Electric vehicles are the future. According to a report by J.P Morgan, electric vehicles will account for 30% of all vehicles sold in the world by 2025. In addition, the number of countries mandating future cars sold within their borders be electric is growing. There are several reasons you may want to own an electric vehicle. You probably care about the environment, the damage caused to our children’s respiratory systems by fuel emissions, or you just want to save on fuel. Whatever your reason, there are tons of factors to consider before buying an electric vehicle.
- Maintenance
Electric cars are complex pieces of machinery, and maintenance is one of the most crucial factors you should consider before purchasing one. Normally, they are very easy to maintain since they have few moving parts, but they can be quite costly to fix in case of a breakdown. In addition, there are only a handful of repair specialists for electric vehicles, and you may have to deal with the manufacturer for any maintenance and repair works.
- Availability of charging stations
There still aren’t many charging stations around for people to charge their electric vehicle batteries, and this can be a problem, especially when traveling long distances. Although you can install a charging station in your home, it will cost you in excess of $2,000. Finding a charging station shouldn’t be a problem if you live in a major metropolitan city, though.
- Hybrid vs. full electric
If you care about the environment but buying an electric car is not practical for you, you should probably consider a compromise choice – a hybrid car. Hybrid cars use both electric motors and internal combustion engines, and they produce fewer emissions than gas-fueled cars. Hybrid vehicles are also more reliable than the current crop of electric cars, as an electric car’s battery is much more likely to die than a hybrid vehicle’s battery.
- Driving range
The driving range is another crucial factor that you shouldn’t ignore when buying an electric vehicle. The main issue keeping people from buying electric vehicles is the distance the vehicles can drive before running out of battery power. With very few charging stations out of major towns, you wouldn’t take your electric vehicle on a cross-country road trip, would you? Be sure to consider the driving range when buying an electric vehicle, but don’t only rely on the manufacturer’s figures; read real-life reviews to get an idea of the car’s driving range in real-world conditions.
- Battery life
The battery is the most important and one of the most expensive parts of an electric vehicle. Replacing one can cost in excess of $5,000, and you need to consider how often you will need to replace the battery before purchasing an electric vehicle. Be sure to check the battery life and always go for a car with longer battery life.
Endnote
If you are contemplating ditching your gas-fueled car for an electric equivalent, beyond the normal pitfalls associated with buying a new car, you should also consider the above factors before buying one.
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