Beyond the hype and wow of electric cars, when considering a purchase of an electric car there are things we provide you to review and pay attention to, so that our choice is informed.With this post you will be able to evaluate e-car models, prices, ranges, charging specifics and technical service so that you can make an informed decision about your EV purchase.
To EV or Not to EV
Before purchasing an electric car, we need to deal with some criteria simultaneously and with different dimensions. We should not ignore the range when considering the price, the charging possibilities when calculating the range, and the technical service opportunities when considering the charging issue. A patient and comprehensive consideration will lead you to one of two results all of which are not wrong: Either you decide to buy the e-car that is most suitable for you in all respects. Or you can turn your focus to alternatives by concluding in a healthy way that the conditions are not suitable for owning an electric car. None of these options will make you lose.
Things You Should Know Before Buying an E-Car
With the development of EV technologies, new electric car models offer their users a satisfying experience in terms of performance and comfort.
Eco-friendly transportation with zero emission is the main feature that makes e-cars healthy and attractive. As a result of working with an electric motor, these vehicles make it possible to produce powerful torque. Low fuel costs and low maintenance requirements due to having simple systems with few parts are also among the prominent advantages of electric vehicles in line with the changing world conditions.
In addition to all this, various government incentives depending on the region you live in and the proliferation of charging points may also encourage you. Eventually, it is a fact that the use of e-cars is increasing rapidly, especially in developed and developing countries.
Types of Electric Cars
If you are considering owning an electric vehicle for the first time, the terminology you will encounter while doing research may be a bit confusing.
It is important to know that basically electric vehicles are divided into 3 which are; Battery-Electric Vehicle (all electric-vehicle) (BEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCEV). If you want to learn more reliable information about the types of electric vehicles, read our guide to different TYPES of EVs.
We are going through extremely exciting times in terms of the development of electric vehicles. Almost every week we witness the release of a new EV model.
Although it may vary according to the region you live in, the electric cars that you have the chance to see when you go to traffic would probably include; Audi E-tron, BMW i3, Citroën e-C4, Fiat 500e, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Honda e, Kia e-Niro, Mazda MX-30, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Mini Electric, Nissan Leaf, Peugeot e-208, Porsche Taycan, Renault Zoe E-Tech Electric, Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen ID.3 and Volvo XC40 Recharge.
Do You Know Where You Can Buy an E-Car?
EVs can be purchased from car dealerships or rented through leasing companies, like conventional cars. Tesla is an exception in this regard. It does not have a traditional network and most of its sales are online. Used e-cars can be purchased from traditional vehicle outlets, including franchised and independent dealers.
Things You Should Consider When Buying an E-Car
Electric cars show a great variety, especially in battery and range features, from the prices to taxes.
When purchasing an electric vehicle, first of all, it is necessary to correctly reveal the individual transportation needs. Then, based on the given, it seems wise to determine the most suitable model by evaluating performance and budget.
What Needs Should Your E-Car Meet?
Electric vehicles are fast, fun to drive, low maintenance and produce no exhaust emissions, a major contributor to climate change. But today, there is a wide variety of possibilities in the electric car market. You have too many criteria to choose between them. That’s why it’s important to understand what you’re looking for and to be honest about it.
Below are the questions you need to think about prior to beginning your research:
- Will the e-car you buy, be a basic means of transportation for you, or will it be an expression of yourself and your personality?
- Are you going to use your e-car mostly for long distances? If so, it may be right to turn to the models which promise more independence with a higher range.
- Or will it meet your need for short-distance urban mobility?
- How important is it that the electric car you will buy does not turn into a mobility restriction for you?
In general, the view that all electric cars cause mobility restrictions for their users is no longer valid. So much so that today, some models can even exceed 600 km of range. Of course, the more autonomy the electric car provides to its user, the higher the price. This criterion is also very decisive on the final budget you need to allocate for your e-car.
What Range Do You Need?
When buying an e-car, range is one of the first things to know. Although the range capacity of electric vehicles is increasing exponentially every day, this issue still remains a question mark in the minds of consumers.
While low range may seem adequate within the city, when it comes to long distances, it appears to be one of the concerns of the prospective buyer.
Therefore, it is in your best interest to determine in advance how and for what distances you will use the car.
In real driving experiences, the range capacity given by e-car manufacturers as factory data, may change at certain rates. If you want to understand whether the car is suitable for your needs according to the average range calculations, you can review the user comments and/or watch the test drive videos about the model.
Energy Consumption of the E-Car
If you’re considering buying an e-car, you naturally want to measure its efficiency and compare it to a conventional car. For this, you need to consider the amount of electricity consumed by the electric car you plan to buy. Energy consumption also determines the operating cost of the e-car in question.
And generally, EVs have much lower operating costs compared to vehicles with internal combustion engines.
Battery Capacity and Charging
The EV battery is one of the factors determining the vehicle’s range. While the prices of vehicles with low battery capacity are relatively low, their range is also low. However, the low range does not constitute a major disadvantage in urban use. On the contrary, since vehicles with low capacity batteries fill up faster, this can even turn into an advantage in the urban, where the filling points are high.
Electric vehicles have two different charging methods; AC charging and DC charging. Since AC charging is slow, it takes a longer time. While some vehicles can only be charged with AC, many new models also have DC charging, which provides much faster charging.
Your Own Charging Plan
Although the EV charging infrastructure is growing rapidly in developed countries, if you are considering buying an e-car for the first time, you should definitely make a charging plan for yourself. For this, you must first determine where you will charge your electric vehicle. House? Workplace? The mall? Public charging stations?
Since EV technology is still very new, charging points are not yet sufficient in almost any part of the world. Access to power points may be even more difficult, especially in rural areas.
It is helpful to determine where and how you will charge the vehicle you intend to purchase (by taking into account the range). It is also very important to get information about the station infrastructure in your area.
Recovery Technology
You should carefully study regenerative braking or other recovery technologies. Such technologies come into play when the vehicle slows down, and converts the resulting energy into electrical energy. This increases the range of your vehicle.
Especially in big and crowded cities with heavy traffic, recovery technologies increase the range of the vehicle considerably.
Therefore, if you live in a city where heavy traffic is a problem, you should especially turn to models with good and sufficient recovery technologies.
Price as a Choice Filter
In determining the electric vehicle prices, many factors such as battery capacity, engine power, maximum speed, charging time, material costs, subsidies offered by governments, dealer markup, regular market forces like demand and supply etc. come into play.
EVs generally have higher purchase costs prices than their petrol and diesel competitors. However, it is possible to find EVs on the market today with alternative prices for almost every budget. Moreover EV running costs are relatively low, as electric, tax and maintenance are all, generally, significantly cheaper.
In fact, as with conventional cars, you have the chance to buy second-hand electric cars at much cheaper prices. However, there is a handicap here. Because when you buy a second-hand e-car, battery life can be a problem. In a used electric car, you will naturally have a shortened battery. And buying a new battery will incur a very serious cost.
According to August 2022 data revealed by Kelley Blue Book; the average price of an electric car in the United States is $66,000. This figure has increased by 13 percent compared to 2021.
Among the most affordable electric cars of 2022 are models such as the Nissan Leaf and The Chevy Bolt. These are located in the price range of 27,000 to 32,000 dollars. The cheapest Tesla model is the Tesla model 3. The 2022 price of the Tesla Model 3 is around $ 48,000.
In the meantime, if you want to learn more about the cheapest Tesla model, you can also check out our “The Cheapest Tesla” (link?) post.
On the other hand, the luxury EV market continues to set its own prices and is in good demand. The prices of EVs belonging to the luxury class such as Tesla model S Plaid, Model X Plaid or The Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo are usually above $ 130,000 and $ 170,000 band.
Price is undoubtedly a very important criterion for purchasing the most suitable EV vehicle for you. At this point, you can analyze your financial situation and determine a reasonable investment range for the EV purchase business.
You can also turn to organizations that have financial products specifically designed to buy electric cars.
Although owning an electric vehicle is exciting, it may not be for everyone. If you think that having an e-car is not the right choice for you for now in terms of criteria such as usage purpose and price, you can consider alternatives.
Incentive and Tax Rates
Today, different incentive and tax rates are applied for hybrid vehicles and different tax rates for fully electric vehicles. The incentives and tax benefits offered by the government can reduce the total cost of the e-car you are considering to buy. Therefore, if you buy an eco-friendly vehicle, be sure to check the exact rates of the incentives and tax benefits you will receive.
Technical Service Facilities
Before buying an e-car, we recommend that you do a detailed research on the after-sales service and support possibilities offered by the manufacturer.
Electric motors have far fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines. This results in lower service and maintenance costs for the e-car compared to petrol and diesel vehicles. Electric cars have fewer parts that need repair. On the other hand, they still need regular care, albeit at more intermittent times.
Electric vehicles often have software-related issues. These issues can be resolved remotely by some EV manufacturers. However, from time to time, some additional maintenance and repair requirements may arise.
Therefore, the technical service possibilities of the brand to which the vehicle belongs, should be thoroughly investigated.
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