Everything you need to know before you buy your first electric car or EV
Everything you need to know before you buy your first electric car or EV
Range anxiety is the fear that your electric car will run out of battery before you get to your destination.
It’s what an electric vehicle (EV) driver feels when the battery charge is low, and the usual sources of electricity are unavailable. It sparks a fear of getting stranded somewhere, which adds time, inconvenience, and stress to a journey.
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Buying an electric car is similar to buying an ICE (internal combustion engine) car. Most car dealers now offer electric cars for sale & hybrids.
What's diferent?
You may need to arrange for a ev home charger to be installed, and get familiar with ev rapid chargers & work ev charge points, but you’ll also never need to visit a petrol station again.
You can buy in an electric car in lots of ways. You can pay in cash, EV lease (usually for 3 years), on a EV subscription (you don't need a large deposit and can hand car back usually after 30 days) or using a electric car salary sacrifice scheme. You could also take out a electric vehicle car loan.
It depends on the insurer. as the market is new some insurers charge more because they don't understand the risk of insuring EV's at the moment. There are specialist electric car insuers like myev INSURE which offer great value cover that includes the battery, home charger and cables. Also, EV's have higher list prices of electric cars and you will end up with a final bill that’s likely to be roughly the same as it would be for a petrol or deisel car.dd an answer to this item.
This will also depend on the EV model you are driving, most EV‘s have a range of over 200 miles for every day driving & short journeys. So going shopping, picking kids up from school won’t be a problem.
EV ranges decrease at higher speeds so if driving over 150 miles you will probably have to stop at an ev rapid charger so 40 mins to 1 hour.
The weather and driving style will also effect the range of an EV battery.
It will depend on the kW. The greater the kW the faster the EV charging speed.
1. Non-rapid charging speed - 6-12 hours (sometimes called slow or fast chargers)
Typically 7 kW (most home chargers are 7kW)
Also known – confusingly – as 'slow' or 'fast' charging, the reality is that this isn’t a particularly quick way to charge an electric car.
A slow charger could be rated as little as 3kW or 7kW, most EV rapid chargers are 50kW. Anything greater 50kW is classed as ultra.
A 3.6kW output is commonly associated only with home charging, and 5.5kW is the typical rating of a lamppost charging unit.
A charge time of up to 12 hours makes slow charging unsuitable for anything other than home, workplace or hotel use.
Using a Nissan Leaf with a 40kWh battery as an example, you can expect to achieve a full charge in six hours when using a 7kW or 22kW charger.
You can use some slow and fast chargers for free. For example, the Tesco, Volkswagen and Pod Point partnership provides free access to 7kW chargers in superstore car parks throughout the UK.
2. Rapid charging speed - 20 mins to 1 hour
A 43kW rapid AC charger will charge an electric car in 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the battery and the state of charge upon arrival at the charging point.
Similarly, a 50kW EV rapid DC charger will replenish a battery to 80 percent in 20 minutes to an hour.
3. Ultra charging speed - 20 - 25 minutes
Ultra-rapid chargers deliver power at 100kW or more, typically at 100kW, 250kW, 270kW or 350kW.
These represent the future of EVs, though the fastest technology is currently limited to the most expensive electric cars, such as the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron GT and BMW iX.
The Audi e-Tron GT. A full charge can be achieved in as little as 23 minutes when using an ultra-rapid charger, but this increases to 9.5 hours when using a 11kW non-rapid device.
Even an EV able to accept a maximum of 50kW can use an ultra-rapid charger
If you own an EV, a small amount of range anxiety is unavoidable. Most new ev drivers experience range anxiety when they first get their new electric car. There are many ways that you can reduce your range anxiety.
Here are 7 ways to reduce range anxiety
1. Charge Your EV At Home
Range anxiety depends on the amount of power you have. Investing in a ev home charger allows you to charge your car at night and begin every journey with a full battery. Home chargers are not a requirement of EV ownership.
2. Plan Long Routes
Range anxiety primarily occurs on long routes. If you're making a short journey that's nowhere near the range limit, you have nothing to worry about. You can make long journeys less stressful by determining the exact distance before you set off.
3. Use a Charging Station App
Charging stations are constantly being built, and there may be more stations available to you than you think. If you know that your route includes access to multiple stations, you are less likely to worry about power. There are now many EV charging apps which include maps of all available stations. They are useful for finding stations both before and while driving.
4. Drive Slower
The speed that you drive has a big effect on EV power consumption. Making an effort to drive slower can allow you to increase your range.
5. Use Regenerative Braking
All electric vehicles offer regenerative braking. In a regenerative braking system, the motor acts as a generator when you apply the brake and uses the energy created from braking to charge the battery. This isn't going to recharge a battery completely but it does add power to the battery and it prevents energy usage whenever the brake pedal is applied.
6. Pack Less Luggage
The range of an electric vehicle depends partly on its weight. If you're taking a long trip, it isn't always practical to drive an empty vehicle. But you can increase the range of your car by not carrying anything that you don't need. It's also worth noting that an electric vehicle's advertised range is based on the vehicle being empty.
7. Switch off the air conditioning
If you like to use air conditioning while driving, you might want to open the windows instead. Temperature control, while convenient, uses battery power, and this includes heating. While there's no reason to be uncomfortable while driving, if you want to increase your car's range, you should use these features as little as possible.
The weather effects the range of an electric cars. In cold weather the range will be reduced by up to 20%. So allow for this in the winter.
Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular among eco-conscious drivers, as they offer a more environmentally friendly way to get around. But, as with any electric vehicle, it’s crucial to understand how long the battery will last before needing to be recharged. The following factors are vital.
1. How you use your electric car
The first thing to consider is how you use your electric car. If you charge your electric car regularly and use it to its full potential, you can expect its battery to last longer. Your battery will offer a maximum range if you’re driving long distances on highways and motorways. On the other hand, if you’re driving short distances on bumpy, hilly roads it will be more likely to deplete faster.
2. Consider the weather and outside temperatures
Another worthwhile factor that determines how long your electric car battery will last is the environment in which you’re using it. Extreme temperatures and frigid weather can significantly shorten the life of electric car batteries, so it’s essential to keep your electric car out of the heat or cold when not in use. Heavy snowfall could be a factor to drain out the battery sometimes.
3. Lithium-ion battery age and state of health
The lithium-ion battery's age and state of health also play a major role in determining how long it will last. Lithium-ion battery batteries are known for their high energy density and long life spans, with the average lithium-ion battery lasting anywhere from 10-20 years.
Batteries degrade over time, and an older battery will not last as long as a newer one. Additionally, the battery’s state of health can be affected by how often it is used and how it is maintained. If the battery is frequently discharged and not recharged, it will degrade faster than a battery that is recharged regularly.
4. Driving habits matter a lot
Driving an electric car with a heavy foot is far more energy-intensive than cruising along in a more relaxed, fuel-efficient style. If you routinely drive at higher speeds, accelerate quickly, and take more frequent and longer trips, you’ll use more energy and reduce the battery life. On the other hand, if you drive efficiently or use Eco-mode often, you’ll get more out of the battery.
This means driving at a steady speed, avoiding hard accelerations and braking, and using the regenerative braking system when possible. These techniques can help conserve your battery’s charge and make it last longer.
5. Battery capacity is a major contributor
The capacity of the electric car battery will determine how long it will last. Batteries with higher capacity (70kWh to 90 kWh) will generally last longer than those with lower capacity like 40kWh due to more charge or electric current storage capability.
In summary, the life of an electric car battery depends on the way it is used, the climate you live in, and the condition of the battery itself. If you drive efficiently and responsibly, use the right charging techniques and maintain the battery regularly, you can expect your electric car battery to last a long time.
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