The Basics of Electric Vehicles
Owning an Electric Car
By Justin “Tito” Dellow, Auto Consultant, Scottsdale
Many people are asking themselves, “why should I get an electric car?” Aside from the environmental benefits, electric vehicles are still a mystery to most and out of reach of many budgets. Even so, it’s time to begin thinking about the transition to vehicles powered by alternative energy sources. Traditional gas-powered cars will be produced until they’re no longer economically viable, but make no mistake, change is coming, and you need to look no further than the top vehicle manufacturers to see it.
When Ford introduced its first fully-electric F150 in 2021, the handwriting was on the wall: while it will take a while for us all to catch up, the future is electric. Traditional automakers are investing billions in new vehicles to compete with the current market leader, Tesla, which will gradually erode the company’s market share. According to Consumer Reports, over the next decade, many auto manufacturers will transition to producing EVs, some exclusively. Nearly 100 pure electric models are set to debut by 2024.
While EVs are more environmentally friendly than traditional combustion vehicles, there are still environmental concerns regarding the manufacturing and disposal of electric batteries. Even so, owning an electric car is steadily moving towards the mainstream. While electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars still account for less than 4 percent of total auto sales in 2021, a recent poll published by The Hill stated that around 56 percent of car owners say they are “likely” to purchase an electric vehicle or hybrid as their next car purchase.
How Electric Cars Work
Hybrid vehicles have a combination of the electric motor and combustion engine, making them a popular first step into alternative vehicles. All-electric vehicles have a fully-electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. EVs emit no exhaust and do not contain the typical liquid fuel components, such as a fuel pump, fuel line, or fuel tank. A large traction battery pack is used to power the electric motor. EVs must be plugged into a wall outlet or special charging equipment, known as the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
Owning an electric car means that planning when and where the vehicle will be charged is a constant, especially on longer drives. As the popularity of EVs increases, charging stations will become more commonplace and convenient to access across the nation, making “refueling” less of a worry for EV drivers.
So how many miles does the average electric car get? The top range is around 330 miles on a single charge, but the charge range will vary by weather and other conditions. However, few drivers travel more than 330 miles per day, so EVs would be a great option. As technology advances and manufacturers continue to focus on improving battery capacity, the travel range of EVs will increase.
If you’re thinking about buying and owning an electric car, talk to Auto House. We often have a range of EV and hybrid models in our inventory, from entry-level up to luxury and performance cars such as Karma. We’ll be happy to help you decide if owning an electric car is right for you.
Want to learn more about EVs? Check out the EV guide from the U.S. Department of Energy, or a comprehensive list from Consumer Reports.