When comparing electric vehicles, consumers should be aware of their maximum charging rate and the location of the nearest charging station. Many apps are available to find charging stations, such as Plugshare, Chargeway, and A Better Route Planner. Miles Per Gallon Equivalent (MPGe) is an important measure of EV efficiency, calculated by the EPA to provide a comparison to fossil fuel cars. The MPG number can be found on a car’s window sticker, and Car and Driver also includes it in its specification tables.
EVs are fun to drive
It’s a myth that EVs are uninteresting to drive. Electric vehicles deliver sharp handling and serious utility. The difference is clear: driving an electric vehicle is much more fun than driving a gas-powered car. Electric vehicles have no lag between pressing the accelerator and reaching a desired speed. With gasoline vehicles, you have to anticipate when you need to accelerate and wait for it to catch up. EVs can hit a speed of more than 120 mph.
One such EV is the Canoo. This start-up is aiming to break into the adventure truck and work vehicle markets. The pickup truck will be on the market by 2023. It features a cab-forward design and regenerative braking. It will have rear-wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive. It can deliver 550 lb-ft of torque and is expected to be able to go eighty to 100 miles on a single charge.
They’re efficient
The efficiency of a Tesla Model 3 compared to a conventional gas-powered vehicle varies by model, but in general, an electric car is more energy efficient. That’s because electric vehicle batteries convert between 59 and 62 percent of the energy they use into power for the car instead of just 17 to 21 percent. That means that you are putting more energy into the actual power of the vehicle rather than just charging it.
An EV has a lower range than a conventional gas-powered car. Most models range between 60 and 120 miles on a charge, although some luxury vehicles can go as far as 300 miles. This means that AEVs aren’t practical for road trips, as their driving ranges are limited by the availability of charging stations. However, if you’re a commuter and need to take a car for a long trip, the range of an EV will be longer.
They’re quiet
EV cars are considered to be noiseless because they lack the combustion engine that generates a loud noise at highway speeds. The only noise produced by an electric vehicle is the tire and wind resistance noise. This noise has caused some criticism that electric vehicles are too quiet for pedestrians or the visually impaired, so the European Union has made it mandatory for EVs to produce an engine noise at low speeds. The noise of an Ev car is not audible, but it is enough to be heard by drivers and pedestrians.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says electric vehicles need sound choices so that pedestrians can determine distances from cars. In addition, quiet cars are difficult to spot from a distance. To address this problem, various automakers are working to make the engine sound louder. For example, Mitsubishi amplifies engine noise while Mercedes has teamed up with Linkin Park to develop a noise. But this noise is purely for safety reasons.
They’re safe
Electric vehicles (EVs) have many advantages over conventional cars. They are more fuel efficient and safer to drive. They also feature advanced driver assistance technologies and infotainment systems. A report by the IIHS found that EVs have lower injury claim rates than conventional cars, and some insurers say the findings can reduce their frequency by 40 percent. EVs are designed to avoid accidents that can lead to fire, and thermal management systems isolate key electrical components during a crash. Moreover, unlike gas-powered cars, electric cars are heavier, which provides a higher level of crash protection.
A recent Tesla Model S crash involving a fire may raise questions about the safety of electric cars. However, the IIHS has not yet tested electric vehicles for post-crash fires. Because fire suppression is so difficult, EV crashes usually dominate news coverage. In addition, EVs are more difficult to extinguish. But these safety concerns should not stop drivers from driving EVs. While electric cars have many advantages over conventional vehicles, they should be driven with caution.
They’re practical
The range of an EV depends on the driver’s lifestyle. A long journey, for example, requires a high speed. The range of a short-range EV is adequate for seven hours of city driving. However, the speed at which a driver is required to accelerate drastically increases the car’s consumption. The lack of multiple gears in an EV makes it incredibly difficult to reach a high speed and a long range.
While an EV car is naturally efficient, the driver has to be aware of how they drive and what they use while driving. Drivers should brake gently and use EV regen braking to recover energy from wasted braking. Drivers should also consider the power consumption of other onboard features. Things like air-conditioning, heating, and media consume battery power, so it is best to turn these off during the journey.
They’re affordable
The $7,500 federal tax credit is an EV buyer’s secret weapon. Many state and local governments also provide tax credits. The credit is not available to carmakers whose sales total fewer than 200,000 units, but Toyota is on track to reach that threshold by the summer. Fortunately, additional state and local tax credits are now available for EV buyers. A car’s price does not have to be more than $50,000 to be eligible for the credit, and many EV buyers will find that it is affordable to purchase a car and driver with a hybrid or electric battery.
The price of an EV-only vehicle will likely remain low. The cheapest EV-only vehicle on the market is the Kia EV6. While it shares some design and styling cues with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the price for a base model starts at $42,115 before the $7,500 federal tax credit. It features a range of 232 miles and a $1,215 destination charge. The full-featured GT-Line and Wind trims are available for a little more, and feature a 77.4-kWh battery.