Understanding The Truth Behind Some Common Electric Car Myths

2 November 2016
 Categories: , Articles

Share

If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, then you may be interested in an all-electric car. However, you may have some concerns about driving an all-electric vehicle based on some of the myths that are perpetuated both online and in person by people who do not have a good understanding of electric cars. If you want to learn about the truth behind some of these myths, keep reading.

Myth - You Cannot Drive That Far

Saying a car cannot drive very far on a single electric charge is like saying that a car cannot drive that many miles on a full tank of gas. In general, ranges vary greatly depending on where you drive, how you drive, and whether you intend on using your heater, air conditioner, radio, and other features while you drive. Under the most trying conditions, an electric car can only travel about 80 miles on a single charge. However, this only happens if you intend on using all of the car's extra features and also want to drive on the highway at about 80 miles an hour or in the city at about 10 to 20 miles an hour. 

While some people will use all car features and drive extremely slow or fast, this is likely only to happen for a small portion of your driving time. If you drive between 30 and 50 miles an hour during the majority of your commute and also limit the use of features, then you may find that you can drive well over 300 miles on a single electrical charge. In most cases, you will notice something in the middle of the two extremes and will be able to drive somewhere around 200 miles on a charge. 

While this may not seem like a lot, consider the fact that a car with poor gas mileage may only get between 12 and 15 miles per gallon. If these types of vehicles have 12 gallon tanks, then this works out to be only about 144 miles driven per tank of gas. This is far less than what you would see if you decide to purchase an electric car. 

Most commute times average between about 20 and 30 minutes. If you are the average person, then an electric car is more than able to get you to and from work without any problems or issues with a dying battery. 

Myth - Charging Takes A Long Time

You may have heard that electric cars charge extremely slowly. This is true, but only if you decide to plug your car into a normal outlet. Electric cars have a 240 volt plug that can be plugged into a 240 volt outlet. If you have an electric dryer or a stove, then you should be familiar with this type of outlet. It has either three or four holes and is quite a bit larger than a normal outlet. Electric cars are made to use these outlets, but there is not enough electric current volume to quickly recharge the car's battery.

If you want to charge your car in a timely manner, then you will need to purchase electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). This is a wiring and outlet system that delivers high voltage and elevated currents so the vehicle is able to pull larger electrical volumes into the car battery. This helps to recharge the engine quickly. Some of the faster types of charging units can charge an entire battery within 10 to 30 minutes. Some chargers are actually portable units that allow you to charge your vehicle at a rest stop or while you are working. This is convenient and helps to eliminate the fears you may have about battery life and charging time.  

For more information on electric cars, contact a dealership like Western Avenue Nissan.