When we think about an buying an electric vehicle, what we’re really thinking about is that we won’t have to go fill up gas anymore, we won’t have to spend money and we will be saving the planet. There are so many things that people do not know about electric vehicles and that’s why we are going to tell you all you need to know about this type of vehicle.
First of all, an electric vehicle has two major components. An electric motor and a battery pack that powers it. You won’t find an internal combustion engine in a true electric vehicle, or a fuel pump, gas tank, or oil pan. No oil or smog checks are necessary.
There are two important terms that you should know when buying this type of vehicle EV and BEV. An EV is the general catch-all term for an electric vehicle. Fully electric cars get all of their power from motors that use batteries charged with electricity. A BEV or battery-powered electric vehicle uses only its electric motor or motors for propulsion. A BEV is the same as a fully electric vehicle.
Now let’s talk about the vehicle range. An Electric car range can contribute to the apprehension of buyers and what they feel while deciding to give up their vehicle that uses traditional gasoline engines. Many electric vehicles can travel more than 200 miles on a full battery charge and the more advanced models can reach up to 400 miles between charges. This shows us that both long-range and short-range electric vehicles can perform well in the start and stop driving during rush hour. In addition, electric vehicles consume significantly more of their battery at steady speeds on highways when used for more extended getaways. If you are thinking about if the weather has some type of effect on your electric vehicle then you are right, hot weather and cold temperatures reduce the range of electric vehicles because of the air conditioner and heater use.
There are three types of charges that you should know about before buying an electric vehicle, level 1,2, and 3 chargers. A level 1 charger is a basic household charger that only adds up to 5 miles of range per hour. It is very slow and doesn’t do the job if you are looking to charge your vehicle in just a few hours. A level 2 charger provides 240 volts of power and requires an external device that plugs into a receptacle like that of an electric clothes dryer. This type of charger is fast and can charge your vehicle within 3-8 hours. It also adds up to 25 miles of range per hour. Level 3 charger is the fastest charger, it can add up to 100 miles of range within only 30 minutes of charging. If you are looking for a good type of charger then level 3 is the best type of charger to have.
Last but not least, let’s talk about electric vehicle recharging costs. Many people don’t know the costs of charging an electric vehicle. At home, it really requires you to do a lot of math, it primarily depends on how much you drive and the price you pay for residential electricity. Let’s say you put at least 1000 miles on your vehicle per month and pay 10 cents for each kilowatt-hour of electricity, then you are at-home electric vehicle recharging bill will be between $25 to $33 per month. Even if you are paying 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, your electric vehicle recharging cost would be $50 to $66 each month. This is nothing compared to how much you pay for gas monthly.
This all comes to show that buying an electric vehicle is not only saving the planet but also helps you save money monthly when it comes to charging it. Consider these next time you decide to purchase an electric vehicle.
