Less air & noise pollution, fewer CO2 emissions, lower running costs, zippy motor torque etc. are the benefits electric cars are known for. In this piece however, I want to list 10 things that come basically as a side effect of the superior technology.

If you desire this in video form you’ll find it at the end of the article.

1st Brake wear: 90% of the braking job in an electric car gets done by braking with the motor which feeds regenerated kinetic energy back into the battery. That also means the brake pads get used that much less. There are reports of EVs with 300'000 km on it that still run on the first brake pads. BTW, that also means less harmful particles caused by the brake pad friction go into the air.

2. Traction: An electric motor can react on a ms second basis which helps dramatically in situations where tire traction matters. Combustion engines have to suck in air, induce gas, make it explode and then use rotary motion to transmit energy via a clutch to the wheels. Even the best gas engines are in a whole lower class there.

Tesla Model 3 Winter Driving

3. Instant cabin heating: Since no gas engine has to be fired up and reach a certain temperature an EV cabin usually can get warm within less than a minute. No engine also means no waiting for a friend in a car where either the loud and polluting engine is running or you’re just freezing. Most EVs can even be heated up remotely via your smartphone.

4. Performance in freezing temperatures: While low temperatures can lead to some range penalties because of current battery tech you will most definitely struggle less to start it up in extremely low temperatures. After that, there’s also no “ideal” temperature that your motor has to reach in order not to damage itself.

5. No break-in of new car engines: Even the most modern engines require a certain break-in time where you supposed not to hit certain speeds or rpm ranges because that might cause long term damage to the engine. An EV motor can be pushed to its limits the moment it’s coming off the production line.

6. More aerodynamics: Electric motors require much less cooling than gas engines. That leads to that cars can be shaped more aerodynamically because less air has to be redirected into the engine which means less turbulence. The underbody of EVs are usually also much more flat than in cars where exhaust pipes, drive shafts and gas tanks have to be placed.

7. More Space! Yes, batteries are still bigger than gas tanks but they can be placed flat under the cabin. Electric motors are barely bigger than watermelons which means a lot more space is left for people, storage and crumple zones (which enhances safety — another benefit).

Tesla Model 3 Interior

8. Fewer Vibrations: Even if you’re not thinking about it. Experience has shown that the light vibrations of gas engines are a continuous subconscious stress factor. Fewer vibrations might also show advantages in terms of the longevity of bolts and joints.

9. A lot more times with electric accessories: If it’s blasting music at your camping site, charging your phones and cameras or using your car lights for something. Any of these things can be done continuously for days without having to worry about emptying a 12v car battery in conventional vehicles.

10. Your car gets greener over time: The moment you buy your EV will likely be the dirtiest it’s ever been. Continuous international adaption of renewable energy sources and the possibility to update the powertrains software over the air makes your car ride part of the progressive wave

Wind Park in Greece

I hope I was able to catch you by surprise with some of these benefits. Feel free to comment any further “side” benefits you can think of.

Here’s my video version of this article — Enjoy