Electric vehicles have become really popular nowadays. There was a time in the past years when we rarely saw electric cars in person, only in movies. But today, given their many benefits, a lot of car manufacturers nationwide have already invested in them. You now might be asking yourself, “should I buy an electric car?”
When buying a new car, choosing to transition from gas-powered vehicles to electric-powered vehicles, can be a tough decision to make. There are a lot of factors to consider, not to mention the amount of research you need to do to weigh the pros and cons of electric vehicles. So, before you decide to buy one, make sure that you do your homework and list down all of the reasons why you should buy an electric vehicle.
Here are 5 questions you need to ask when buying an electric car:
1. Can I Charge My Electric Vehicle at Home?
One of the most common questions about owning an electric vehicle is if it can be charged at home. This is perhaps one of its greatest benefits. One of the most convenient aspects of electric vehicles is that they can always be charged at your own home. This simply means that you don’t have to pay for gas or stand outside of your car in the cold.
However, there are still a lot of things to consider when it comes to charging your electric vehicle. You can use level 1 charging, but it will just add about 4 miles per hour to.your battery range, and will surely take a lot of time. If you intend to use your electric vehicle to its full range, expect to recharge it for several days before the trip.
2. What is the Average Range of My Electric Vehicle?
Most people think that since EVs get their power from electricity, this automatically means that it has low range. The average range of most electric vehicles is around 100 miles, but more advanced models go further than that. Different manufacturers produce EVs with different ranges such as Nissan Leaf with 124-mile range, Hyundai Ioniq with 130-mile range, and Tesla Model S that can do 320-mile range on a single charge.
Since the average range of most electric vehicles is around 100 miles, it’s important to know if it’s enough. Surveys show that the average car journey never even reaches 100 miles. With the average daily transportation range for most people being only 30 miles, some EV owners even claim that they don’t have to recharge their electric cars every time they get home. That data alone should be enough to convince you why you should buy an electric car.
3. Will It Fit My Whole Family?
Going to your office, grocery runs, and emergency food runs can be fairly easy with an electric vehicle because all those trips do not require you to bring anyone else in your family. The real issue is the internal storage of the vehicle.
If you want to make sure all of your equipment fits inside the electric vehicle you are planning to buy, we suggest that you bring it with you to the dealership and try it out. Same with ordinary cars, electric cars have different internal storage capacity, that’s why you need to see for yourself if it would work for you.
4. How Much Will My Electricity Cost?
Electric vehicles function with electricity, which raises the question of how much a single electric car might cost you in electric bills. Just like gasoline, the price of your electricity depends on where you live and how far you travel every day.
However, compared with gasoline, electricity will cost you much less money. Studies show that consuming fuel is three times more expensive than using electricity.
When charging your electric vehicle at home, there are still some things you will need to familiarize yourself with. Charging overnight and during the weekends can help you save more money than charging during peak times like weekdays and in the afternoon.
5. Are Electric Vehicles Easy to Charge?
Charging electric vehicles is effortless, almost the same as plugging in any of your other electronic devices. Simply hook up your electric car to your home charger or a public charging unit using the supplied cable.
Charging your electric vehicle overnight is enough to power it for a whole day of travel, so make sure to keep your battery pumped to maximize your electric car battery the next day. Also, cold weather can affect the range of your vehicle so you can expect your electric vehicle to need charging more often during that time.
You must have a lot of questions to ask when buying an electric car, but you have nothing to worry about, because we are here to guide you in buying your first EV. For all your electric vehicle needs, turn to Northwest Collision Center, one of the best auto body repair shops in St. Petersburg, FL! We are ready to answer any questions you have and will provide top-notch repair, installation, repainting, and replacement services for your electric vehicle. Visit our website for our services and inquire now!
