as legislation seeks to use technology to cap cars’ top speeds.
Lower maximum speeds also have the added safety advantage of ensuring drivers stick more closely to the speed limit. In EVs more sensible driving will also provide drivers with more range as driver behaviour is one of the biggest influences on electric vehicle’s range. More moderate drivers will get many more miles from a single charge than those who are heavy on the accelerator.
SILENCE IS GOLDEN
Another benefit of electric vehicles is the quietness of their engines. Instead of cities full of noise and fumes, EVs will mean better air quality, quiet streets and more relaxing journeys.
However, silent EVs are set to be a historic anomaly as EU lawmakers believe the cars are too quiet which can be dangerous to pedestrians and bicyclists. To protect road users, EVs will soon need to be fitted with noise-emitting devices that will give off a car-like sound, similar to a petrol or diesel car when travelling below 20 kph. This will deliver the best of both worlds: quieter cars that are just noisy enough to help people avoid collisions.
EVS OFFER A GREAT DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Driving an EV doesn’t have to be a choice between substance or style – they have both in equal measure. This is due to the heavy batteries which are usually located in the bottom of vehicle giving EVs a lower centre of gravity which makes them better able to grip corners and less likely to roll over.
Thanks to a slew of other technological advances, EVs are now so fast they have their own racing competition, Formula-E. These cars are fast and nimble, reaching speeds of up to 174mph.
As with Formula One, Formula-E cars will set the standard for high performance with some of the technology cascading down into commercial EVs. With electric racing cars reaching 62mph in 2.8 seconds and doubling their range thanks to new 385-kilogram lithium-ion batteries, the future’s even brighter for consumer EVs.
Of course, as with petrol and diesel cars, EVs will vary in their speed, handling and overall look and feel. An EV Porsche (yes, there is such a thing) will provide a different driving experience to a SUV.
HIGH PERFORMANCE ISN’T FOR EVERYONE
Let’s not forget – not all employees will want a high performing vehicle. Many drivers are happy with a less powerful vehicle that does more miles to the gallon – or in an EV’s case, more miles to the kilowatt.
Luckily there’s now a huge choice of electric cars available – over 700 electric vehicles across more than 200 brands. And these cars come in all shapes and sizes with a range of battery sizes which have different single-charge ranges associated with them.
This is the key to moving your organisation successfully towards electric vehicles: give your staff a great choice of cars with sufficient single-charge mileage and performance and you’ll keep everyone happy.
Tusker offers the UK’s widest selection of EVs on an employee car benefit scheme. Take a look at your options by booking a demo today.
If you found part 5 helpful, please see below the links to our earlier chapters:
Part 1: Overcoming the barriers: Cost
Part 2: Overcoming the barriers: Range