Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming more and more popular lately. According to Edmunds, “there were about 3.3 million electric cars on the road” towards the end of 2023. In that year, they made up about 1.26% of Utah’s vehicles, and that number continues to grow every year. You have probably heard the arguments for and against electric vehicles, but what should you really consider before buying one? Cars.com has a few answers on what to consider.
How Much Battery Range Do You Need?
As with any gas vehicle has a range of miles they can go on a tank of gas, electric vehicles have a range of how far they can go on a charge. Some vehicles have a longer range and others have shorter. The car with the lowest range is a “Mini Cooper SE Hardtop with 114 miles” and “the longest range is the Lucid Air Grand Touring with 516 miles of range”. Most electric vehicles “have between 200-300 miles of range”. Something to consider is that most of the automakers suggest that you should keep your electric vehicle between 10% and 90%, and only charge your car to 100% when you are road tripping.
Another consideration, especially for Utah drivers, is that the temperature can affect your car’s battery as well. “According to a study from AAA, EVs can lose about 40% of their range when the temperature drops from 75 degrees to 20 degrees”. This is because the vehicle will use some of the battery to keep the vehicle warm. Even high temperatures can cause the battery to decrease faster. Also, the battery will lose “5%-10% of over capacity over the span of 5 years”. With all the factors, a vehicle that has 250 miles of range, can get down to 125 in the worst case scenario.
So, if you are someone who is not able to charge your vehicle everyday or you have to drive long distances, it might not be the right vehicle for you. If you commute everyday or take many short trips, and you have access to a charger everyday, it might be a great option.
Home and On-The-Road Charging Differences
The speed of charging your EV can depend on many factors, which includes battery size, the batteries health, and your charger, and the electrical circuit. There are “three charging levels” that affect how fast your EV will charge: Level 1, Level 2, and DC fact charging.
A standard home outlet could charge your vehicle at “3-5 miles of range per hour”. This would mean that it would take 50 hours to fill up a 250 miles of range. Even a short charge could take multiple hours.
Cars.com says that a “240-volt Level 2 home charging” would be the best, as it “can add 5.5-60 miles of range per hour depending on the car, charger and home charging circuit.”
Charging times can also depend on the temperature outside, battery temperature, your battery health, and more. Battery size also affects the charging time, as a smaller battery can take longer to charge. Most popular EV vehicles come with a charging cord mobile charger, and this is good to attach to a “circuit from an appliance like an electric clothes dryer”. You can get these chargers installed in your house, and will eventually be worth it if you are driving often. Cars.com has even more information about the type of chargers different EVs require.
Before you purchase an electric vehicle to check where the chargers are in your town in case you are driving in the day, find the battery lower than you are comfortable with.
How EVs Drive
Electric vehicles can go into high speeds quickly. This is because gas-powered cars only have one powerful engine, whereas “an EV can have two or more motors”. But these two motors can cause the battery to run-down faster. Though the extra motor means that EVs can have “regenerative braking [to] recuperate energy and soften the hit”. This recycles the energy “that would otherwise be lost during declaration”. Driving an EV versus a gas-powered vehicle can take a minute for you to get familiar with.
Considering the Federal Tax Credit
For qualifying electric vehicles, there is the Federal EV Tax Credit. “A credit of up to $4,000 is available when purchasing a used EV for up to $25,000, with additional terms and conditions”. There is also credit “for those who lease a new EV, with $7,500 again available but with fewer restrictions than for a purchase”. These tax credits are always up for debate, so it might not last too long.
Registration and Insurance Fees
Registration fees can differ depending on the vehicle you have purchased. According to Alternative Fuels Data Center, they state that all-electric vehicles “are required to pay an additional annual registration fee”. For EV, the fee is $138.50. Insurance rates are also higher. According to Progressive, “Insurance for an electric car may cost more than insurance for a regular gas-powered car. An electric car’s higher price tag and more complex equipment means it may cost more to repair or replace if it’s in an accident.”
The cost is about 20% more than regular insurance. This also includes hybrid cars. Not only are the parts more expensive, there also are not “as many repair shops with technicians trained to fix electric vehicles versus traditional vehicles”. According to ValuePenguin, the insurance is less when the EV is made by a company that also sells “gas cars, like Ford and Volkswagen. Rates for EV-only companies like Tesla and Rivian are much higher”. The prices do vary by insurance companies, so while you are shopping for a vehicle, it might be good for you to shop for insurance as well.
Electric vehicles are going to continue becoming more prominent, and they could soon become the abundant vehicle on the road. Whether you love or are neutral towards electric vehicles, it is important to be aware of the facts around them.
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