Shopping for an Amazing, New Car

If you are in the market to purchase a new electric car, then it may be wise to visit a car dealership that has a variety of both new and used vehicles for sale. If you do not know much about electric cars beyond the fact that they are environmentally friendly, then you may have a hard time choosing the best option for your needs. If this is a concern of yours, then keep reading to learn about some tips on choosing the right one.

Pick One With A Good Battery

Many people are wary of purchasing electric vehicles based on certain limiting factors like the battery charge and the miles that can be driven per full charge. This type of limit was the reason why many vehicles were initially created as hybrids that utilized both gasoline and electricity. Most of these hybrid vehicles, and most current hybrids, use nickel-metal hydride batteries. These batters are sometimes used in older electric car models as well. While the batteries function well when used for short periods of time, they do have some performance issues. For example, the nickel batteries discharge fairly quickly and also produce a great deal of heat. The generated heat can cause engine overheating issues on long trips and in extremely hot weather.

If you want an electric car with better performance, then look for a variety with a lithium-ion battery. These batteries are the ones that can be found in computers, phones, and a great deal of other electronics. The batteries are known for their safety as well as their low levels of heat discharge. They also last a long time and perform by releasing more consistent levels of electrical power over an extended period of time. 

Some cars, like the electric Tesla vehicles, now use lithium-ion batteries. They are also being utilized on more and more electric cars. The only drawback to choosing a vehicle with one of these batteries is the cost of the battery itself. While the batteries are rated to last up to 10 years, they can be quite expensive to replace. 

Look At Charging Capabilities

If you do decide to purchase an electric car, then you will most likely also need to have a special charging station installed somewhere in your garage or your home. This station is called an EVSE station, or an electric vehicle supply equipment station. Basically, the EVSE provides the proper volume and wattage of electricity you need to recharge your car's battery as quickly as you can. While electric cars do have normal 240 volt plugs that can be secured into a normal 240 volt outlet, the supply of energy is too low to recharge the battery effectively.

An EVSE station can help to shorten the amount of time it takes to charge your car. However, if the car is not equipped with a fast charging rate, then it does not matter how quickly the EVSE can provide electricity. If you want to plug your car in for an hour or two and be able to take advantage of a full or mostly full battery charge, then you will need to find a car that has on-board charging capabilities that are level 3 or level 4. The capabilities are described as fast or super fast and allow high amperages of electricity to flow into the battery at one time. 

The types of cars that allow for quick charging also have longer ranges, so this means you can usually drive longer without having to recharge the battery.

If you have been thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle, then there are a few things that you need to look at first. Investigating the battery type and the charging capabilities are two things to consider.