9 things to consider before buying your first EV

With?prices coming down, charging soon to be more plentiful, and sustainability increasingly top of mind for consumers, there’s a good chance your next car will be fully (or partially) electric. So how do you shop for one? Many of the same car-buying considerations still apply — your budget, how much driving you do, vehicle safety ratings, cargo capacity, and so forth. But EVs are different, and buying one can be confusing.

That’s where we come in, with a series of tips to make sure you have the information you need to make the right choice.?

EV buying tip #1: Don’t overpay for range you won’t use

Asking a first-time EV buyer how much range they need is a little like asking someone how much money they want. The answer tends to be:?more. Americans have gotten used to gas stations around every corner and vehicles that offer a lot of range (the median range for 2021 gas vehicles was 403 miles vs. 234 for EVs). When you consider our country’s woefully underdeveloped charging infrastructure (something that hopefully?is about to change) and people’s general aversion to getting stranded in their cars, it’s not an irrational urge.

But also, it kind of is. Most people who purchase EVs charge them at home, and according to the Federal Highway Administration, most Americans drive an average of 30 or 40 miles per day. That means that, for most of us, even a 100-mile-range EV would more than suffice.?

So before you get seduced by high-range (read: more expensive) EVs, consider where and how you’d charge and then analyze your daily trips to determine how much range you?really?need.?

As you’re calculating, it’s a good idea to add some buffer miles if any of the following pertain to you: You consistently drive fast, not slow; you predominantly use freeways (where regenerative braking won’t help you recoup as much mileage); you live in or around hilly topography; or you are a prodigious user of climate controls. All these factors will likely result in your EV getting less range than promised. And keep in mind that one of the biggest factors that impacts range is climate (more on this in?tip 3…).?

Once you’ve thought about the extent to which your charging situation, lifestyle needs, and driving style could impact your potential range, it’s time to start looking for vehicles that fit your needs —?and budget.?

EVs come with a range of ranges, from 100 miles for the Mazda MX-30 to 520 miles for the Lucid Air Dream Edition.?The vast majority of 2022 models, however, falls somewhere between 200 and 300 miles —?the new industry standard. Within that 200- to 300-mile range, there are some affordable options, like the?$26,500?Chevy Bolt (259 miles). Go above that, and the vehicle price can skyrocket. The base price for that Lucid? $170,500. Yeah,?big batteries are expensive.

EV buying tip #2: You might not need that pricey home charger

No matter the EV model, charging overnight (or during your workday) will be the best way to get your money’s worth out of an EV. So, before you get too into the EV weeds, make sure you can have access to a charger while you work or sleep.?

That could get tricky for renters. While a few lucky people may have access to chargers at their office or apartment building, most don’t —?so if you’re in the unlucky majority, it may make sense to start appealing to your building management now.?

If you own a single-family house, you’ll have much more control. And what most people don’t realize is that as long as you have access to a standard 120V outlet, probably within 10 or 15 feet of where you park your vehicle, you can charge directly. (Nearly all EVs come with a dedicated 120V charging cable.) It’s important to remember that while this is the cheapest way to add electrons to your EV, it’s also the slowest. Commonly referred to as Level 1 — or “trickle” — charging, most 120V outlets will add between 3 and 5 miles of range per hour to your vehicle. If your car sits idle for 10 to 12 hours every night — when electricity rates tend to be lowest — and you can leave it plugged in for a significant portion of the weekend, this may be enough for your needs. It may also be your only option if you’re charging at an apartment building.

Of course, you can choose to add a dedicated 240V outlet for Level 2 charging, which allows for an average of 25 miles of range per hour. There are all kinds of charging stations to choose from — some are boxy and mount directly to a wall in your garage or on the exterior of your home; some are designed to be more portable and simply plug into 240V outlets; some come with “smart” options that let you view your charging history and schedule charging sessions at specific times of the day. The thing to keep in mind is cost. Charging stations themselves can run between $300 and $1,000. You’ll also need an electrician to install that 240V outlet. That can cost anywhere from $250 (if you already have a dedicated 240V circuit) to as much as $2,000 (if you live in a market with higher labor costs). And that’s in addition to the $2,000 to $4,000 nearly half of all homeowners can expect to pay in order to upgrade their home’s electrical panel to accommodate a Level 2 charging station. Finally, before you make any decision on charging, it’s a good idea to download apps like EVgo, ChargePoint, Electrify America, and PlugShare to get a sense of what public chargers are in your area and along routes you frequently travel. Navigation apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze can also give you a sense of local and regional charging options. Keep in mind that charging on the road at public chargers is usually far more expensive than charging at home.?

EV buying tip #3: Live in a cold climate? Get a battery that can handle the chill

Batteries — at least the lithium-ion variety primarily used in EVs — are a lot like people when it comes to their temperature preferences. They’re most comfortable (and functional) when it’s around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.?

EV range takes a significant hit in cold weather. Depending on the vehicle and how cold it is outside, total range loss for an EV in below-freezing temperatures can be anywhere between?3 and 30 percent. The main culprit? Your vehicle’s heater. While internal combustion cars can capture and reuse the heat generated by the engine, it costs kilowatts to warm up an engineless EV — lots of them. (It should be pointed out that EV makers are increasingly using more efficient heat pumps for climate control, which should help.)

So if you live in a consistently cold climate, you might want to consider a larger battery as range will take a hit during the coldest months.?

Once you’ve purchased your EV, you can also try out some range-saving hacks. For example, use your vehicle’s heated seats and steering wheel, if it has them, instead of the climate controls. Both are much more efficient than the cabin heater and far less taxing on the battery. Another option is to preheat your EV while it’s still plugged in at home: If your vehicle is connected to an energy source, many EVs will use the charger, not the battery, to heat up the cabin before you leave.?

Hot temperatures are a different story. Instead of slowing down chemical reactions in the battery cells, hot weather tends to speed them up. These faster reaction times don’t result in range loss, but they can prematurely age the battery and result in quicker degradation. So if you live close to Death Valley, look for a good battery warranty.

Check out the other 6 tips below:

Tip 4: 800V models can get you back on the road fast — if you can find the right charger

Tip 5: The higher the MPGe, the more efficient the EV

Tip 6: Tax incentives are changing. Stay in the know.?

Tip 7: Suss out your service options before you buy

Tip 8: Read the fine print on the battery warranty

Tip 9: Make sure that used EV battery is as healthy as it seems

Safe travels,

Rev Staff