You might have read the news or heard from your friends about the new and modern electric vehicles. Now, looking at how sleek the electric cars are, you badly want one already.
However, you should not rush to get one. There are things that you need to know before buying an electric car. Cars are investments that you should think and plan carefully before owning one.
Here are a few things to consider in buying your electric car.
1. Vehicle Usage
Before you decide anything on a car, ponder upon the practicality of your choices. Determine everything that involves your vehicle usage. This allows you to make the right investment for the vehicle, along with its types and features to include.
There may be various things to ask about your vehicle usage, but you can start with these considerations.
- Weather Conditions
- Usual Traffic Flow
- Members Occupancy
- Daily Travel Distance
- Driving Habits
Consider your current situation well first, whether it would be a liability or an asset to you. If you can partner with a car sales agent, it’s best to know all the possible costs of owning an electric car.
2. Type of Electric Car
Electric cars come in two types: Full Electric and Hybrid. Be familiar with these two types to determine which is best for you.
Choosing between them comes primarily from personal reasons, but you can consider its practicality once more. Remember that these are electric vehicles, and they run with batteries that need regular charging. If you’re not convinced that full electric vehicles are for you, go for hybrid electric cars.
Hybrid electric vehicles use both gas and battery for its power, with the battery as its primary source. They still work quite similar to traditional gas vehicles, but this time gas is a backup power for the car. While both of them still run out, gas will run out slower than batteries, which will give you ample time to get home to refill.
3. Charging Requirements
Choosing an electric vehicle, you should know all your options regarding the car’s charging requirements. This is not similar to gas vehicles that you can easily refill and continue for another long distance.
Here are some considerations to follow in checking the charging requirements of the car.
- Charging Level: Each electric car has specific charging levels. Three charging levels are commonly used, which have 120V, 240V, and 400V charging outlets.
- Charging Posts: Charging posts are more like gas stations, but for electric vehicles. Most charging posts, or stations, are standardized and work like a regular charger. For now, no charging post is exclusive to one manufacturer.
- Charging Time: Different car models have different charging times. Get the charging time right to avoid low-battery inconvenience on your road trip.
4. Driving Range
It may be surprising to note that electric cars cover much less distance than traditional vehicles that use gas. There are electric cars that can run only a maximum of 100 miles, but some can go more than 300 miles.
If you use this car for work, with short-distance trips, buying one should be the right choice. However, this is something you’d want to have when planning on long road trips.
5. Car Features
Take much consideration about the features inside your car as well. One of the primary reasons for the car’s short driving range is the usage of other elements in the vehicle.
The engine is not the only one that needs power, but your car lights, integrated electronic devices, and basic safety features as well. Furthermore, you have to keep them updated to maintain your car’s optimal performance.
6. Car Maintenance
While electric cars require less maintenance than traditional vehicles, you still have to check their parts, mainly the battery. The manufacturers need you to replace the battery when reaching a certain distance in your total length traveled.
Aside from your battery, make sure to check everything else to avoid accidents or mishaps on the road. This includes hardware and software integrated into the car.
The Bottom Line
Buying a vehicle is never straightforward and easy, and you need time to think through about your choices. The crucial part here is thorough planning and careful considerations of all your options. Don’t forget your possible expenses as well, such as rebates and tax credits.
And remember, safety is a priority. Have a safe trip with your new electric car!