Over the holidays I saw at least two lists dueling it out as to why electric cars may or may not be in your future. Those lists spanned the gamut from “Dude, they’re too expensive!“, to “Oil’s peaking, get off petroleum now!” But, although they brought up some food for thought, what those lists didn’t cover were the practical reasons to consider buying some kind of electric car (pure electric or extended range electric) in the next couple of years.

Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’re already well aware that virtually all major auto manufacturers—and tons of small start-ups—are going to introduce some kind of electric car in the next 1 to 3 years. Sure, they will be more expensive initially and, yes, sooner or later we are going to run out of oil… but these points are largely abstract and subjective kinds of considerations.

In my mind the debate isn’t really about whether we should have electric cars or not, it’s about if the electric car fits your lifestyle. Let’s face it, with today’s technology, electric cars aren’t for everybody and, when we’re being realistic, the vast majority of people will still drive gas-powered cars into the foreseeable future.

So, if the electric car doesn’t work for you, no biggie, move on. But, if you’re on the fence about them, consider the following 11 practical reasons to go electric when buying your next car.

1. No More Trips to the Service Department

By removing the engine, exhaust system, emissions controls, and the many other little bits that are traditionally associated with a combustion-powered car, then replacing them with a motor that has one moving part, some batteries, and associated fans and coolant, the chances that you’ll end up in the service department are drastically reduced.

2. No More Oil Changes

Due to all the reasons in #1, likely the only major things you’ll need to get regularly serviced on an EV will be a coolant flush and battery change every 100,000 miles or so.

3. No More Gas Stations

Early EV adopters will likely have to wait until a significant charging infrastructure is built up in their area, but until then, everyone who has an electric car will be charging it in their garage. Just like you plug your cell phone or iPod in every night, so to will you do with your car. You may never have to make a trip somewhere to “fill” your car up again.

4. No More Tailpipe Emissions

No more spewing carcinogens, asthma-inducing particles, toxins and stinky fumes everywhere you go. Those kids waiting at the bus stop will thank you for it.

5. Spend About $25 on “Fuel” Every Month

This one is based on a US average per kilowatt hour (kWh) charge of 12 cents, 12,000 miles driven per year, and an EV efficiency of 5 miles per kWh. This number could be much lower or higher depending on your driving needs and utility rates, but your savings versus gasoline will scale with those considerations. Also, this assumes a model where you own the battery instead of lease it.

6. Much More Stable “Fuel” Prices

While gas prices seem to rise and fall with the tides, electricity rates have historically remained very stable over long periods of time. This allows you to head into the future rather unconcerned about if you will be paying an arm or a leg so you can simply go to work to continue paying for the ability to go to work.

7. Driving in Quiet Bliss

While the debate about the safety of extremely quiet EVs is just starting, the fact remains that, at least at higher speeds, EVs will provide the quietest ride you could ever hope to attain while rolling along the ground. The lack of any combustion coupled with EV-friendly aerodynamics and low-rolling resistance tires will make for quiet bliss—something especially treasured by regular commuters.

8. Increased Energy Security

Our electricity comes from a multitude of sources. From coal to wind to solar to nuclear to natural gas to petroleum to biomass burning to geothermal to the wind and solar on your roof to whatever else may come down the pipe, there is no more diversely supplied energy source in the US.

9. Rely on Homemade Energy

Hand in hand with #8, most of those diverse energy sources are derived right here in the US, benefiting local economies and, ultimately, the neighbors you depend on for a nice society.

10. Stop Giving Your Money Away to People Who Hate Us

Now that your car power is homemade, you can stop giving that hard earned money away to governments and people that tend to not have our best interests in mind. Stop the flow of trillions of dollars in oil money to the mid-east, and then lets see how many terrorists can find the money or the reason to attack us.

11. Reduce Overall Pollution

Even though our current electricity mix is mostly coal (52%), plenty of studies have shown that switching to electric vehicles will ultimately lower overall pollution by quite a bit. And, as we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels over time, our energy source will get cleaner without having to change anything about our EVs.

Source - GO Media - Written by Nick Chambers