EVs are not a new phenomenon. They have been around for a long time; the first-ever EV was built in 1884. However, the concept never really caught on, chiefly because of the limited range of an electric-powered vehicle before it needed a recharge. This remains the main drawback of EVs.
While the newer improved electric cars can have a range of several hundred km, this is still not enough for a long road trip. Though these cars now come with a quick-charge option (about an hour or so), a full charge still requires 6 to 8 hours. A power failure can strand you literally in the middle of nowhere. And it's not as if you can walk to a fuel pump and walk back with a can of fuel to get your car to move.
Staying in an apartment may present obvious problems for charging a vehicle parked on the ground floor or basement while one lives on the higher floors. Charging stations may not be available elsewhere such as in offices either.
Then there is the fact that while EVs don’t use fuel like other cars they do use electricity. If the electricity is produced in coal-based plants, this adds to the pollution anyway. Plus there is the problem of replacing batteries – this can be a significant expenditure. What you save on petrol/ diesel, you may end up paying when buying a new battery for the EV. And then there is the question of the safe disposal of exhausted batteries – they can end up in landfills and create more pollution.
As of now, the options are few. While there is a mindboggling variety available in every auto-segment, EV options can be counted on one's fingers. So while electric vehicles are a good option for some of us, they are not without their limitations.
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