If you’re looking for ways to live more sustainably, using an electric car could be a step in the right direction.
We all know that walking is the best way to travel – it’s great exercise, costs nothing and is much better for the environment than standard transport means. But unfortunately, most of us can’t walk everywhere that we need to be.
Enter, electric vehicles. Better for the environment when compared to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles and offering economic savings too, electric vehicles are certainly having their moment. It’s estimated that nearly 14 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2024, with one in four new cars in 2023 being electric, and it’s a trend that’s only growing.
So, whether you’re looking to buy a new car for yourself, hire something while on holiday, or rent a car for business, perhaps it’s time to think about an electric option?
How popular are electric cars?
Recent data shows the popularity of electric motors is growing non-stop. As mentioned above, electric car sales nearly hit 14 million in 2024 and fully electric or hybrid systems accounted for a big proportion of total car sales. Plus, at the end of April 2024, there were around 1,760,000 plug-in cars registered. It seems the electric car is becoming not only a cleaner type of vehicle, but also more profitable, more innovative, and more desirable to a new generation of drivers as well as car sharing or car rental businesses.
What’s going on across the world?
The trend to move to environmentally friendly transportation is spreading rapidly. If a few years ago, car fans did not see much promise in electric motors, today countries at the government level across the world are promoting programmes to encourage the use of electric vehicles.
In Britain, for example, new laws were passed last year to make charging an electric vehicle easier, quicker and more reliable, and to ensure that drivers have access to transparent, easy-to-compare pricing information, simpler payment methods and more reliable charge points. The government has also got plans in place to ensure that 80 percent of new cars and 70 percent of new vans sold in Great Britain will be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100 percent by 2035.
The trend is shown in other countries too. In the United Arab Emirates, for example, more than 80 percent of residents have shown their readiness to drive electric cars, while rental companies in Dubai actively replenish car parks with new models of electric cars making Tesla or Mercedes rental Dubai keep up with the times. The government here has also announced plans to have 50 percent of all cars on UAE roads electric by 2050. How profitable will it be for businesses like car hiring companies, we will see.
Benefits of Choosing Electric Cars
There are a number of reasons to choose an electric vehicle as your next car.
- Economic savings: Electric cars can be much cheaper for drivers themselves as well as for car rental businesses to run and maintain. It’s also worth noting that electric cars are exempt from road tax and other fees such as the London congestion charge. Electric cars also seem to have a high resale value.
- Reducing your environmental impact: As well as lowering your carbon footprint, by using an electric car rather than a traditional petrol or diesel vehicle, you’re helping to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
- Access to innovative functions: Developers of modern electric cars utilise the latest innovative technologies in construction, meaning that as a driver of a premium electric car, you often get to enjoy a much better driving experience.
The Best Premium Electric Cars in 2024
Tempted to try one for yourself or rent one while on holiday? Here are some of the best luxury options, as put together by global marketing agency JD Power:
- BMW i4
- Rivian R1T and R1S
- Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
- Volvo C40 and XC40
- Audi Q4 e-tron
So, whether you’re looking for a new car to buy or different car rental services across the world, make sure you consider buying or hiring an electric vehicle. You won’t regret it!
