April 19, 2018
Are you planning to buy electric?
Then there are a few things you’ll want to know before you fully commit to purchasing your first EV. As a whole, EVs work pretty differently than a standard petrol fuel engine, so you’ll be buying different products and checking out different specs.
This isn’t to say that electric vehicles are a bad investment. In fact, it’s quite the contrary. You’ll be saving quite a bit when compared to the fuel economy of a traditional gas engine.
We’re here to save you some trouble of figuring out the new stuff that an EV will offer you.
Are you ready to learn everything you need to know before purchasing your first electric vehicle? Then allow us to teach you the things you’ll want to check for your EV.
Check the Battery Life
One of the first differences you’ll notice with an EV is the battery as a whole.
Generally speaking, electric cars require more expensive batteries than a standard petrol engine because EV batteries are based from lithium-ion. So, you’re working with a different type of battery in general.
The main thing you’ll want to check here is a warranty. It’s not uncommon to find batteries that will offer you a warranty for your first 100,000 miles. If anything goes wrong, these warranties will save you quite a bit of money. And you don’t need us to tell you that it’ll take you a while before you reach that 100,000-mile mark. You’ll be covered for quite some time with these warranties.
Know the Range
On a traditional petrol engine, you’re probably used to checking the size of the fuel tank. With an EV, you’ll instead check how far a single charge will take your car.
Most EVs will range 100-250 miles on a single charge. If you need more, models such as the Tesla Model S will allow you to reach upwards of 300 miles.
As a general rule, cars that driver further on a single charge will usually cost you more, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Instead, consider how far you’ll truly need to go on a single charge. If you only work 20 miles from your house, then a battery in the 100s will suffice quite well. But if you’re a weekend warrior who likes to travel long distances, then you’ll find the investment in a greater ranged EV will be worthwhile.
How Fast Can the EV Charge?
This factor will depend heavily on the outlet used to charge the car.
This process will usually take upwards of 12 hours, but you can find connectors to reduce this number to less than 6 hours.
Keep in mind that some manufacturers offer extremely fast charge times. Tesla, for example, offers a super charger that will charge half your battery in 30 minutes, so charge times will vary considerably.
Don’t Forget Your Tax Credits
When you buy an EV, you are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit. But here’s the catch: you need to act fast. These credits are limited by manufacturer and by year. Currently, Nissan is only allotted a 200,000 credit cap. So act quickly to file your credits after buying an EV—you won’t want to miss out on this!
Research the location of your local charging station
Tesla offers specialty stations for its buyers. If you haven’t noticed yet, Tesla offers plenty of premium options for its buyers—so keep this in mind when making your decision.
Otherwise, you’ll find countless charging stations across the country open to the public.
For information, check the Department of Energy station locator for more information.
The department of Transportation will also highlight charging areas for your EV—so check there as well.