Another increase in electric car registrations can be expected in 2023. For many customers, it will be their first contact with such a car. We have compiled some tips that you should know if you are soon to become a first-time user of an electric car.
You’ve heard of zero local emissions, low maintenance costs, silence on board, and is very responsiveness when accelerating. After weighing up the pros and cons, you have decided that your next car will be an electric car, something related to electric cars for sale that in 2023 many more people will surely do than the previous year.
Some users have already learned the lesson well before buying their first electric car, but many others may feel that there is a gap between their traditional gasoline or diesel car and an electric one. Let’s go by parts.
How Is An Electric Car Charged?
The short answer is: plugging the car into power. Obvious, right? However, before that, we must know if the charger we have gone to is compatible with our car since not all are the same.
In some models, the opening of the charging socket is manual (just press it with your finger to unlock it). In others, it is done from a physical or digital button from inside the vehicle. Come on, the same thing happens with other gasoline or diesel cars.
Depending on the charger where you are, you may have to activate it with an RFID card; in other cases, simply doing it from the corresponding mobile application will suffice. Once the car and the charger have established communication, the power supply will begin.
Where Can I Recharge The Car?
Most of the time, between 85 and 90 percent of them, an electric car is recharged at home. If you think about it, as a general rule a car (of whatever type) spends most of its time parked in the garage. You could plug it directly into a normal socket as you do with your mobile, but it would take too long. Therefore, if you are going to buy an electric car, the ideal is to install a wall charger at home to be able to charge it in about 6-8 hours during the night.
The charging time will depend on the capacity of the battery (the larger it is, the longer it will take to charge) of the car, and whether the current is alternating or direct, single-phase or three-phase. Depending on the latter, the total recharging power varies and, therefore, the charging time.
It is recommended that you look for off-peak and super off-peak rates to charge cheaper at certain times (at night, for example) and achieve the greatest possible savings on your electricity bill.
If you live in an apartment with a community garage, to install a charging point you must inform the president of the community or the administrator in writing before carrying out the installation. To save yourself headaches, it is recommended that you keep a copy of the writing.
With the cold, you will have less autonomy. Don’t worry, it’s “normal”
And since we are talking about autonomy, it is worth pointing out a critical point for electric cars: the cold. You have probably already been informed about it or it has been told to you somewhere: in low-temperature conditions, electric cars have less autonomy. Up to 30 percent less, in the worst case.
The explanation, roughly, is that the heat excites the electrons and, therefore, facilitates the flow of electric current through the batteries. It is not a problem of your car, but intrinsic to the technology itself. The loss of autonomy begins to be noticed especially when the ambient temperature drops below about 15º C.
An Electric Car Does Need Maintenance
You may have been told that an electric car is maintenance-free, but it does, although less so than a car with an internal combustion engine. This will save you a lot of money over the life of the vehicle, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can forget about going to the workshop forever (apart from possible breakdowns, from which no one is safe).
An electric motor is much simpler in terms of a number of parts than an internal combustion engine and does not need oil changes, fuel, air and oil filters; a Timing belt; spark plugs, or clutch. However, an electric car does need certain specific maintenance that each manufacturer details at specific intervals. Among the most important revisions of an electric car is checking the insulation of the connections between the electric motor and the battery, and changing the coolant in the electrical circuit.
In addition to specific maintenance, we cannot forget the cost of consumables (just like in any other car) such as tires, windshield wiper blades, shock absorbers, pollen filter for the cabin, or fluid and brake pads. In all cases, it will be necessary to be aware of changing them when necessary.
You Can Wash The Car Without A Problem
Needless to say at this point that water and electricity do not get along. Better said: they get along so well, that when they get together it is better to give them their space. Cleaning the car with pressurized water is a possible concern before buying an electric car, but in practice, you do not have to worry more than with a gasoline or diesel car.
The battery is hermetic, it would be missing more, and it is well protected, so you can go to the car wash and clean your electric car as you have always done, either with a pressure hose or in an automatic car wash. In the latter case, the problem will be small scratches and abrasions to the body paint. Despite many answers being obvious, and others being available online, it is always important to remember that not all answers online, especially on forums are correct. Referencing car users manuals is always the best way to go to ensure that you do exactly what is right – according to the manufacturers themselves so that you can enjoy your vehicle for many years to come!