Recently, electric vehicles have become more and more popular among the customers of well-known auto brands and there are many reasons for this. Among them, you can distinguish not only the assortment which is expanding day by day and savings on the “refueling” but also cheaper service. In this article, we have gathered 10 weighty reasons to buy an electric car right now.
1. More models – more choice
Many electric vehicles debut all the time in virtually all vehicle classes. There are a lot of quite interesting vehicles like the tiny Electra Meccanica Solo three-wheeler, the revamped Kia Soul EV, the Mercedes-Benz EQC crossover, the Mini Electric, the hot Porsche Taycan, Tesla Roadster, the Tesla Model Y, Volvo XC40 versions, and Volvo's Polestar 2 sedan. At the end of the 2020 calendar year a new pickup truck from Tesla, as well as large pickups and SUVs from Rivian and Bollinger, as well as a new Volkswagen ID4 crossover have appeared.
2. Modern electric cars can be charged less often
Modern electric vehicles will already have approximately 200 miles of range on a single charge. Although not too long ago, this seemed impressive for an electric car capable of running around 100 miles on a single charge. There is a growing number of electric vehicles in the $ 30,000 price range. The recently unveiled Nissan Leaf Plus increased the model's range from 150 miles to 208 miles. Meanwhile, the Kia Niro EV has a range of 240 miles, the Hyundai Kona EV at 257 miles, the Tesla Model 3 at 240 miles in its most affordable version, and the Kia Soul EV 2020 at 243 km.
3. Many electric car manufacturers provide financial compensation
With the exception of the Tesla and Chevrolet Bolt EV models, people who buy or rent a new electric vehicle can still benefit from a one-time federal tax credit of $ 7,500. If you buy it, it will be deducted from your tax bill when you file the next Form 1040. If you do lease it will usually translate into a deal. The tax credit is ending for Tesla and General Motors models as these companies have already reached the 200,000 unit sales cap.
4. Electric vehicles are much cheaper to run
If you charge your electric car at home, you can save a significant amount of money without going to a gas station. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the owner of the Hyundai Kona Electric crossover will need to shell out $ 550 for mileage of 15000 miles in combined city/highway travel in a year. By comparison, the EPA says that rides in the Hyundai Tucson under the same conditions will cost an average of $ 1,550.
5. Savings on maintenance
The maintenance of an electric car costs about a third of the amount that a car with an internal combustion engine requires. The reason for this is that “green” cars don’t need more than two dozen common automotive components that require maintenance or replacement. What's more, the owner of the electric car avoids the need to periodically change oil, coolant, air filter, spark plugs, and drive belts. A visit to the service for owners of electric vehicles boils down to a mechanical inspection of the suspension, tires, replacement of the cabin air filter, wiper blades, and topping up washer fluid. That’s why many people prefer to sell their cars for cash and buy electric vehicles.
6. The battery of an electric vehicle is quite reliable
One of the most pressing issues before buying an electric car is the lifespan. Indeed, the battery will lose some of its ability to hold a charge over time, but this effect is gradual. For example, according to testing by Plug In America, a Tesla Model S battery can lose about 5% of its original capacity during the first 50,000 runs. The batteries in all-electric vehicles sold in the United States are warranted for at least 8 years or 100,000 miles. Kia warrants its batteries for 10 years or 100,000 miles, while Hyundai says the warranty is unlimited.
7. Used electric vehicles are becoming more affordable
With the vast majority of electric vehicles being rented, there is a wave of two- and three-year-old used models hitting the market. Due to the fact that sales of new electric cars increase, the number of used models also grows. Older electric cars with a relatively limited but still sufficient mileage range are especially cheap. The remainder of the warranty is usually transferred upon sale, which includes the battery warranty. New electric car models are often marketed as “certified” used vehicles.
8. Development of a public network of charging stations
Regardless of how long you can charge your car at home, there may still be times when you have to use a public charging station. Networks for charging are actively working to establish new stations, especially those that have a quick charge function, which can fill the battery to 75-80% in about 30 minutes.
9. Electric cars are by far the best for the environment
Since the electric car runs on an electric engine and doesn’t use fuel, the environment is not polluted and harmful emissions are zero. That’s why many people who take care of the environment choose electric cars.
10. You can use alternative energy sources.
Despite the fact that the equipment and installation costs are quite expensive, it is possible to switch to solar energy and “refuel” the electric car at the expense of “home” power.