The Main Things to Consider Before Getting an Electric Car

This is a collaborative post

Drivers who are looking to make the transition from a conventional fuel-powered car to a completely electric car will find that it is a completely different world. There are many factors that will make the ownership experience of an electric car very different to owning a car that is powered by petrol or diesel, so you may find yourself needing some time to adjust to many of the new features. Before you buy an electric car, there are lots of things to consider. You may need to make some adjustments to your home, workplace and driving habits. Here are some of the main things to consider to help you figure out if buying an electric car is the right choice for you. 

Charging Ports

Electric cars are becoming more and more popular, and you can get access to lots of public charging stations. Most petrol stations and many car parks now have spots for charging your electric car. However, with that being said, it is more convenient to be able to charge your electric car at home. To do this, you will need to have a suitable outlet installed. You can charge using a standard 120-volt wall outlet, which takes between eight and twenty-four hours to fully charge, or have an electrician install a 240-volt charging outlet at your home for full charging in just four hours. You can find out more about the type of chargers you’ll need for an electric car at ElectriX. ElectriX is a great source of valuable advice for anybody who is interested in purchasing their first electric car, with tips on what you’ll need to get started and information on costs. 

Charging Time

Another thing to consider when it comes to charging your electric vehicle is the amount of time that it will take to charge. Although getting a full charge for your electric car is much cheaper compared to filling up a tank with petrol or diesel, you will need to consider that it takes much longer. With a traditional vehicle, it will only take a few minutes to fill your tank with petrol if you run out. On the other hand, you need to be more vigilant when it comes to charging your electric car, since it will take a few hours minimum to reach a full charge. Some newer Teslas can be charged in as little as twenty minutes to half an hour, but this is still a much longer period of time compared to filling your tank at the petrol station. 

Travel Range

One of the most important things to consider before you buy an electric car or go for electric car leasing is the range. Electric cars are still not able to travel as far as a standard petrol- or diesel-powered car; however, the good news is that this is improving with each new model release. Over the past few years, thanks to brands like Tesla, there have been some significant improvements in battery technology. However, since the range is still quite not the same as a traditional car just yet, it’s important to think about where you’re going to be driving before determining if an electric car is going to be the best option for you. 

Maintenance & Security

Despite taking longer to charge and being a little bit less convenient when it comes to getting a charger installed or finding somewhere suitable to charge your car, one of the most appealing things about electric vehicles is that they require much less maintenance. Since they have much fewer moving parts compared to traditional combustion engines, they can last much longer between mandatory maintenance checks in comparison. 

However, that being said, you will still need to maintain your electric vehicle since the battery does have a limited lifespan before it will need to be replaced. Like any kind of battery, the cells in electric car batteries can only be depleted and recharged a certain number of times before they will begin to lose their capacity which will have an impact on your car’s performance. 

To protect your car against being stolen or at least help trace it if the worst should happen, you may also want to consider adding a tracking device such as one from Paj GPS which can provide instant alerts in case of an emergency.

Money Saving

In the long run, most people will find that buying an electric car saves them money, depending on how they drive and where they live. However, there is no one-size fits all solution as some might not save as much as others. For example, if you live in an area with cheap gas and expensive electricity, you might not save as much compared to a driver living somewhere with cheaper electricity. Along with that, if you often drive long distances, the cost savings of an electric car might not be worth the inconvenience. A hybrid model might be a better choice for you if this is the case, but you will want to switch to electric. 

Electric cars can be cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and require less maintenance compared to traditional cars. However, there are lots of factors to consider before you decide if an electric car is the right option for you.