Almost everything about EVs is different from regular cars.
Electric cars are still in their nascent stages as far as adoption goes. At this point, there are still several sceptics holding off on their purchases. But they really shouldn’t be! They have been proven to offer excessive lifetime savings on fuel costs and more importantly, they allow you to have a much smaller carbon footprint than you have with your fuel-consuming car. That said, if you’ve decided to take the EV leap and are about to enter the market to buy one, here are a few things you should consider before making that purchase.
Type of electric car
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There are two main types that you should know about. One is the all-electric car, which runs entirely on a battery, and the other is a hybrid, which runs on the combination of a petrol/diesel engine and a battery. This latter type has its own pros and cons but the main reason why it’s preferred over the all-electric cars is it offers a backup option for when the battery runs out. On the other hand, owning a hybrid is not much different from owning a regular car.
Range
This is something that will help you choose between the multiple EVs that you are considering. The range of an electric car is the number of kilometres it can run on a single charge. Typically, you should aim for a range of 300kms, though premium high-end cars are also offering over 600kms of range right now.
Charging infrastructure and charging options
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At the moment, it’s way easier to find a petrol station than it is to find an EV charging point. While that’s about to change in the future, you should definitely map out your regular travel routes and check if they have adequate charging stations on them. Another aspect to consider are the charging options that are available with the car. Some are fast chargers, some are slow chargers, some can be installed in your homes, etc.
Price
Thanks to players like TATA, EVs have gotten really affordable lately. But the fact remains that buying a fuel-consuming car will definitely offer you plenty of more choices and better features. However, buying an EV leads to a lifetime of savings on fuel costs, so you’ll definitely be saving more money later on. Do keep that in mind.
Incentives and tax benefits
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In an effort to increase EV adoption, governments of various Indian states are offering incentives and tax benefits. These could lead to significant drops in the prices of the cars you are considering. So always get a final quote from the showroom with all these factors included.
Battery warranty
The battery is the most expensive part of an electric vehicle. Having to replace it early in your ownership can cause a considerable hit to your bank balance. Hence, check the warranty of the battery that’s present inside your car. Typically, car manufacturers offer around 8 years of warranty, which is great.
Maintenance costs
It’s true that electric cars have far fewer parts compared to regular cars. However, those few parts are still very expensive to replace. It’s hence imperative to take proper care of your vehicle to avoid any breakdowns.
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You are now informed about everything related to electric vehicles that you should consider before buying one. Go ahead and make your choice now.
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