The revolution in electric vehicles (EVs) has been gathering speed as more EVs go on sale and more vehicle makers shift to all EV models. EVs also offer incentives including better safety ratings and a wide array of base model features. With so much to choose from, how do you make the right choice?
Aside from lower emissions ratings, a main advantage of EVs is low running cost. Don’t forget gas prices keep climbing higher. With fewer visits to the gas pump and fewer moving parts that could break down, an EV is clearly great value for your hard-earned money.
These aren’t the only things to consider when buying a new EV. You need to consider how much you want to spend on an EV. You can value all the ratings, reviews, and car performance you want but you have to consider the model that fits your budget.
You also need to consider how important is the car’s driving range? Do you want a low-cost EV that is effective for shorter distances or do you need something more long-haul? Don’t forget to look into if you can install a 240V charging station at home and what kind of access you will have to charging stations at your destination. Remember, you will likely require off-road parking, unless you plan to run a cable to your electric car across pathways which would be problematic, not to mention illegal.
Consider your lifestyle and which model suits it. Do you value space or better safety ratings? Do you need a larger model to accommodate your family? Would the executive segment represent the best EV for you? Living in Alberta, you can’t forget to consider local weather conditions and important safety factors like emergency braking and crash test ratings. In the end, there are many questions to ask yourself when you are considering getting a new or used EV.
Before making the decision to purchase an EV, it helps to look at car type. Some EVs still burn fossil fuels, which may be something you want to limit or avoid. You need to determine which class of EV fits your budget and lifestyle and then look at the models in that class to see which one most closely aligns with your dream EV.
When it comes to EVs, you may be familiar with the terms PHEV and ICE. These acronyms stand for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle and Internal Combustion Engine. You may not be aware that some EVs combine both PHEV and ICE engines. The full-electric style EV uses a battery to power the electric motor. Full electric EV models are environmentally the cleanest types of EV, with superb acceleration and reduced maintenance costs.
The parallel hybrid electric EVs combine an electric motor with a fossil fuel engine to power the car. While these models offer the best of both worlds, you must still top up at a pump and face increased maintenance costs due to more moving parts.
The series hybrid electric EVs receive its power from an electric motor, but a fossil fuel engine is present to charge and supplement the car’s battery. Because the fossil fuel engine operates in a reduced capacity, series hybrid EVs are simpler than parallel hybrids but still require visits to the pump.
The plug-in hybrid electric EVs can be parallel or series. The important difference being plug-in hybrids come with a heavy-duty battery, capable of running the EV entirely on electric power for short journeys. Fossil fuel engines help provide power to these models only on longer trips. You must, therefore, maintain a high charge for the best results.