The Great Debate: EV Cars vs ICE Cars, Which One to Choose?
Do you want to purchase an Electric Car but are in a dilemma to Buy now or Skip completely? Then this article is for you! Here, we will compare Electric Vehicle (EV) cars with Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars.
EVs are seen in numbers now, but ICE vehicles are still in trend. While ICEs rule the market, EVs are definitely the future. People who are new to the EV world would have many questions when comparing EVs and ICE cars. So, we have covered distinct EV cars vs ICE cars differences here that will help them understand the differences of both the cars.
Deep-diving into this article will help you to add further knowledge to make an informed decision about your future four-wheeler purchase. So, let’s explore EV vs ICE in detail.
What are EV Cars?
An Electric Car or an EV is a four-wheeled automobile that uses an electric motor as a motion source. Electricity is the primary source of energy to keep this vehicle running. EVs also use Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology (explained further in the article ), which makes them unique from their combustion competitors.
As compared to conventional ICE cars, Electric cars are more responsive, quieter, have more energy conversion efficiency, and produce no emissions. Moreover, the overall carbon footprint of an EV—from manufacturing to the end of its life—is lower than an ICE. These factors make EVs less harmful to the environment and hence is a preferred choice for those who are environment enthusiasts and want to make a difference.
Moreover, as per the Annual India EV Report Card: FY2024 of JMK Research & Analytics, Electric car sales registered an increase of more than 80% from FY2023 sales. It shows that EVs are the future of the automobile industry.
What are ICE Cars?
Cars having internal combustion engines and run on petrol, diesel, or equivalent fuels are called ICE cars. These cars run through an internal combustion process that involves igniting the air-fuel mixture within the engine’s cylinders.
ICE cars have remained a dominant form of transportation for more than a century. However, EVs are giving constant competition to them because of the increasing environmental concerns and demand for technological advancements.
Considering the surrounding wellness, we can choose Electric cars instead of ICE Cars. However, you will have to manage some challenges that are prevalent in EVs for example – charging time, inadequate charging infrastructure, slightly higher costs, etc.. These issues however are considered temporary as more and more research and technological advancement are happening in this sector.
Now, let’s understand the key differences of Electric Cars vs ICE Cars.
EV Cars vs ICE Cars- Primary Comparison
The below table gives you a quick summary comparison between two types of cars.(Here we will compare electric cars and petrol cars)
| Comparison Factors | Electric Car | Petrol Car |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | Slightly more than Petrol / Diesel Car | Lower than EV |
| Maintenance Cost | Much lower compared to normal cars | Can be substantial depending on the make and model of the car. |
| CO2 Emissions | None | With increased age of the car, this can be quite high. |
| Running Cost | ₹1- ₹2 per km | ₹5-₹8 per km |
| Choice | Fewer models available to choose from. More range is coming up as automobile companies are moving towards this segment. | A wide range of models is available. |
| Environmental Impact | Environment-friendly | Generates adverse effects on the environment |
| Refueling Time | Depending on types of charger, it can vary from 1hr to 7hr. | Minimal |
| Convenience | Convenience of charging the EV at home. | Need for external setup to keep refueling. |
While ICE cars can be drive any distance with instant refuelling, EVs needs little more trip planning and time for journey. But with new technologies, this problem is being resolved.
EV Cars vs ICE Cars- Detailed Comparison
A detailed comparison of Electric cars and ICE cars can be done on the basis of the below key points:
1. Performance
Electric cars provide instant torque for rapid acceleration. Moreover, they operate silently due to the absence of a combustion engine, making car driving a peaceful experience.
Meanwhile, ICE gradually builds up the torque for moving the vehicles or cars. Due to the internal combustion process, the engine vibrates and produces noise that adds up to an uneven driving experience.
2. Power Source
EVs are generally referred to as Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). They are powered by electricity that is stored in batteries. These batteries are typically built using lithium-ion cells. EV’s motor use the stored electricity to keep the vehicle running.
Meanwhile ICE cars operate on fossil fuels—petrol and diesel primarily. This fuel and air are mixed and ignited inside the internal combustion engine, and a controlled explosion is created. It drives the engine’s piston and generates power to run the vehicle.
You can refer to our article for Fossil Fuel vs Clean Fuel to know more about what is better to use for safeguarding the environment- EV or ICE?
3. Recharge and Refueling Infrastructures
Electric cars can be recharged at a relevant EV charging station. If you want to recharge your EV but can’t find the nearest charging point, the Aevirt app can help you here. This app is designed to help EV owners find and route to their nearest EV charging stations easily. Also, carefully planned trips can also be time savers in charging your EVs while you break for refreshments or staying overnight in a long journey.
Meanwhile, ICE cars can be easily refueled at any petrol pump or gas station. The majority of petrol stations provide petrol & diesel refueling services.
4. Emission
According to IEA’s Global EV Outlook 2024, ‘a battery electric car emits less CO2 (or CO2-equivalent gasses) than a medium-sized ICE car, with a difference of <10 tonnes.’
There is no doubt that burning coal is still one of the widely used ways to produce electricity that causes pollution, but India leading it’s way to be become largest producers of sustainable electricity through Solar, Wind and Hydro energies. At the same time, EVs produce no tailpipe emissions, reducing local air pollution.
Meanwhile, a typical petrol vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 yearly (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). This CO2 is a major contributor to pollution, the greenhouse effect, and climatic changes.
Click here to calculate how much CO2 is your current vehicle producing.
5. Fuel Efficiency
EVs are highly efficient when it comes to converting the energy into motion. Most of the electricity stored in the battery is used to run the car. The highly efficient electric motor converts around 90% of the electricity to motion hence leaving no wasteges
Meanwhile, ICE cars are less efficient as the majority of the energy generated from burning petrol/diesel is lost in the form of heat. Generally, only 20-30% of the energy from petrol or diesel is used to move the car, the other is wasted in friction and heat.
6. Maintenance
Electric cars are free from the hassle of frequent maintenance like timely oil changes, exhausting system repairs, engine maintenance, and more. It requires less maintenance than an ICE car.
Meanwhile, petrol cars have more components than EVs; hence the chances of wear out and maintenance requirement increases. It’s necessary to change oil regularly, keep the engine repaired, and more.
7. V2G
Many EVs can give the unused power back to the grid by using the V2G technology. It’s not available in traditional ICE vehicles.
It’s an advantageous feature of an EV because when the cars are parked and energy is unused, those cars can send some stored energy to the grid to fulfill the sudden demand for energy.
Hence, the stored energy will not stay unused, and even other EV owners can use this energy in emergencies.
So, Are you Shifting to an Electric Car?
The day is not far when everyone will have their EVs and will contribute towards environmental protection. Many countries, including Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, etc., have already decided to ban ICE vehicles by 2030-2040. So do you think now is the right time to switch to an EV and start driving towards a healthy lifestyle? Or do you still have doubts? Please visit Aevirt.com to know more
You may also have concerns that EV charging stations aren’t readily available like petrol stations, don’t worry; many netizens think the same way. To eliminate these concerns ; Aevirt has developed a cutting edge ecosystem that can be quite an important factor in your decision. You can download the Aevirt app from the Play Store /App Store and easily find the way to your nearest EV charging station in no time.
So, start your journey with an EV, and add Aevirt to it for a seamless experience of using an Electric car in your day-to-day life.
