EV Ownership 101 What You Need to Know Before Buying an Electric Car
7 things you need to know before you buy an electric car
Given the current price of gas, you may have wondered whether its worth ditching your current set of wheels and buying one of the best electric cars. Not only would it save you from spending so much on gasoline, youre not burning fuel and pumping out clouds of pollution while you get around.
But if youve never owned an electric car before, then the process can be a bit daunting. Theres a lot of new information to wrap your head around, and it isnt helped by all the misinformation that gets spread around. If you are a total EV newbie, here are 7 things you should know before you buy an electric car.
Is now the right time to buy an electric car, since gas prices are so high?
Only if you were planning on buying a new car soon anyway. Unnecessarily spending thousands of dollars on a brand new car is going to eat up pretty much all your potential savings. Even knowing how to find cheap gas isn't enough to combat extreme prices.
But if your car is about due for an upgrade, theres plenty to gain from going electric. Not only can you save money on fuel and maintenance, you also have the added convenience of being able to plug in at home, instant torque to get you going faster, and potentially a car with a much roomier interior.
If making the switch to pure electric is too much, or too expensive, then it may also be worth checking out a hybrid. Youll still need to buy gas, but not quite as much as you do with a non-hybrid car. But again, its only worth it if youre thinking about getting a new car anyway.
How much money can you save vs gas vehicles?
When it comes to electric cars, buying the car is the biggest financial hurdle youll face. EVs are more expensive than their gasoline-fueled counterparts, which can be a significant financial hurdle. However, once you have the car, all your ongoing costs will be significantly lower.
The most obvious saving comes from powering the car. Despite a rise in energy prices, refueling with gasoline is still significantly more expensive. In the past the U.S. Department of Energy reported figures that showed gasoline, on average, cost more than double the equivalent amount of electricity. Plus it is possible to find free EV chargers that cost absolutely nothing to use.
Electric cars also have lower regular maintenance costs. They dont need oil changes, and there are fewer moving parts that could potentially break and need replacing. All in all, youre looking at some serious savings.
Back in 2020 Consumer Reports claimed drivers could save $6,000 to $10,000 over the lifetime of an EV. That includes saving $800 to $1,000 a year on the cost of fuel, and around $4,600 on maintenance over the cars lifetime. And, of course, these figures were calculated before gas prices started getting silly.
People worry about range anxiety, but how far can you travel on a single charge?
If youre buying a brand new EV in the U.S. the shortest electrical range you will be able to get is the 100 miles offered by the Mazda MX-30. Which is pretty poor, theres no denying that. Fortunately. the days of low-range EVs are coming to an end, and there are currently more electric cars with over 200 miles of range than there are below.
While cars with really quite poor ranges are on the cheaper side, price and range dont always correlate. Right now the cheapest EV in the United States is the 2023 Chevy Bolt, which has a newly-reduced starting price of $26,595, and a range of 259 miles. Meanwhile the 2022 Audi e-tron, which starts at $60,900, only offers 222 miles.
But while 200+ miles is now becoming the default, some EVs can travel even further than that. The Tesla Model S offers 405 miles of range, while the Lucid Air Dream Edition can hit 520. If that wasnt impressive enough, the Mercedes EQXX Vision concept managed to travel a record-breaking 747 miles on a single charge.
For reference, the driving distance from Manhattan to Chicago is around 800 miles and takes over 12 hours. With a range like that, its a shame that car wont be going into mass production.
How long does it take to recharge at home or on the go? And how much do those chargers cost?
A bunch of factors affect how long it takes to recharge an electric car. Primarily it comes down to the kind of charger you use, how much voltage is available and how much power your car can actually pull in. Out on the road youll be using DC rapid chargers, which will recharge the majority of cars to 80% in under an hour though some can do it in considerably less time.
At home things get a lot slower. If youre using a standard 120V wall socket your recharge time is going to be measured in days rather than hours which isnt convenient. Using a specialized 240V socket, which any qualified electrician can install, can speed up the process. But cars with larger batteries (and range) can still take over 24 hours to fully recharge.
A dedicated EV charger, most commonly available with speeds in excess of 7kW, can cut that time down to a few hours. Its not fast enough to quickly recharge in an emergency or on a road trip, but it is fast enough to recharge most EVs overnight. In all three cases, the cost of recharging is only as much as your energy provider charges you.
The price of the chargers themselves varies, because theres a huge variety of options on the market. Some are glorified plug sockets and others have smart features that offer smartphone app support, let you set timers, control the amount of power consumption and more. While you need to factor in installation costs as well, you can purchase a car charger for a few hundred dollars. Teslas 11.5kW home charger costs $400 and the 12 kW Chargepoint Home Flex, which has some smarter features, costs $700.
What is the US government doing to make EVs more affordable for the masses? And how do you claim that money?
The main financial incentive for prospective EV owners is the $7,500 federal tax credit. Buying an eligible plug-in vehicle, including plug-in hybrids, means you can claim up to $7,500 on your taxes thereby significantly reducing the cost of buying an electric car. To do this youll need form 8936, for Qualified Plug-In Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit. This can be found on the IRS website, alongside instructions on how to fill it in.
However. the tax credit is only available if the manufacturer has sold less than 100,000 eligible vehicles. So far that only applies to Tesla and General Motors, but others could be on the way. There has been talk of removing that restriction, and increasing the maximum credit, but nothing concrete has happened. And its the only tax credit available at a federal level.
There are other incentives available at the state and local level, each with their own rules and requirements. California, for example, offers the Clean Fuel Reward on eligible EVs and plug-in hybrids, which saves $750 at the point of sale if you buy from a participating retailer. Texas also has a $2,500 rebate for alternative fuel vehicles, which includes EVs and plug-in hybrids, but you have to apply online and only 2,000 applications are accepted each year.
The U.S. Department of Energy has a tool to find incentives at a state and federal level. Meanwhile, EnelWay can help you seek out incentives that are available to you, based on your Zip Code.
Are electric cars less safe?
No, its the actually the opposite. EVs have had some bad press due to a few serious battery fires, which typically involved firefighters using water, which isnt very effective. EVs have also been engineered to make sure batteries dont overheat, so fires are incredibly rare. Compare that to gasoline cars, which carry and burn flammable fuel to get around and offer a much greater risk with 212,500 fires reported in 2018 alone.
EVs are also, statistically, safer cars in the event of an accident. The NHTSA concluded that the risk of injuries to EV passengers is lower, and are generally more crashworthy than conventional vehicles. Plus, all cars on the road have to pass strict crash safety testing before they can go on sale, so you dont have anything to worry about.
As an example, the original Tesla Model S got a full five-star rating from the NHTSA when it launched in 2013. That's the highest score the agency can give.
There have been concerns about pedestrian safety, since EVs are very quiet while driving at low speeds. For this reason automakers (with some prompting from world governments) have added noise makers to the car that generate noise at slower speeds reducing risk. At higher speeds the wheels on the road make enough noise to make it clear somethings there.
What are some of the most exciting electric cars on the road now?
One of the most exciting cars on the road is the Lucid Air Dream Edition. While expensive (from $169,000) and only sold in limited quantities, it is capable of reaching 520 miles on a single charge more than any other electric production car. It also looks pretty stylish, and is supposed to get a level 3 autonomous driving system in the near future. Other cars on the road only hit level 2 including Tesla.
Then theres the Ford F-150 Lightning, which is a little more affordable but no slouch in any department. The price starts at $39,974, and long range models can hit 320 miles on a single charge. But thats only part of it. Fords F-Series has been the best selling automobile in the United States for decades, and the F-150 Lightning is ushering in a new era for the brand and potentially bring a whole new group of people to team EV. There are plenty of reasons to need a truck, and the F-150 Lighting aims to be able to do it all, plus a little extra.
Then, of course, theres the Tesla Model S Plaid, which comes with all the flourishes and performance youd expect from a Tesla car. We're talking 396 miles of range, 100 mph top speed, an in-car computer thats powerful enough to play triple-A PC games, and a 0-60 time of under 1.99 seconds making it the fastest production car on the road.
For all of our recommendations, check out our full best electric cars list now.
You can also read about my thoughts on renting an electric car for my vacation, and how you can maximize your electric car range in winter.
9 essential tips for buying an electric car
Buying an electric car can feel daunting, especially if you dont know a great deal about the tech and what you should be looking for. Our best electric cars list is a good place to start, as is our list of the most exciting electric vehicles coming in 2022, but theres a lot that you need to consider, including battery range, specs measured in kWh and other things gas car shoppers dont have to worry about.
But then there are an awful lot of benefits to electric cars. Lower refuelling costs, less regular maintenance and a car that drives along so quietly its almost silent. Not to mention the fact you dont need to worry about things like oil changes or spewing clouds of pollution every time you go to the store. But it still means having to make a decision on whether an EV is right for you, and which model to buy.
Thankfully, were here with our EV buying guide to help you figure that out.
Electric vehicle buying quick tips
If youre in a hurry, here are the nine most important things to consider before you buy an electric car. And read on for a lot more valuable info to help you buy and EV.
- What features do you need to have? Modern EVs offer a smorgasbord of new and exciting technology, but it does cost extra. So only pay for features you know youre going to use.
- Know how much range you need: Batteries are expensive, so shell out for the range you're going to use on a regular basis. The Nissan Leaf, for example, starts with 149 miles of range, while the Tesla Model S Plaid can go nearly 400 miles.
- Do you have a place to charge your EV? Can you charge at home, or will you need to use public chargers? Its essential to have a recharge plan before you buy the car.
- Self-driving features don't make EVs truly autonomous: For example, Tesla's Autopilot is designed to enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane. Active driver supervision is required.
- An EV can cost less to refuel than a gas vehicle: While the national average cost of gasoline is $2.85 a gallon, an equivalent electric eGallon only costs $1.16. Thats less than half the price.
- A home charger can be a significant investment: The national average for getting a home car charger installed is between $1,000 and $2,500. Wed recommend looking into a Level 2 fast charger, ideally one that offers 7kW speeds.
- Check tax credits and incentives first: Depending on where you live, you may be able to recoup some of the cost of buying an EV after the fact. For example, in the U.S. the federal EV grant takes the form of a tax credit worth up to $7,500.
- Know the difference between an electric car and plug-in hybrid: A battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) is a fully-electric car, A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) can be driven around using a rechargeable battery or a traditional gas tank. PHEV examples include the Mercedes e300 e, Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in and Prius PHEV.
- Should you buy used, or lease? Used EVs cost less, but come with certain caveats. Likewise leases can be beneficial if you dont plan on keeping a car for long.
How do you plan to use your electric car?
Like any car, your main decision needs to be based on what you actually need. Theres a huge variety of electric cars on the market right now, so there should be plenty of choices depending on your needs and circumstances.
Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) are perfect for families or people who need to transport large and bulky objects like the latest IKEA furniture order or a couple of mountain bikes. An SUVs size also means theres plenty of room for passengers to be comfortable.
Examples of popular electric SUVs include the Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, VW ID.4
Sedans are better suited for people who want a sportier-looking car with the performance to match. Sedans typically have better acceleration, top speed, and braking performance compared to other cars. They also weigh less than other kinds of cars, which helps improve your overall range and gets the most out of your battery. Sedans also tend to emphasise luxury, but still have the space for cargo and passengers.
Popular electric sedans include the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model 3, and the Polestar 2.
Hatchbacks, also known as compact cars, tend to be among the cheapest electric cars you can buy. They are best suited for city driving, and for people who dont necessarily need to ferry around a lot of people and cargo at any given time, though the ability to fold down the back seats makes the latter much easier. Recent models also have much higher range, which makes them more appealing commuter cars.
Popular electric hatchbacks include the Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, and the Mini Electric.
Trucks tend to be hardier vehicles, with plenty of versatility. Not only do they have plenty of power and cargo space to do what you need, Trucks are also well-utilized as off-road vehicles and hauling machines. Electric trucks havent quite taken off yet, but there are plenty of them due to arrive in 2022.
Electric trucks on the way include the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Tesla Cybertruck and the Rivian R1T.
What features do you want?
Its been a long time since the car was just a machine for driving from point A to B. These days automobiles are packed to the brim with new tech and features for you to grapple with. That means not only do you need to figure out what car to buy, you need to figure out what tech it can come with and whether its actually worth paying extra for.
Because some of them, like Teslas $10,000 Full Self Driving package, are not going to be affordable for everyone. Even with the new $200 a month subscription for the Model S and Model X drivers.
Connectivity: Almost all electric cars have some form of in-car connectivity. The majority will support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which lets you plug in your phone and utilize all your usual apps and services on the cars on-dash screen. This is especially useful for map-based navigation.
Others, like Tesla, stick to their own premium connectivity service that does mostly the same thing, albeit without relying on your phone. However there are some, particularly older cars like the original now-discontinued Nissan Leaf, that dont offer either. So be aware of what youre buying, and how thats going to affect your ability to get around.
Self driving: Electric cars are also a hotbed of sci-fi-esque features like semi-autonomous driving. At a basic level these systems are little more than adaptive cruise control. You set the speed, and the car sees' the cars in front, slowing down and speeding up in accordance with the traffic. Other basic driver assistance features bundled in with this include blind-spot detection, an emergency brake, and exterior cameras.
At the higher end you have cars that can steer themselves to a limited degree, and in some cases change lanes on the highway when you request it. These features typically end up on the more expensive EV models, which means you will pay a premium for them.
For example,Teslas Full Self Driving Autopilot adds $10,000 to the cost of your car, no matter which one you choose. Likewise the price of the 2022 Nissan Leaf, currently the cheapest electric car in the U.S., ranges from $27,400 with zero autonomous features, to one that costs $43,970 and includes a larger battery (62kWh vs 40 kWh), adaptive cruise control, steering support and lane change assist.
However, its worth pointing out that these are not fully-autonomous self-driving cars. You still need to pay attention to the road ahead, and in the majority of cases keep your hands on the steering wheel.
Infotainment systems: Increasingly, high-end cars offer infotainment screens that can do more than just let you navigate and control your cars features. That includes being able to play games ranging from Tetris to AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077.
Thats of no use to the driver, of course, but it might help to keep some passengers quiet during longer trips. However, some, like Mercedes, may charge you an annual subscription fee.
Anyone hoping to buy an EV for performance reasons may also want to look into what extras cars included to help facilitate that. Like Teslas Ludicrous Mode which essentially put the car into a track-ready position.
What range do you need?
Knowing what kind of car you need is only half the fight. The type of car you pick will also depend on what sort of range you need. And how much range you need will all depend on what sort of driving you plan on doing.
The battery is one of the most expensive parts of an electric car, and the bigger the battery the more youre going to have to pay. Having better range can be useful, especially if you ever need to make longer trips, but if youre only driving a few miles across town then you dont necessarily need to pick up a Long Range Tesla Model 3 with 360 miles of range.
The thing to remember about range specs is that the advertised figure is the best possible outcome. The way you drive is going to impact the overall range, and how much distance you can actually get out of the car. For example, you end up driving the faster you will deplete your battery reserves, much like how driving a gas car at faster speeds uses up more fuel.
I found this out the hard way driving to my brothers wedding in a fully charged 40 kWh Nissan Leaf. Despite the 150 range estimate when I left, driving at 70 miles per hour for close to 75 miles used up 80 percent of my battery.
If youre only going to be making short trips, and on roads with stricter speed limits than the highway, you dont necessarily need a big range.
EVs tend to cost more to buy, but less to maintain
Like it or not, EVs are still expensive. Or rather, they are more expensive to purchase than their gas counterparts. Thankfully, though, the initial purchase price does seem to be coming down.
Nissan, for instance, has just reduced the cost of the 2022 Leaf to below $28,000. Even Tesla, notable for selling some pricey vehicles, has a $25,000 hatchback in the works, tentatively scheduled for a 2023 release. So even if you cant afford an EV right now, dont be put off. Give it a few years and you may well find that an electric car is within your price range.
That being said, a higher listing price is not the only cost associated with the car. So while you may spend more initially to purchase an EV, the amount of money youll have to put into the car over its lifetime will be less than that of a gas-powered equivalent.
Not only is electricity cheaper than an equivalent amount of gas, electric cars generally dont need as much maintenance. Thats because an EV doesnt have as many parts as an internal combustion engine, which means fewer points of failure and need for regular maintenance. Likewise, EV owners get to escape the cost of things like oil changes just because EVs dont need them.
Of course EVs arent free of maintenance costs as a whole. In fact Car and Driver recently complained that the Tesla Model 3 in their fleet of testing cars cost as much to maintain as some of its gas powered cars. So while there is less maintenance, there is still maintenance and some of it may be pretty costly.
However InsideEVs pointed out that Car And Driver wasnt taking refuelling savings into account, which is where you may well see the bulk of your savings.The US Department of Energy has a tool that shows you how much cheaper it is to recharge with electricity, using a concept known as an eGallon that lets you better compare the cost of electricity (normally measured in kWh) to liquid gasoline. So while the national average cost of gasoline is $2.85 a gallon, an equivalent electric eGallon only costs $1.16. Thats less than half the price.
The US DoE office of Scientific and Technical Information also performed a study titled Comprehensive Total Cost of Ownership Quantification for Vehicles with Different Size Classes and Powertrains. That study found that electric cars were around 40% cheaper to own than gas counterparts. And that includes the initial cost of purchase.
In the U.K. insurance broker LV found that EVs, on average, cost 1,300 less to run each year, meaning they become cheaper to own over the course of a seven year period. Though its worth mentioning that in the U.K. EVs are exempt from the annual car tax, which adds to the savings.
Where are you going to charge it?
You dont necessarily need a home charger to buy an EV, but it does make life an awful lot easier.
According to Fixr, the national average for getting a home car charger installed is between $1,000 and $2,500. You just need to make sure you get the right one, and wed recommend looking into a Level 2 fast charger, ideally one that offers 7kW speeds. That means most cars can be fully recharged, or pretty close to it, overnight.
Theres always the possibility of plugging straight into the mains, provided you have the right adapter for your car. But that is significantly slower, even if you have a 240-volt socket handy. Asking how long it takes to charge an electric car is highly dependent on the individual car model. But even for a small 40 kWh battery, charging from 20-80% at this speed will take almost nine hours. Closer to 15 if youre going from zero to 100%.
Public chargers are available, but their usefulness is going to depend on how many chargers are available in your local area, and you have to make sure you find one with the right plug or socket.
The majority of electric cars in the U.S. use whats called a Type 1 connector for standard charging, while other parts of the world (like Europe) use a Type 2 connector. The only outlier is Tesla, which still uses a proprietary charging port in the United States.
But even if you live in an area well-served by public EV chargers, they still cost money to use. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the national average ranges from eight cents per kilowatt hour to 27 cents per kilowatt hour. Howeve, since this is just an average figure, you may find chargers that charge more or less per kWh.
Charging at home means youre paying the power company directly, and not passing on some profit to the charging company, who are essentially power resellers. Which will likely work out cheaper for you, even after the cost of installation.
Weather will affect the battery and range
If you live in an area with extreme weather, be it hot or cold, you will need to be aware that changes in temperature can (and will) affect the battery and the overall range of an electric car.
Cold weather makes lithium ion batteries get sluggish, impacting the batterys ability to store and release electrical energy, which decreases the overall range of the car. Lithium batteries can function at temperatures up to -40 degrees (Celsius and Fahrenheit), but the sweet spot is somewhere between 15 and 26 degrees C, or 60 to 80 degrees F.
According to AAA if you ever find yourself driving an EV in temperatures around -6 degrees C (20 degrees F), you can expect your range to drop by as much as 41%. Thankfully most companies, notably Tesla, have developed thermal management systems to keep their batteries warm in cold conditions. But if you live in particularly cold climates, youre going to want to take this into consideration.
Hot weather can also impact your range, especially considering you need to have air conditioning switched on during your drive. According to AAA, driving in temperatures of 35 degrees C/95 degrees F, your overall range can drop by up to 17%. Its nowhere near as significant as driving in cold weather, but it is worth bearing in mind if you live somewhere like Arizona.
Temperatures above 46 degrees Celsius or 115 degrees Fahrenheit are when things get a little bit difficult where battery chemistry is concerned. But if you find yourself driving in temperatures that high, you likely have a lot bigger things to worry about.
Check the tax breaks and incentives
Right now governments across the world are quite keen on getting people to buy electric cars, and are offering incentives for those who buy electric vehicles. However, these incentives differ depending on where you live.
For example in the U.K the government has a grant that knocks off up to 2,500 off the cost of a low (or zero) emission vehicle at the point of purchase. But thats only if that car costs less than 35,000, which means the likes of Tesla (whose cheapest EV is 41,000 in the U.K.) dont qualify.
EV owners can also claim a discount of up to 350 off the cost of installing a home EV charger, and in both instances the grant is taken into account before you hand over any money.
In the United States, the federal EV grant takes the form of a tax credit worth up to $7,500. However, you have to pay the full cost of the car up front, then reclaim that money when you file your taxes. Likewise how much you get back is totally dependent on your income, how much tax you owe, and how big the cars battery is. Here's a more detailed rundown of electric car tax credits, and where to find them.
Theres a full list of EVs and plug-in hybrids that qualify for the grant, and you can see that the majority of electric cars on the list are eligible for the full $7,500. The majority of Hybrids, which have smaller batteries, are eligible for significantly less as low as $2,500 in the case of the Plug-in Prius.
Cars also become ineligible for the grant once they become too popular. An automaker is only allowed to sell 200,000 credit-eligible cars before they become exempt. Per the list from the US Department of Energy, that affects Tesla and General Motors, both of whom are above that threshold.
There are various other incentives to buy an EV depending on the state or city you live in. Burbank California, for example, offers rebates up to $2,000 for anyone who purchases a Level 2 electric car charger (or EVSE). California will also offer up to $2,500 for purchasing or leasing an eligible hybrid or electric vehicle as part of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
However, Texas, as another example, doesnt offer any additional incentives for purchasing an EV.
Electric cars vs. plug-in hybrids
A battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) is a fully-electric car, which relies on a battery to run and nothing more. But there are plenty of hybrid vehicles out there as well, which utilize some of the same technology but dont entirely ditch the gas tank. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is the closest equivalent to a BEV, since it can be driven around using a rechargeable battery, or a traditional gas tank essentially making it two cars in one.
Unlike a traditional hybrid, which burns gas to recharge, a PHEV recharges its battery the same way a BEV does: via a dedicated car charging port. Examples include the Mercedes e300 e, Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in, Ford Kuga, and the Prius PHEV a plug-in version of Toyotas classic hybrid.
The idea is that the car will be able to use battery power for smaller journeys, but can fall back on the gas tank on longer trips when that power runs out. In effect it completely ends the whole idea of range anxiety because you have that back-up tank of fuel that can be filled up as normal.
The only downside is that the batteries in plug-in hybrids are significantly smaller than those in all-electric vehicles, due to the need for a separate gas tank, which significantly lowers their electric range.
Its also worth noting that plug-in hybrids have a tendency to use more gas than gas-only cars too, on account of them having to carry around the extra weight of the hybrid system. However, regularly recharging the battery and relying on electric power can still cut your running costs compared to gas-powered cars.
However when it comes to comparing prices of plug-in hybrids and BEVs, things arent always consistent. And how much youre expected to pay totally depends on the car.
For instance a PHEV Toyota Prius starts at $28,200, which is cheaper than every other electric car currently available in the United States. Only the still-unreleased 2022 Nissan Leaf undercuts it, with its $27,400 price tag. However a Ford F-150 Hybrid will set you back at least $42,840, but the upcoming all-electric F-150 Lightning is due to start at $39,974.
Automakers are usually pretty eager to sell hybrid cars, so be sure to check and see there is a hybrid alternative to whatever BEV you may have been thinking about buying.
Should you buy a used electric car?
Like any car, you can usually save yourself some money by buying a used EV. However, its not quite as simple as rolling up to a used car lot and talking to a sales rep.
For one, there arent nearly as many used EVs available, on account of there not being as many EVs in general. So your options are pretty limited. Used EVs are popular among first time buyers especially Teslas. In fact used Teslas are so in demand, there have been reports of used Teslas costing more than brand new models.
The other thing to keep in mind is that because lithium ion batteries degrade over time, a used EV likely wont have the same capacity or range as a brand new model. The effect will depend on which car youre looking at, what kind of battery tech it has and how well the previous owner looked after it.
Your best option is to do some Googling on the car youre interested in, and figure out what you should be looking for when checking out a used model. According to Tesla, its own data has shown that its cars can retain 90% of their battery capacity after 200,000 miles of driving.
You also have to consider that you wont be getting the absolute best tech at any given time. For most people, that may not be an issue, but if youre after the latest and best driver assistance tech, or some other hi-tech car feature, then your odds of getting that in a used car are significantly lower.
Bottom line
Swapping from a gas car to electric can feel daunting for first-time buyers, especially with all the things you need to consider. But the most important thing is not to be intimidated by the prospect of making the switch.
Of course buying an EV isnt going to be the right option for everyone. There are a lot of great benefits that come with EV ownership, and the industry has come a long way over the past decade, but that doesnt mean everyone is going to be able to upgrade to electric next time they buy a car.
It doesnt matter whether the reasoning is financial, logistical, or because you dont feel comfortable making the switch. If electricity is the right choice for you right now, great. If not, then theres no shame in that. There will come a time when buying a car means you have to pick up an EV, but thats still a way off, and for now the most important thing is to buy the right car for you.
