Meta-Description: Buying an electric car could be both cost-effective and resourceful. Here is a list of ways and means of buying it.
The smell of a new car sounds nice. The pleasure to learn all the features and performance of the new car sounds even better. But when it comes to buying an electric car which is very rare in India sounds great. Electric cars are the future cars of tomorrow as they create a positive impact on our planet. It exudes fewer emissions and less pollution leading to a greener environment. Electric cars have a greater impact when it comes to eco-friendly transportation. The number of electric cars out for sale is less in India.
This is the perfect article for a car enthusiast who is willing to buy an electric car or looking for an Electric Car Buying Guide.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Electric Car
When we have decided to buy an electric car, the next step is to choose the right EV for our requirements. There can be various factors that can impact our decision-making. It is rather complicated to buy an electric car rather than buying a conventional petrol/diesel car. There are some valuable points given below that should be considered before buying an electric car.
1. Price
Electric vehicles are considered environment-friendly rather than pocket-friendly. Its the complex electric drivetrain and expensive battery packs make it costly compared to the conventional counterparts. A small electric hatchback can exceed Rs 6 lakhs therefore it is important keeping in mind the budget before deciding to buy an electric car.
2. Incentives and Tax Benefits
The incentives and tax benefits offered by the government can be a primary cause of the overall reduction of the cost of electric vehicles. We make sure that we check on the exact percentage of incentive tax and benefits we get while purchasing an eco-friendly vehicle. The Government of India also has other benefits to offer such as reduced service tax (GST) that reduces the price of an electric car.
3. Software Updates
There is a gradual increase in the performance of electric cars which are well equipped with powertrain and advanced technology which is rolled out to us via software updates. Therefore, we make sure that we get regular software updates after buying an EV. There are some manufacturers which offer free regular improvements to the software while there are still others who charge the owners for the updates. We should be cautious while buying an electric vehicle.
4. Specifications
Electric vehicles comprise a wide range of electric motors and battery packs of different capacities. We need to choose an electric car which has all the specifications that suit our requirements. It would be irritating for all of us to drive an unpowered electric vehicle. We should always go through the technical details of the electric car before buying a new one.
5. Driving Range
The driver range plays a crucial factor when buying an electric vehicle. We should look for real-life reviews to get an idea about the driving range of the EV in real-world conditions rather than relying heavily on the manufacturer-specified driving range figures. Normally an electric car should deliver a driving range of over 100 km which is sufficient for daily drives. High-end electric cars even offer a driving range of over 400 km.
6. Battery Life
A battery pack is considered one of the most important components of an electric vehicle. Since the battery is considered one of the most expensive parts of the EV, replacing the battery pack of the electric vehicle can cost too much. Therefore, we should always check the battery life before investing in an eco-friendly car. The longer the battery life, the lower would be its maintenance cost.
7. Charging Infrastructure
The charging infrastructure is in its budding stage in the country. The biggest challenge for EV owners is that we cannot find electric vehicle charging stations as frequently as fuel stations. Unlike major metro cities that have adequate charging stations, the situation is not the same as everywhere else. We should keep this point in mind before deciding to buy an electric car in India.
8. Charging Options
An electric car possesses a wide range of charging options such as fast charging, standard charging, and slow charging. Fast chargers are expensive to install and we can rarely find them in our city. Standard and slow charging techniques are feasible and also be installed at our home. Some EVs can also be charged from the electric outlet of our residence. We should carefully check the charging options on the electric car before buying a new one.
9. Maintenance Cost
Maintenance is one of the important aspects of owning an electric car. An electric vehicle cant perform efficiently without proper maintenance. Electric vehicles are very easy to maintain as there are fewer moving parts in an EV. In case of a breakdown, the repair bills can cost us dearly. The spare parts are very expensive compared to a conventional car. Also, there are fewer mechanics available for EVs, and we have to deal with the manufacturer for any service or repair work.
10. Additional Costs
When we own an electric car, there are several additional costs associated with the eco-friendly vehicle. We have to spend an additional amount of money to get a home charger, charging station installation, maintenance of the charging station, and public station charging. These expenses can make the ownership experience quite expensive when compared to a conventional vehicle. We should be aware of these additional costs before owning an electric car.
11. Practical Usability
An electric car cannot be considered a practical vehicle, especially in a country like India which is the most important aspect of it. It makes sense to own an EV if one is living in a metropolitan city and needs a car to travel to the office. For others, an electric car might not be a practical choice. We should consider this point before deciding to buy an EV.
12. Brand and Model
Presently there are only a handful of electric cars in the market. It would not be a difficult choice for all of us. Hyundai (Kona), Mahindra, Tata Motors, and MG Motor India are the ones who retail eco-friendly vehicles in the country. There are few options but they belong to different price brackets. Depending on the budget and requirements, we can choose the right brand and model. There are several plans to launch electric vehicles in India by several other automotive manufacturers apart from the above-mentioned brands.
13. After-sales Service and Support
After purchasing an electric vehicle, the ownership experience can be good or bad depending on the after-sales service and support offered by the manufacturer. Most of the EV manufacturers offer several years of warranty on battery packs and also install a wall charger at our desired location. The service centres will have trained professionals to service the electric car. We should always opt for a brand that offers good after-sales support for a good ownership experience.
14. Electric or Hybrid?
If buying an electric vehicle is not practical for us, then we should consider buying a hybrid car. A hybrid car exudes fewer emissions than a conventional car. A hybrid car makes use of a combination of an internal combustion (IC) engine and an electric motor to run efficiently. The electric motors draw power from the battery packs, which are charged by regenerative braking or by the IC engine. Hybrid vehicles are considered reliable when compared to fully electric vehicles.
15. Used Electric Cars
If buying a new electric car is out of range, we can consider buying a used one. It is a good option to buy an electric vehicle since EVs don’t have a lot of moving parts. Therefore, before buying a used EV, we should check the remaining battery performance/warranty, condition of the electric motors, condition of the tyres, charging options, and the mileage of the car.
16. Cost of Car Insurance
The cost of insuring an electric vehicle is necessary because EVs are expensive. The higher the value of the vehicle, the higher the cost of insurance. When we compare electric vehicles with conventional vehicles, car insurance for electric vehicles is considered expensive. Therefore, we should consider the higher car insurance cost before opting for an electric car.
17. Leasing an Electric Car
Leasing an electric car can be a good option if we do not plan to own the EV for a very long time. Leasing also reduces the overall cost of ownership as we can also purchase maintenance packages for the lease. We can also avoid the hassle of re-selling, as we can return the car after the end of the lease tenure. Nowadays, even car manufacturers offer leasing options, so leasing can be a better option than buying an electric car.
Specifications to Consider While Buying an Electric Car
An electric vehicle is a very complicated machine having advanced technology and a complex electric drivetrain. It is crucial to understand the basic functionality of an electric car before buying one. We should go through an electric car buying guide to understand the fundamentals of an EV. Some of the specifications are mentioned below which we should consider before buying an electric vehicle:
1. Type of Electric Vehicle
Firstly, we need to figure out which type of electric car we want to buy. There are four types of electric vehicles: fully electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and fuel cell electric. A hybrid electric vehicle does not require any kind of eternal charging, and fuel cell vehicles are still in their early stage.
2. Driving Range
The driving range of an electric car is nothing but the distance covered by an electric vehicle on a single full charge. The driving range is a crucial factor when buying an EV as the charging infrastructure is still in its developing phase. We might not find as many charging stations as conventional fuel stations, so it is better to buy an electric car with a good driving range.
3. Type of Battery and Capacity
Modern electric vehicles make use of Lithium-Ion battery packs, which are light and efficient in terms of charging and discharging. We have to consider the capacity of the battery, which impacts the driving range of an EV. The higher the battery capacity the better will be driving range.
4. Charging Specifications
It’s not only the battery capacity that matters, but the time taken for charging the battery is also crucial in an EV. Usually, an EV comes with charging options such as standard charging and fast-charging. Installing a fast-charger is expensive, but it can charge the battery within a few hours. Normal charging stations can be installed at our home, but it will take a lot of time to fully charge the battery.
5. Acceleration of EV
An electric vehicle is on par with IC engine vehicles when it comes to acceleration. Thanks to the instant torque generated by the electric motors, an EV can accelerate very quickly. The acceleration depends on the number of electric motors and the power generated by the electric motors.
6. Power and Torque
The power of an electric car is the mechanical output provided by the electrical energy, and it is measured in hp. The torque gives us an idea of the acceleration of the EV, and it depends on how powerful the electric motor is. Better torque and power figures make the driving experience enjoyable.
7. Warranty on Battery
A battery pack is one of the most expensive components of an EV. Usually, manufacturers provide a warranty on the battery pack in terms of the driving distance or the amount of time. We should always look out for how much warranty is provided for the battery pack.
8. Energy Consumption
We have to consider the amount of electricity consumed by an EV to determine the efficiency of the electric vehicle when compared to a conventional car. The energy consumption also determines the running cost of an electric vehicle. Usually, electric cars have very low running costs when compared to IC engine vehicles.
Conclusion
Electric cars have come a long way in terms of mobility. Electric vehicles are eco-friendly and there is still a long way to go in the future. In the present scenario, they can be overlooked because the infrastructure is still in its nascent stage. But if we decide to buy an electric vehicle considering all its features then the experience of owning a car will bear fruitful results for ourselves and the environment.
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