Everything you need to know about electric vehicles, part 2
In part one of this series, we covered the biggest concern many people have when contemplating the switch: “How much money will I save by switching to an electric car?”
Less considered, but just as important, is the lifestyle change that electric vehicle ownership could bring.
What is the life expectancy of an electric car?
Gasoline and electric vehicles have a similar life expectancy.
On average, both gasoline and electric vehicles last around 200,000 miles, which is about 15 to 20 years.
Of course, the life expectancy of your car is highly dependent on maintenance and driver habits. Like gasoline-powered cars, electric cars require regular maintenance and benefit from the owner investing in keeping their car in good shape.
Electric vehicle “Range” vs. “MPG”
While traditional vehicles primarily manage “MPG,” electric car drivers have a very different figure to consider: range.
“Range” refers to the number of miles your car will go on a full charge.
Like MPG, your car’s range can vary greatly from its advertised ideal. Rank changes are based on a number of factors, including:
Tires: Anything that increases rolling resistance will decrease your range, including special tires, over or under inflation.
Driving habits: Fast acceleration and sustained high speed will consume more battery than smooth driving at lower speeds.
Climate and temperature controls: Electric cars use the same reserve electricity to heat (or cool) the passenger compartment as to power the engine, resulting in a 17% to 41% reduction in range. (More on weather effects later.)
Braking: All current EV models work with “regenerative braking,” which means that the friction generated by braking helps recharge the battery. So while stop-and-go traffic can be an MPG killer, your EV will last 10-15% longer if you brake frequently.
Does time change the autonomy of my electric vehicle?
A study conducted by AAA and ARC reports dramatic losses in battery life in extreme heat and cold conditions, with or without the use of climate controls.
The most obvious cause of range loss in extreme weather conditions has to do with heating and air conditioning. Naturally, operating the climate controls depletes battery life: heating or air conditioning for the passenger compartment uses energy that would otherwise go to the stove.
Without the use of climate control, AAA’s key findings report that battery life decreases 12% in cold (20°F) and 4% in hot (95°F). Control values were run, where the test vehicles matched the EPA range estimates. at 75°F. Combined with climate controls, these losses increased to 41% in the cold and 17% in the heat.
Of course, most Americans live outside of regions that stay at a comfortable 75°F year-round. This means EV drivers here in North Carolina will have to plan ahead for their EV range to drop from EPA estimates in most months of the year.
Where can I charge an electric car?
EV drivers can’t stop to “charge” as easily as gasoline drivers, although the convenience gap between “charging” and “filling up” is starting to close, thanks to the increasing number of charging stations in the US. .us
The United States has more than 48,000 charging stations, mostly in population centers and metropolitan areas. North Carolina has a total of 2,287 public charging stations, with the highest concentrations of which can be found in our major cities: Charlotte with 148 stations and Raleigh with 99.
How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?
The rate at which your EV charges depends on the size of your battery, the efficiency of your charge point, and the maximum kW rate of your battery.
However, even the fastest chargers can’t compete with the ubiquity and speed of filling up a tank of gas; The time it takes to fully charge an electric car battery is measured in hours (less than 8 or more than 12) versus the few minutes it takes to fill up a tank of gasoline.
Changing your mindset to “load” instead of “fill” just requires a little proactive planning. For most EV drivers, full charging is done overnight at home, like a cell phone, and you can “top off” charging during the day as needed.
Do electric vehicles require special equipment to charge?
EV chargers generally fall into three categories: “Level 1”, “Level 2 (portable)”, and “Level 2 (permanent)”.
Most electric vehicles come with “Tier 1” chargers that plug into a standard 3-prong 120 volt outlet in your home. These chargers, while convenient, are slow and inefficient.
For faster and more convenient charging, you can install a “Level 2” charger, either portable or permanent, in your home. Half of all EV drivers surveyed (JD Power) own a permanent level 2 charger and are more satisfied with it; However, permanent chargers require significant upfront cost to install. (Not to mention the space required to do so, like a garage or dedicated driveway.)
Electric vehicle chargers by price
Level 1
Free (with vehicle purchase) – $300 Pros: Plugs into any 120 volt outlet Cons: Very slow, adds 2-5 miles of range per hour of charge
Level 2 (Portable)
$200 – $400 Pros: Much faster than L1, portable, no special setup required Cons: Requires a 230 volt outlet (such as a clothes dryer or “store” outlet)
Level 2 (Stationary)
$300 – $1200 Pros: Much faster than L1, more convenient Cons: Must be installed by a certified electrician; requires the space to install (such as a garage or dedicated driveway)
How much would an electric vehicle change your lifestyle?
EV adoption requires lifestyle changes, especially for drivers with long commutes or frequent road trips; But thanks to advances in EV technology, new pro-electric legislation and infrastructure, and ever-expanding lineups of new electric car models, it’s becoming easier and easier to make the switch.
If you’re ready to go electric, call Get400More.com.
Switching to electric comes with enough complications – selling your old car does NOT have to be one of them.
If you need the best price on your old car, guaranteed, visit Get400More.com.
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Source: news.google.com