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With growing capabilities, improving charging and expanding choices, the decision to go electric is becoming easier by the day. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the future. That's a given. More and more brands are increasingly electrifying their portfolios, and new incentives from the Government are also further encouraging the use of EVs. However, it's perfectly understandable that not every driver is ready to go electric right now. Even as EV technology continues to advance, existing anxiety and questions about EV usage and ownership persevere. Here are six common concerns about EVs, and how they continue to be addressed. 1. Limited battery range and life Range is of course a continuing concern when it comes to EVs. Great strides have been taken in this regard - compared to the limited range of earlier EVs, modern EVs like the new rear-wheel drive Porsche Taycan have a range of 434km. Based on the latest data.gov.sg statistics, cars travel an average of 48km a day in Singapore. As such, a Taycan could easily be used for a whole week with some charge still to spare. Battery life should also be a diminishing concern. Porsche offers an 8-year battery warranty, but EV batteries are estimated to be able to last more than 10 years before a replacement is required. Of course, battery capacity will degrade over time, but proper use and care will help extend battery life. And moving forward, battery capacity and affordability will continue to improve. Since 2010, the price of an average Lithium-ion battery pack has dropped by over 80%. So, replacing the battery won't be as intimidating as it may seem. 2. Lack of charging infrastructure The availability of charging can be a limiting factor for the use of EVs in Singapore. Right now, there are around 1,600 charging points available, and the Government has announced that 60,000 charging points will be installed by 2030. Porsche and Shell have also partnered to have six charging stations along Malaysia's North-South Highway equipped with 180kW DC chargers, offering the highest charging capacity across Singapore and Malaysia. Charging your Taycan from 5 to 80% will take just 30 minutes. This will offer seamless travel from Singapore all the way to Penang. For Taycan customers, Porsche Centre Singapore will also appoint a certified electrical specialist to conduct a full electrical and spatial check of parking facilities at a residence or workplace, and to install the included Porsche Charging equipment if possible. The installation is subsequently assessed and approved in accordance with Singapore regulations. 3. Slow charging time Charging times also continue to tumble as charging technology and battery capability improve. The Taycan's 800V architecture allows the battery to be charged at a maximum capacity of 270kW, which can add 100km of range in 5 minutes, and charge from 5 to 80% in 22.5 minutes. Using a standard 11kW AC charger, the Taycan can be fully charged from 0 to 100% in 9 hours or under, depending on the model variant and battery size. Even with the bigger Performance Battery Plus, charging from 5 to 80% at a 50kW DC charger takes about 90 minutes - a good amount of time to do your weekly supermarket run or catch up with friends over brunch. And, adding up to 100km of range takes about 30 minutes. 4. Safety concerns about the battery While exploding e-scooter batteries may make for an attention-grabbing gif, batteries in EVs are much better protected. And they should be - it is effectively the heart of the car. The Taycan's battery is housed in the underbody of the car, with the waterproof housing forming a load-bearing component of the body structure, and secured by means of a steel protective plate. The complex cooling system also ensures that the battery is operating at specific temperatures regardless of the outside temperature. 5. Unknown maintenance costs Maintenance is an inevitable and recurring cost of owning a car. With EVs still relatively new to our market, long-term maintenance costs may still be slightly unknown. However, compared to a typical internal combustion engine car, an EV has significantly fewer moving parts, which would generally reduce maintenance costs. The components that would require regular maintenance are the brakes, wheel alignment, air-con and battery optimisation. For ease of mind, Porsche offers a complimentary 5-year maintenance and warranty programme that covers all maintenance and repair including of wear and tear. This is on top of the 8-year battery warranty. Customer who wants absolute peace of mind can also opt for the extended warranty for up to 15 years. 6. Lack of choice 10 years ago, drivers keen on electric cars had fairly limited options. Now, there are at least 15 brands that offer fully electric models, which really shows how far things have come since. Even within the Porsche Taycan lineup, you have plenty of choice. Four model variants are available, ranging from the base rear-wheel drive Taycan to the monstrously powerful 751bhp Taycan Turbo S. And of course, as with any Porsche, extensive personalisation options are available via Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur means that you can create a truly unique car of your own. And let's face it, EVs aren't just the way forward, they are also here to stay. Thankfully, with growing battery and powertrain capabilities, improving charging facilities and expanding choices, EVs are increasingly practical to live with and use daily. As a result, you would be wise to consider making the switch today. --- Thinking of selling your car? sgCarMart Quotz guarantees the highest selling price for your car. We’ll even give you $100 cash if you find a better offer elsewhere! Get a free quote to find out how much your car is worth today!