Important Facts To Consider Before Buying An Electric Car

Electric vehicles, or EVs, are no longer a thing of the future. If you’re thinking of ditching your petrol or diesel car and replacing it with a clean-energy, quiet and economical one, there has never been a better time to do that. Not only are they ecological and more cost-efficient but also fun to
drive!

Many automotive companies introduced their electric cars, and so nowadays you can choose between premium models, like Tesla, Audi e-Tron, or Jaguar I-Pace and less expensive EVs, like Smart ForTwo EQ, Nissan Leaf, VW E-Up, Ford Focus Electric or Renault Zoe.

There are also generous incentives from the governments, to make electric cars even more affordable and thus, more competitive to their internal combustion engine counterparts. There are, however, a few important facts to consider before buying an electric car.

How far do you need to travel?

Electric cars have limited range, on average between 100 and 200 miles. That should be enough for your daily commute, shopping, and other activities with charging the car once every 3-4 days. But if you often travel long distances, you will see your battery depleting very fast.

Small electric cars are perfect for cities and suburbs and any farther travels, if possible, would not be pleasant for the driver and passengers alike. Smart Fortwo EQ has a range of up to 100 miles, Volkswagen e-Golf – up to 120 and the new Renault Zoe can go up to 240 miles on one charge, albeit in favourable conditions. Extensive use of heating or air-conditioning will limit those figures drastically.

How will you charge it?

Your EV has to be ready in the morning and then when you have finished your work, needs to take you back home. But what about weekends spent outside the city, trips from one part of the country to another and the summer holidays?

The charging infrastructure is constantly being developed, but it is still nowhere near the network of petrol stations. It might also take a lot of time between when you plug your EV in and when your battery is 100% full. There are three types of charging stations currently available and before
purchasing an electric car you should know the difference and be aware of where you might find those.

Level 1 is nothing more than a simple home socket. These charging stations are not hard to find but it takes hours before the battery is full. If you can charge your EV overnight or leave it plugged in when you’re at your 9-to-5 job, that’s perfect. If not, you may need a better option.

Level 2 makes your life a bit easier. This power outlet can charge most of the electric car batteries within 3 to 4 hours. The majority of commercial charging stations are Level 2.

Level 3 makes an EV owner’s life very easy. 90 minutes suffices to fully charge even a big car like a Tesla or Jaguar I-Pace. In the future, we are looking at even better ultra-fast stations but cars will need more advanced batteries before we can use those.

Owning or renting the battery?

It is one of the most expensive parts of electric cars. To reduce the price of a vehicle, some manufacturers offer their most affordable EV’s for sale without a battery, that is then leased for a monthly fee. There are advantages and disadvantages to this situation.

Consider the additional cost of a rental, which may exceed $1500 per year, depending on your miles allowance. On the other hand, however, if an extremely costly battery causes problems or starts losing its charge, a car owner gets a new, free of charge.

Have you considered all costs involved in buying an electric car?

Electricity is far less expensive than petrol or diesel, so the more you drive, the more money you will save. You will also, most likely, receive a government grant, so your EV will cost you just slightly more than the same car with an internal combustion engine. Then there is also free parking
offered by many local governments to those who decide to go green.

Moreover, the new studies have shown that the average servicing and maintenance costs for EV are 23% lower than petrol vehicles over a three-year/60,000-mile period. When it comes to engine maintenance and ICEs, it can bring huge expenses especially as car ages. Add to this changing the
coolant, engine oil, transmission fluid, or belts over time. At the same time, EVs don’t have the internal combustion engines, so these costs disappear. The rest of expenses like for example tire changes and structural repairs are universal.

However, EVs aren’t free of additional costs. The most expensive maintenance part, while owning the EV is the battery. Nevertheless, there are various options that can reduce this expense. Additionally, purchasing the EV, you will see a sharp increase in your premium cost. Insurance
companies argue that this is due to the need for specialist parts and servicing.

Lastly, one day you will need a new car. The resale price of EVs at the moment is a big unknown, as there is not enough data from the market. It is hard to tell how much your electric car will be worth after 5 or 10 years
from purchase.

Make and model

Initially, the EV enthusiasts were limited to just a few, usually quite expensive models, like Tesla S or BMW i3. Currently, however, most manufacturers offer their own electric cars, and those on the budget end are very affordable even without government grants. You can choose between Audi, Citroen, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, VW and many more.

So, whether you want to go green, save money or enjoy dynamic driving in a completely new way, an EV will be a perfect idea. Now that you know the facts and benefits of buying an electric car, you can make an informed choice, and hopefully, soon will be able to enjoy your new EV experience.