Tag Archives: electric vehicle

Electric Dreams: How To Buy A Used Electric Car

Image

The revolution of the electric car is well and truly upon us, so much so that the electric vehicle isn’t exclusive to those who have infinite amounts of money or are only looking for a minuscule size car. Now, there are bigger cars, and different sizes to suit all people. From the small, through to the family vehicles, and beyond. But for those who are on the lookout to buy their first electric car, while it is a major investment, it can be a bit expensive up front. So, for those who are looking for a way to benefit the environment but not spend so much money is to invest in a used electric car. This is becoming more popular as time goes on, not just because of the cost, but as those first generation electric vehicle drivers are hoping to upgrade to the most modern of EV technology, it means there’s a whole collection of cars desperate for a new home. So, where do you begin, and does it actually matter if you buy used in comparison to new?

The Facts

When you are buying any sort of used car, there’s a lot of things to bear in mind. Of course, we all have our own ideas with regards to the look, the performance of the vehicle, as well as the brand itself. Practical issues are the main thing with electric vehicles. But for those who are buying the first electric car, there is a sense of trepidation because of the unknown. The first wave of electric vehicles arrived in the UK during 2011, and these cars such as the Citroen c-Zero, and, of course, the Nissan Leaf, are mainstays of the British roads now. The one thing that you can take comfort in buying these cars is that they still run as good as they did on the first day they were used, especially if you compare these two cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs). And, if you need any more convincing, electric vehicles are now being used as the standard car for various cab firms. People are doing this now because they are much more reliable than ICE vehicles. So, if you are venturing into the unknown, and know nothing about electric vehicles, the pros far outweigh the cons.

What To Look Out For

The main concerns with electric vehicles are the two main components, the battery pack and the motor. The one thing that you need to bear in mind with this is the battery, as long as it is recharged and discharged on a regular basis, it can be incredibly economical, and could last you at least 10 years. The problem with buying a used electric car is that you need to find out if the batteries have been charged. The irony is with electric vehicles is that the lack of use is a culprit in killing and electric vehicles battery more than anything else. There were issues in 2012 with the Tesla Roadster, and owners stating that the batteries were dying due to the lack of use. The problem with these batteries is that when they don’t get used for so long, they will refuse to charge. This is known as bricking. So, by investing in a car, especially a Roadster that is an earlier model than 2012, you may have this issue. However, in 2013, Tesla stated the 8-year battery warranty would be honored, regardless of the situation. Although, if you do need to replace the battery, there are ways around this so that it doesn’t cost the earth. So, for example, the battery pack of a Nissan Leaf consists of 192 cells. Instead of replacing the entire battery pack, you could replace each cell. Therefore it costs a very minimal amount in comparison to the battery pack as a whole. Although, sometimes the battery is leased, instead of it being purchased. So this reduces concerns about replacing the battery. There are models, such as the Renault Twizy, and if the battery drops below its 75% performance capacity, it will be replaced; this is as long as it’s under warranty.

How They Drive

For any new car comments always best to take a proper test drive. And what you need to remember when getting used to the contours of an electric vehicle, is that you need to monitor the dashboard to see how quickly the battery wears out, but also look at what you can get out of the car. The big thing to remember is that various issues can drain the battery, from driving fast, navigating hills, or even using the in-car features, such as air conditioning! So it’s important to remember that the car needs to suit your lifestyle, much like a small speedster, if you are using it for stop-start traffic rather than off road, you should think about exactly what you plan on using this car for. So, if you are considering an electric vehicle for lengthy journeys, it’s important to make sure that the car is in prime condition in the first place, and, of course, this means looking after things like the tires. It’s always important to remember that with every electric vehicle that you take it to a mechanic that is able to deal with the unique problems. And while a place like Telle Tire & Auto Center does the various aspects of a vehicle, it’s important to remember that some mechanics don’t. Looking after your car can be a bit more difficult when it’s an electric vehicle.

Owning An Electric Vehicle

Luckily, most electric vehicles are easier to drive than ones with an internal combustion engine. That’s, making the change means that there are some sticking points that might be difficult for you to get over. The one main thing to bear in mind is if there are enough electric charges where you live. It’s recommended that you get a charging point at home because it can take a few hours to charge up your vehicle properly, rather than the few minutes when filling up a typical gas tank. So, you need to get online and look at a few forums, such as Electric Forum, which means you can get opinions from other electric vehicle drivers so you can get an informed opinion.

For lots of people, the electric vehicle is the way forward, and for some, it can be quite a transition. So, while there are some fantastic models out there right now, from the Renault Fluence to the Nissan Leaf, as well as the Tesla Model S, remember, is your lifestyle able to keep up with it?

 

Jaguar E-Type Zero: The Future Of Electric Cars

‘They don’t make them like they used to.’ You hear people say that about things all the time, especially cars.The Jaguar E-Type is one of the most iconic cars out there and a great choice for any classic vehicle enthusiast. However, they’re not that efficient to run and they’re pretty bad for the environment. If only there were a way to strike a balance between amazing design and a cheap clean engine.

Source

Well, now there is. The Jaguar E-Type Zero is, without doubt, the coolest electric car on the planet. It captures everything that was so amazing about the original model and brings it into the future with an electric engine. It’s surely going to usher in a new age of electric car technology. This new E-Type, based on a model from 1968, is pretty much exactly the same apart from the updated engine. So, how does it hold up against its classic counterpart?

Exterior

The E-Type is one of the most recognisable cars in the world and even took pride of place in a James Bond movie. To ruin that iconic exterior would be a great shame, which is why it’s a good job that they haven’t done that. This is the kind of car that you’ll want to wash regularly with top rated car wash shampoo to keep it in tip top shape. All of the classic lines and elegant curves are still there and the ride is low. At first glance, you would never realise that this is an electric car and not a classic 60’s E-Type. The only small changes that have been made are for energy efficiency, for example, the headlights have been updated with LED lights. It’s barely noticeable and doesn’t take away from the classic look.

Interior

The interior of the car has had a bit more of an upgrade, but it still captures the essence of the original. The gear stick has naturally been replaced with one that has the drive, neutral and reverse features that you need in an electric vehicle. The dash has been replaced with a slick looking carbon fibre one and they’ve added a modern screen display. There are also lots of new controls but they’ve all been designed with a classic car feel to create a great marriage of modern electric car design and the traditional aesthetic of the old E-Type. The wood rimmed steering wheel and hand cranks for the windows give the nostalgic feel of driving the Zero’s original counterpart.

Drive

To create the electric engine, Jaguar built on their existing electric cars. The 220kw drivetrain is powered by an impressive 40kw battery. If you’re worried about losing the power of the original E-Type you can rest easy. It’ll do 0-60 in a staggering 5.5 seconds. When you compare it to other electric cars, the range isn’t amazing. It’ll do around 6 or 7 hours on a full charge which can usually take you about 170 miles. It’s not the best for long distance but nobody ever bought an E-Type for getting from A to B.

The E-Type Zero is a triumph in electric car design that proves that we don’t need to make compromises on power or appearance to reduce carbon emissions.     

5 Things You Should Know About Alternative-Fuel Vehicles

If you’re making an effort to go green, it’s time to consider an alternative-fuel vehicle. This one, simple change will help you lower greenhouse gas emissions, save on fuel costs, and qualify for tax breaks. Before you take the plunge and buy a brand new Tesla, do some research to help you determine the best vehicle for your lifestyle. In June of 2017, CarMax teamed with CleanTechnica to find out more about the people who drive alternative-fuel vehicles. Their survey resulted in a whopping 2,300 responses, and we’ve sifted through the data to answer these 5 frequently asked questions.

  1. Who buys alternative-fuel vehicles?

You may think that all hybrid owners are millennial hipsters with ironic t-shirts and Bernie Sanders bumper stickers. However, the reality is quite different. The average hybrid-owner is a 30-year-old male from the east coast with a bachelor’s degree. The truth may be surprising, but you can’t argue with the numbers:

  • 88% of alternative-fuel vehicle owners are more than 30-years-old.
  • 70% of the responses came from people with bachelor’s degree or higher
  • 26% of the responses came from the pacific coast

  1. Why do people buy hybrid and electric vehicles?

For many people, alternative-fuel vehicles have less to do with environmental concerns and more to do with practical considerations. More than half of the survey’s respondents report spending less than $100 per year on vehicle maintenance. In addition, more than 60% of the respondents expect to own their vehicle for more than 4 years. Last, but not least, some cities offer tax credits and HOV lane perks to drivers with hybrid or electric vehicles. Here are the details:

  • 29% purchased their vehicle to save money
  • 38% purchased their vehicle to save the environment
  • 29% purchased their vehicle for another reason
  1. How far can a person drive without recharging?

Range anxiety is one big reason why people hesitate to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles. Fortunately, these fears are (mostly) unfounded. Less than a quarter of all survey respondents have driven their vehicle until running ran out of fuel. On the other hand, nearly half of survey’s respondents have never driven more than 100 miles on a single charge. Here’s the breakdown:

  • 42% have a second non-electric vehicle for long trips
  • 14% have driven until they ran out of fuel and charge
  • 48% have never driven more than 100 miles on a single charge

  1. How do people charge their vehicles?

Charging stations are another other major hesitation among alternative-fuel vehicle owners. However, the survey results contradict this basic assumption. More than three quarters of the respondents own a vehicle with some sort of plug-in functionality. See for yourself:

  • 85% own a plug-in or all-electric vehicle
  • 84% of these people charge their vehicles in their home
  • 56% say it’s convenient to use a public charging station

  1. What are the most popular alternative-fuel vehicles?

The alternative fuel craze is really taking off. Since 2001, CarMax has sold nearly 100,000 electric and hybrid cars in the U.S. According to their survey, more than 75% of the respondents have owned their vehicle for two years or less. In addition, nearly two thirds of these vehicles were purchased by first-time alternative-fuel vehicle owners. That said, the top five most popular alternative-fuel vehicles are as follows:

We left the most important statistic for last. The CarMax survey also asked respondents whether or not they would recommend a hybrid vehicle to a friend or family member. On a scale of one to five, the average response was 4.8. I guess it’s true what they say–once you go green, you never go back.

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Review and Road Test

America’s largest automaker, GM, is manufacturing its most affordable, consumer friendly electric vehicle since the GM EV1. Better equipped than the Nissan Leaf and cheaper than the BMW i3, the 2017 Chevy Bolt packs a 60 kilowatt hour lithium ion battery that has an EPA estimated range of 238 miles on a charge. While Car and Driver observed a 190 mile highway range, that should still be more than enough for anybody’s expected and unexpected daily driving needs. This tiny four door hatchback has the type of mass appeal that GM hopes will make it a major player in the electric automotive market. The Bolt will have to compete with the highly anticipated Tesla Model 3, Elon Musk’s “Model T” of sorts, an affordable Tesla for Joe Sixpack, and Jill Sixpack.


The Bolt starts at $37,495, but a $7500 federal tax credit will put the price under $30,000. Further, climate minded municipalities might have extra incentives to push that price down as well. If you want all the trimmings, you can get the Bolt Premier with a starting price of $41,780. It adds leather, heated front and rear seats, roof rails, a 360-degree-view camera system, a rearview camera mirror, rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. Options included an upgraded Bose stereo, wireless phone charging, and two USB ports in the rear for $485, and a Driver Assistance package with forward-collision alert with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beams for $495.

The Bolt has a lot of pop on the road. The instant electric torque accelerates the Bolt from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 sec. The top speed is limited to 93 mph.

Other than that the Chevy Bolt is very similar to your average compact hatchback. Test drivers have mentioned it is quite cramped inside, with a lot of plastic trim. But you do get a state of the art infotainment system and heads up display, which adds to the futuristic experience. Overall, if you are really inclined to get of petroleum for your transportation needs, the Bolt is a great option that is now in the feasibility price range for many of us.

The BMW i8: Even Hybrid Cars Can Look And Sound Great!

BMW have built some fantastic vehicles in the past, and it looks like a trend that’s set to continue well into the future. The German firm is taking an active interest in alternative fuel technologies. One of the most notable examples of hybrid technology is the BMW i8.

If you’ve not heard of that model before, let me tell you more about it. It’s a hybrid sports car that’s powered by electric motors and a small three-cylinder engine. Of course, the only downside is that it’s one of the world’s most expensive sports cars!

Still, if money is no object and you’d like to drive a stylish, high-performance and eco-friendly car, the BMW i8 is for you!

Image Credit

It looks futuristic – in a good way

I don’t know about you but have you ever noticed just how weird today’s hybrid cars look? Car manufacturers associate hybrid vehicles as ones that should look futuristic. I get that car makers want to think outside the box when it comes to styling.

But some cars are just too out there. Toyota Prius, I’m looking at you!

The fantastic thing about the BMW i8 is that it too seems futuristic – but in a GOOD way! The contours of the vehicle match the front and rear ends well. It doesn’t look like a car Homer Simpson would have designed!

It uses lots of carbon fibre

We all know that car batteries weigh a lot. The heaviest are the ones that get used for electric and hybrid vehicles.

That’s not a good thing when you’re trying to design a fast hybrid sports car! To overcome this problem, BMW have used lots of carbon fibre. It’s 50% lighter than steel and 30% lighter than aluminium. But it’s just as strong as both metals.

The door architecture is amazing

When you open the doors on the BMW i8, one thing you will notice is that it uses “dihedral doors.” Or, as the guys at Thames Motor Group put it, gullwing doors! They are the kind of doors you might see on cars like Lamborghinis and even the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

They swing upwards when opened. You might think that it’s not possible to do that, given how heavy car doors are. But BMW claim that the doors are 50% lighter than conventional ones.

It’s a good performance sports car

The car boasts 0-60 mph speeds of just 4.3 seconds. And the eDrive system boasts a total power output of 231 brake horsepower. It doesn’t sound like much, given that cars like the BMW M4 have more power.

But you need to bear in mind this car is lightweight. The power to weight ratio is different in the BMW i8.

Why 2015 Is A Good Year To Buy An Electric Car

Car drivers are always looking for ways to cut down on their motoring costs. Some might drive slower than usual to conserve fuel. While others will opt for public transport where possible to complete their journeys.

 

When buying a car, consumers have many choices. For example, they could buy petrol or diesel cars. They might even choose a hybrid vehicle. But did you know that electric vehicles are steadily rising in popularity?

Image via Flickr

 

There is much debate over whether it’s a good idea to buy an electric vehicle or not. It turns out that 2015 is an excellent year to buy one. Want to know why? Check out the reasons below:

 

Road taxes are rising

 

In many countries, vehicles get taxed according to the carbon emissions their engines produce. That means if you drive around in a V8 gas guzzler, you can expect to pay a small fortune to drive it on public roads.

To curb high-emissions vehicles, many governments increase the price of road tax on an annual basis. So when you drive a car that has no tailpipe emissions, what happens then? Simple – you pay nothing!

 

It’s no secret that some countries tax cars by engine size rather than emissions. But since electric cars don’t have a conventional combustion engine, there’s no tax to pay.

 

The public charging point infrastructure is growing

 

I was chatting to a salesman from pentagon-group.co.uk the other day. He was telling me how many of the world’s major governments are pushing for more public charging stations. I agreed with him, as I have noticed how there are more public charging stations for electric cars.

 

For example, last week I took a trip down to my local Ikea store and noticed some new parking spaces got installed just for electric cars! Even in shopping mall car parks more dedicated electric car parking spaces are getting installed.

 

There are financial incentives

 

Did you know that you can often receive significant discounts by buying an electric vehicle? For a start, the price you pay to your local car dealer will be lower than the list price. That’s because you are usually eligible for a government grant towards the cost of new electric cars.

 

Some car manufacturers also offer deal-sweeteners too. For instance, let’s say that you want to spend less time charging your electric vehicle at home. You would usually use an ordinary power socket. Some car makers install fast-charging stations at the homes of customers for free!

 

Others might charge a small, nominal fee towards the cost of your home charging station. And they opt for cover the rest of the installation cost. If you decide to sell your home and move elsewhere, you will need to pay for the facility at your new property.


But having a fast charging station at your existing home can increase the value of your property. The extra money you make from your house sale would more than cover the installation cost at your new home!