Buying an electric vehicle could be a great decision if you want to care for the environment and reduce your overall ownership and fuel costs. These vehicles are very different from traditional vehicles, however, and you need to understand these differences in detail before you invest in one. If you don’t know what to look for when buying an EV, you might end up regretting your decision and have to sell it back sooner than you expected. You also have to look at your lifestyle to see if they are actually the right choice for you. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider when looking for an electric vehicle.
Range of Choices
The range is probably one of the most important things to consider when buying an electric vehicle. If you routinely drive long distances, you will naturally want a vehicle that will be able to do more miles per charge. You also want to reduce your energy cost by choosing a vehicle that won’t need to be charged as often.
If you want to know which electric vehicles are the most energy-efficient and can travel the longest distance without a charge, check out Compare. They rank vehicles based on electric car range so you can get a quick idea of which ones will be the most convenient. They also have a good variety of vehicles on there and it’s a great resource whether you are looking for an SUV or a smaller vehicle.
Practicality of EVs
EVs are not the best choice for everyone, and you need to look at your lifestyle and where you live before you buy one. EVs are usually a better option for young urbanites who live close to their workplaces and don’t have many kids. Having more people in the vehicle and places to go will affect your range. It also doesn’t make sense to invest in an EV if you have to deal with heavy traffic every day and you live in the suburbs.
There could be an exception if your employer has plenty of resources for electric vehicles. You might still end up in trouble if you can’t use them one day for some reason, however. So, evaluate your situation and see if an EV would be a practical choice for you.
Hybrid vs Fully Electric Vehicles
Nothing is forcing you to go to a fully electric vehicle, however. If you want to make savings and limit your carbon emissions but a fully electric vehicle is not a practical option, you can always go for a hybrid.
Hybrid vehicles are much more efficient than gas-powered vehicles and they are more reliable than electric vehicles. The chances of your vehicle battery life running out at the same time as you running out of gas are slim to none, and knowing that you have a backup option will give you some peace of mind. If you have to drive long distances and don’t have many charging stations around where you live, these are a much more viable choice.
Repairs To Electric Vehicles
One of the great things about electric vehicles is that they don’t require as much maintenance. A good EV will break down less often than a gas-powered vehicle of comparable quality because of the fewer moving components. With that being said, having repairs performed on these vehicles can be a nightmare and could end up costing you more than on a regular vehicle.
The first thing you have to do before you buy an eclectic vehicle is check how many garages can service them where you are. Depending on where you are in the city, the number of mechanics who are qualified to work on these types of vehicles might be very limited. This means that the few who do may charge more because of scarcity. Electric vehicle parts can also cost more and there aren’t as many on the used market either.
Another thing you have to know is that batteries on electric vehicles have a limited lifespan and replacing them can be very expensive. Replacing the battery on a Nissan Leaf, for instance, will cost you around $5,000, which is about 20% of the car’s value. This is something not a lot of owners are ready for and you need to know the cost of replacing batteries on any vehicle before you go ahead with the purchase. It would also be wise to learn about the common issues with any model and what the aftermarket for parts looks like.
These are all things you will have to think about before investing in an electric car. They have tons of things going for them, but they are not for everyone, so try to find out as much about them as you can before buying one.
