The popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly increasing. According to a recent trend analysis, sales of new electric vehicles will increase by a staggering 65% in 2022, a growth made even more significant by the fact that overall new car sales declined by 8% during the same period period By 2022, nearly 6% of all new car purchases were electric vehicles, pushing the 5% “tipping point” that analysts believe marks the entry of such vehicles into the mainstream. So it’s likely that if you’re thinking about buying a new car, an electric vehicle is in your ‘consideration pool’ – one choice among your field of possible choices. With that in mind, you may have a lot of questions about the things you need to think about when deciding if an EV is right for you, and if so, which one you should choose.
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Lucky for you, we’re here to help. A.D has been covering the EV market since its inception, and with the help of Brian Moody, executive editor of AutoTrader, an online marketplace for car buyers and sellers, we’ve put together a list of things to consider .
1. Price
“The first thing to consider is the price,” says Moody. “Most new electric cars are pretty expensive right now.” To support this, Moody notes that the average transaction price for a new electric vehicle is well over $60,000, while the average new car transaction is in the high $40,000 range. He adds that while there are a number of small and inexpensive (under $30,000) gasoline cars, trucks and SUVs priced below that threshold, the number of affordable EVs is very low.
However, new federal tax breaks (part of the Biden administration’s wonderful infrastructure bill) and other incentives may bring those prices closer to parity, as well as recent price drops on popular electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt , Ford Mustang Mach-E and Model Teslas. 3 and Y. As with everything when buying a new car, do your research.
As it stands in 2023, the range of the average EV blender is between 200 and 300 miles.
2. Range
With gasoline vehicles, the price tends to climb with higher performance. With electric vehicles, the price tends to scale with longer range. “So a less expensive electric car often means it has a smaller battery,” says Moody. Many electric vehicles that are available for less than $30,000, such as the Nissan Leaf or Mini Cooper EV, can travel less than 150 miles on a charge, while 300 or 400 miles of range are reserved for six-figure vehicles like the Lucid Air sedan or the GMC Hummer. truck The $25,000 Chevrolet Bolt hatchback breaks that mold with an impressive 258-mile range.
It is also important to consider the range numbers given by the car manufacturers. Many manufacturers will advertise a full range (eg 200 miles) on a fully charged battery, but this comes with caveats. “You’re often told, ‘don’t fully charge it, because that affects the long-term health of the battery,'” Moody says. “So make sure you look at that as well.”
3. Driving habits
In a gas car, regular commutes need to be taken into account when considering issues such as fuel economy and fuel prices. Driving a large, refined SUV 100 miles a day could eat into the bank account. With an EV, the considerations are different. Unless your commute exceeds 50 miles each way, even lower-end EVs should be able to cover the distance. But this requires the ability to recharge overnight at home or during the working day at work.
Additionally, if you regularly visit a friend, relative, or second home that is several hundred miles away and does not have a charger, you may not be able to do so or make a round trip with a single charge and you will have to do it. budget than in your routine.
A solar charging station in Europe that shows style and attractive design.
4. Charge
The current state of our public charging infrastructure makes this a very important consideration. Currently, charging works best for owners who have their own charging setup. “People who buy electric cars today … about 80 percent of them are fully charged at home,” says Moody. This is convenient for their regular commute and daily driving, but may make them look for a public charger if they need to make a longer trip.
There are a growing number of public chargers. But many public chargers are poorly maintained, not available to the public, non-existent, not working and/or unable to charge at the stated rate.
There are additional challenges if you live in an apartment building and/or a residence without access to dedicated parking or the ability to install a home charger.
It is also important to be aware of an electric vehicle’s ability to fast charge. High-end electric vehicles such as the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron GT and Lucid Air offer the ability to charge at very high speeds, as do more affordable vehicles such as the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq5. This can really speed up public load times. However, you need to be able to find a high speed charger that is functional, available and capable of providing high output electricity. This is not an easy task. Therefore, it is important to question manufacturers’ advertised claims about charging rates, as they are often based on the highest charging rates, and may not be readily or consistently available in the real world.
5. Climate
Electric vehicles are a lot like people: they function optimally within a very narrow temperature band. When the temperature gets too hot or too cold, it has a negative impact on the overall range. “So if you live in San Diego, high-five everywhere,” says Moody. “But if you’re in the northeast during a polar vortex, or southwest during a heat wave, that’s different. The range will decrease.”
6. Choice
Electric vehicles are a fast-growing segment of the auto market, expanding into categories such as small hatchbacks, midsize sedans and SUVs, and even full-size pickup trucks. But, currently, there are not as many options as there are in the world of gasoline vehicles. “There are very few legitimately large SUVs, for example,” says Moody. This is changing and will continue to change as manufacturers add more electric vehicles to their fleets.
