Thinking about switching to an electric vehicle? The following information will help you choose an electric vehicle that works for your lifestyle based on our experience driving electric vehicles for over a decade. Switching to an electric vehicle can reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and with home charging make visiting a gas station an inconvenience of the past.
Here are the 10 factors we suggest you consider when selecting your new electric vehicle:
1. Type
Electric vehicles are available in many forms, ranging from electric bikes and motorcycles to hatchback cars, sedans, crossover SUVs, and pickup trucks. Consider the vehicle type that best meets your needs. Just like with gas vehicles, larger electric vehicles require more energy to manufacture and drive and tend to have higher prices than smaller vehicles.
Electric vehicles are available in many forms, ranging from electric bikes and motorcycles to hatchback cars, sedans, crossover SUVs, and pickup trucks. Consider the vehicle type that best meets your needs. Just like with gas vehicles, larger electric vehicles require more energy to manufacture and drive and tend to have higher prices than smaller vehicles.
2. Range
An electric vehicle’s range refers to the distance that can be driven before needing to be recharged. The average range of electric vehicles available on the market has been increasing in recent years. Many electric vehicles can now travel 250 miles (400 km) or more on a charge, which makes them capable vehicles for long-distance road trips.
When thinking about the range you need, consider how you plan to use your vehicle. Are you planning to use it solely around town? If so, a vehicle with a relatively smaller battery and shorter range may be sufficient for your needs, and this will help bring down the purchase price. If you plan to use your vehicle for road trips as well, then a 250-mile range or greater will be needed to reduce the number of stops made.
An electric vehicle’s range refers to the distance that can be driven before needing to be recharged. The average range of electric vehicles available on the market has been increasing in recent years. Many electric vehicles can now travel 250 miles (400 km) or more on a charge, which makes them capable vehicles for long-distance road trips.
When thinking about the range you need, consider how you plan to use your vehicle. Are you planning to use it solely around town? If so, a vehicle with a relatively smaller battery and shorter range may be sufficient for your needs, and this will help bring down the purchase price. If you plan to use your vehicle for road trips as well, then a 250-mile range or greater will be needed to reduce the number of stops made.
Tip: If two cars are needed in your household, consider selecting one electric vehicle with a range sufficient for both around town and road trips, and optimizing the second vehicle on price by selecting a shorter-range vehicle for use around town.
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The EPA provides range estimates for electric vehicles. The EPA range estimate should be considered a general guide, not an absolute figure because range varies based on weather, speed, and cargo.
Even in northern climates like where we live, electric vehicles can be a practical transportation choice. Nearly all electric vehicles have thermal management systems to keep the battery warm. We also have the following tips for northerners:
Even in northern climates like where we live, electric vehicles can be a practical transportation choice. Nearly all electric vehicles have thermal management systems to keep the battery warm. We also have the following tips for northerners:
- Purchase a longer-range vehicle to give yourself more flexibility in all weather conditions.
- Consider getting a car with a heat pump for energy efficient cabin heating.
3. Charging and Fast Charging
Most electric vehicle drivers charge at home because this is the lowest-cost, most convenient option for them. If you charge at home, you can wake up with a full charge and never have to visit a gas station again. The number of public and workplace chargers continues to increase as well, adding to the available charging options for everyone.
Most electric vehicle drivers charge at home because this is the lowest-cost, most convenient option for them. If you charge at home, you can wake up with a full charge and never have to visit a gas station again. The number of public and workplace chargers continues to increase as well, adding to the available charging options for everyone.
There are three charging speeds in North America:
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Each electric vehicle accepts a different maximum speed at level 3 chargers. Look at the vehicle’s specifications to see the maximum charge rate that the vehicle you are considering is capable of.
Tip: If you’re taking a road trip in an electric vehicle, many hotels now offer level 2 charging so you can wake up fully charged.
Tip: If you’re taking a road trip in an electric vehicle, many hotels now offer level 2 charging so you can wake up fully charged.
4. Safety
A number of electric vehicles win Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ Awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent vehicle safety organization. According to the President of the IIHS, “We can now say with confidence that making the U.S. fleet more environmentally friendly doesn’t require any compromises in terms of safety.”1 Visit iihs.org to see the detailed safety ratings of the electric vehicles you are considering.
A number of electric vehicles win Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ Awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent vehicle safety organization. According to the President of the IIHS, “We can now say with confidence that making the U.S. fleet more environmentally friendly doesn’t require any compromises in terms of safety.”1 Visit iihs.org to see the detailed safety ratings of the electric vehicles you are considering.
5. Price and Incentives
Many electric vehicles are available at different price points to fit different budgets. If you wish to compare the price of a gas vehicle with an electric one, it's important to recognize that electric vehicles have much lower operating and maintenance costs than gas vehicles and often come with incentives. Therefore, we suggest looking at the total cost of ownership rather than the sticker price of the vehicle.
In the U.S., visit plugstar.com for a comprehensive list of incentives. In Canada, visit plugndrive.ca.
Tip: Visit your local electric utility’s website to see if incentives for installing a home charging station are available in addition to incentives for an electric vehicle.
Many electric vehicles are available at different price points to fit different budgets. If you wish to compare the price of a gas vehicle with an electric one, it's important to recognize that electric vehicles have much lower operating and maintenance costs than gas vehicles and often come with incentives. Therefore, we suggest looking at the total cost of ownership rather than the sticker price of the vehicle.
- Lower operating and maintenance costs - According to Consumer Reports, electric vehicles save about 60 percent on fuel costs compared to the average vehicle in their class and 50 percent on repair and maintenance costs over a typical vehicle lifetime.2
- Incentives - Thousands of dollars in incentives are available from federal and state/provincial governments and local electric utilities.
In the U.S., visit plugstar.com for a comprehensive list of incentives. In Canada, visit plugndrive.ca.
Tip: Visit your local electric utility’s website to see if incentives for installing a home charging station are available in addition to incentives for an electric vehicle.
6. Backup Power Capabilities
An increasing number of electric models are offering backup power capability for your home in case your power goes out. This feature is essentially a free energy backup system when you purchase an electric car. Depending on your vehicle’s specifics, your electric car or truck may be able to provide backup power plugs that you can use to keep your refrigerator or other appliances on, or even provide whole-home backup power.
An increasing number of electric models are offering backup power capability for your home in case your power goes out. This feature is essentially a free energy backup system when you purchase an electric car. Depending on your vehicle’s specifics, your electric car or truck may be able to provide backup power plugs that you can use to keep your refrigerator or other appliances on, or even provide whole-home backup power.
7. Thermal Management and Preconditioning
Nearly all electric vehicles have active thermal management systems that keep the battery from getting too cold in the winter and too warm in the summer. This optimizes range, enables rapid charging, and improves battery longevity. This is a must-have feature for most climates and use-cases.
Preconditioning warms your car’s battery to prepare for fast charging in cold temperatures. In some vehicles, the navigation system will recognize when your destination is a level 3 charger and will begin conditioning the battery for fast charging while you are on your way. In others, there may be a button to manually precondition the battery for fast charging. If you plan to fast charge in the cold, be sure the vehicle you are considering has preconditioning.
Nearly all electric vehicles have active thermal management systems that keep the battery from getting too cold in the winter and too warm in the summer. This optimizes range, enables rapid charging, and improves battery longevity. This is a must-have feature for most climates and use-cases.
Preconditioning warms your car’s battery to prepare for fast charging in cold temperatures. In some vehicles, the navigation system will recognize when your destination is a level 3 charger and will begin conditioning the battery for fast charging while you are on your way. In others, there may be a button to manually precondition the battery for fast charging. If you plan to fast charge in the cold, be sure the vehicle you are considering has preconditioning.
8. Over-the-air Updates
An increasing number of vehicles have the ability to update their software without having to bring it into the dealership. This feature can save you visits to the dealer for recalls and will allow you to keep your vehicle up to date.
An increasing number of vehicles have the ability to update their software without having to bring it into the dealership. This feature can save you visits to the dealer for recalls and will allow you to keep your vehicle up to date.
9. Route Planner
A route planner is a great feature for any electric vehicle. In addition to the turn-by-turn directions that are available from a standard map program, a route planner finds fast chargers along your route and helps you navigate to them. Route planners are able to take into account the vehicle’s state of charge, weather, and speed to determine where to charge. This makes long-distance travel simpler and more enjoyable. |
10. Reviews and Warranty
There are many reviews of electric vehicles available online. It's a good idea to consult these resources for the models you are considering. One resource is Consumer Reports, which also tests the vehicles it reviews. Many electric vehicles score well and are “Recommended” by this independent, non-profit organization.
It's also a good idea to take a look at the warranty offered for the electric vehicle you are considering purchasing. Of particular interest to electric vehicles is the battery warranty. Expect your warranty to cover the battery for 8 years, 100,000 miles or better.
There are many reviews of electric vehicles available online. It's a good idea to consult these resources for the models you are considering. One resource is Consumer Reports, which also tests the vehicles it reviews. Many electric vehicles score well and are “Recommended” by this independent, non-profit organization.
It's also a good idea to take a look at the warranty offered for the electric vehicle you are considering purchasing. Of particular interest to electric vehicles is the battery warranty. Expect your warranty to cover the battery for 8 years, 100,000 miles or better.
To purchase an electric vehicle with confidence, consider your needs in light of the 10 factors covered here. Determine how each car you are considering meets those needs. You may wish to refer to the electric vehicle purchasing spreadsheet below. We hope this information is helpful and that you enjoy your new cleaner transportation lifestyle.
1. IIHS, With More Electric Vehicles Comes More Proof of Safety, Apr. 22, 2021 https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/with-more-electric-vehicles-comes-more-proof-of-safety
2. Chris Harto, Electric Vehicle Ownership Costs: Today’s Electric Vehicles Offer Big Savings for Consumers, Consumer Reports, Oct. 2020 https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/EV-Ownership-Cost-Final-Report-1.pdf p.3.
2. Chris Harto, Electric Vehicle Ownership Costs: Today’s Electric Vehicles Offer Big Savings for Consumers, Consumer Reports, Oct. 2020 https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/EV-Ownership-Cost-Final-Report-1.pdf p.3.