The electrified vehicle is emerging in a market with increasingly better views, and there, when it comes to its disposition, it tempts a good variety of users. They stand out for having a much more advanced technology compared to gasoline cars. Seeing these advantages, someone will have decided to take the step of acquiring a sustainable model.
Your purchase always needs prior research
To place ourselves: an electric car is one powered by one or more motors powered by a electrical power source later transformed into kinetic energy, whether it is recharged or not through the network.
In this context, and often due to ignorance, incipient charging network and the difference in price with a combustion vehicle with similar characteristics, make drivers take into account a series of variables before buying an electric car. Fortunately, current and future legislative changes will facilitate the implementation of this type of non-polluting vehicles.
This makes the public tend to wonder if these weaknesses have a direct impact on the time of acquisition, or although it is better to leave it for the years to come when they are more fit. Therefore, and if we approach it from the point of view of what is the largest financial outlay we make throughout our lives, its considerations are more than important.
Thus, doing it in these times where technology is constantly evolving, we must not make the choice at first glance. Quite the opposite. We have to investigate and know thoroughly the car before executing the purchase. But do you know which points you have to pay more attention to?
Doubts to be resolved
The past 2020 closed with an increase of 216% until 17,925 units in electric vehicles, of which 9 out of 10 were passenger cars. This showed a remarkable growth in the face of the user, who, although timidly, is increasingly reinforcing itself to buy an electric car of these characteristics.
This also has a direct impact on the price. It is true that that of a mid-range combustion engine is significantly cheaper than its electric counterpart, although if we look at long term, the thing is equalized. In any case, and in general, there are currently cheaper electric vehicles than a few years ago that also offer much better autonomy and performance. In fact, options are traded from 20,000 euros (some, like the Seat Mii, even for € 11,000).
Beyond the debates for or against this authentic automotive revolution, meaningless since it is unstoppable, the important thing is to define the circumstances of each case in order to make the right choice. First of all, it is important clear the doubts initials.
- Do youSo that are we going to use it? This is a more than frequent question when buying an electric car. In the environment urban Its advantages are indisputable and its autonomy more than sufficient. But in road it gets complicated for us. Yes, the most expensive ones have a greater scope, but not enough without careful planning and enough conditions.
- It is difficult to drive? Quite the opposite. These vehicles are completely bearable. They do not have a gearbox or clutch and do not stall, so they respond especially gentle.
- Their benefits are they minors? Although it is about modest performance and urban orientation, the first time you drive an electric, it is surprising how fast and progressive it starts. Its powers are on the rise, comparable with many conventional ones.
- They are more expensive? An electrified car saves on taxes and fuel due to the advantage of the price of electricity over fuel. But their acquisition prices are significantly higher than the thermal ones. With them we get to enjoy several public aid to purchase.
Points to consider
Once some of the most frequent doubts that drivers usually have have been resolved, we will go on to know the points that we are going to face when buying an electric car. Because if; its operation also has a serious impact on other factors that are not solely personal. A series of quirks that will facilitate the choice.
And, usually, we only look at the cost of the vehicle and the cost per kilometer of it. Although these are two pillars on which to lean, you need to know that there are other reasons that will incline us for one electric or another. We must take into account factors such as easy access to charging points and how we use our car. But there is more.
So, beyond personal, ecological or inertial considerations regarding the behavior of the market (the supply of electric vehicles is increasing) it is necessary to have a global vision of the use that is going to be given to our EV to know if it really deserves worth your purchase.
Consumption
As we mentioned, consumption is something that all drivers tend to ask when buying their electric car. And they are right. Without the need for calculations, it is known that electric motors are very more energy efficient than combustion engines.
For example, while a diesel car will have consumed about 4 liters when traveling 100 kilometers, it will have spent around 4 euros (5 on gasoline). This taking into account the current price of gasoline and diesel A, the cheapest. But for an electrician the numbers are different, and the truth is that they are better.
Here, for that same 100-kilometer trip, it will consume about 13 kWh from its batteries. Putting a daytime domestic energy price of 0.158 euros per kW, making 100 kilometers will cost about € 2,054. Currently, those who spend the least are between 11.5 kW / 100km (Hyundai Ioniq EV) and 14.5 (Mitsubishi i-MiEV).
Autonomy and power of the car
This will be one of the aspects that will make us divert the most to an electric car or another when buying. And it is normal. Over time, this type of vehicle has grown considerably in this regard, especially with regard to power and maximum speeds, but its autonomy, in most cases, still shows that its development can still be improved ( and a lot, in addition).
Currently we can find electric cars on the market with autonomies between 200 and 600 kilometers. As a general rule, although it does not have to, more autonomy requires a larger battery, and this in turn leads us to larger and more expensive cars.
Then, and even more if greater benefits are sought, we will also have greater vehicle powers. Here, like the load power that we will find next, it is measured in kilowatts (kW). The more kW the engine has, the more powerful the car will be. The equivalence of 100 kW is 136 hp.
Load power
Of course, just as we talk about consumption and autonomy, we also have to assess matters that are so specific to our driving on board a new generation car such as charging power. This, which is measured in kW, will do because we have a loading time higher or lower.
In general, at home we usually have a maximum of 7.4 kW of power. But for public chargers there is also the option of fast charging in direct current. A charging power below 50 kW can be called semi-fast charging; Come in 50 and 150 kW it is considered fast charge; and ultra fast if we talk about more than 150 kW.
Therefore, your time depends: capacity battery, the higher the charging power, the shorter the time it takes to recharge it.
Maintenance
Yes, we also recommend you look at the maintenance of your electric car when buying. As such, this is significantly lower than in the case of internal combustion cars, both in the price difference between gasoline and electricity and in the revisions. This is because issues such as filters, lubricant or oil will hardly be an expense.
But it must also be considered that, despite having the same electrical components, not all electrically powered vehicles are the same, not even in reliability. Therefore, based on this, it is possible that there is a different arrangement. Given this, we must not fall into the error of thinking that we can forget forever to go through the workshop. In addition to specific maintenance, we must continue to check tires, windscreen wiper blades, shock absorbers, pollen filter, brake pads …