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Tesla Model 3

How to Make Sure Your Shiny New Tesla Model 3 Retains Its Value

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If you’ve recently bought a Tesla Model 3 then you might be surprised to hear about the incredible resale values. While it might be tempting to sell your Tesla Model 3 early to rake in the premiums, it’s a bit pointless to own such a unique piece of technology only to sell it for the sake of money. It’s far better to actually put the vehicle to use in a number of different situations so you can experience the joys of electric driverless technology.

But with that said, it’s still not a bad idea to try and retain as much resale value as you can. Although consumer reports are pointing towards the Model 3 being the most reliable car from Tesla, it’s still a good idea to brush up on your resale value skills in order to keep the car looking and driving great after several years.

To get you started, we’ve put together a list of tips that will help you ensure that your Tesla Model 3 retains as much value as possible.

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Tinting the Windows

The interior of a Tesla Model 3 is beautiful and stunning to look at. Make sure you visit a company like Tint Factory to request a professional window tint. This will protect the interior from damage by the sun’s UV rays, thus extending the lifetime of the luxurious interior. The appearance of the Model 3 is often what can convince people to purchase it, which is why taking care of the interior can improve its resale value.

Maintaining the Battery

If it’s your first electric vehicle, then there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind about the battery. Managing an electric car battery is entirely different from traditional engines, so here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Mind the temperatures – Extreme temperatures can have adverse effects on the battery. The battery itself has thermal management systems, but it’s still important to keep the battery at a stable temperature. This means avoiding climates that are too hot or too cold. If you need to store the vehicle outside for a long period, then make sure it is covered. Alternatively, keep your Model 3 in a garage to shield it from the elements.
  • Don’t let the battery sit at 100% – Letting your battery sit at 100% is a bad idea. Charging your vehicle to 100% every day stresses the battery and eventually lowers the efficiency. Most electric vehicles, the Model 3 included, operate best when their batteries are at around 30 to 90%. Any more or less and the battery’s lifespan could shorten.
  • Deep discharging – If you don’t plan to use your Tesla for a while, then make sure you don’t allow to discharge for an extended period of time because it could cause issues with the battery. If your Model 3 is below 30%, then let it charge back up to 90%. An electric vehicle will typically use 1% of the battery every day even when not in use.
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Is The New Subaru Ascent Worth The Wait?

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Having been around for over a century, Subaru has steadily risen in the car manufacturing industry, but never more so than in recent times. In 2009, 216,652 Americans bought a Subaru. This was followed by seven record-breaking years with the culmination of 615,132 Subarus sold in America in 2016.

Compared to other companies, Subaru is relatively small, with fewer cars on the line. However many car enthusiasts compare the luxury, performance and reliability to top car manufacturers like BMW and Lexus.

Subaru also has one of the best records for customer loyalty – with the majority of customers staying with Subaru after switching from another company. However, the main reason anyone switches back is down to the lack of seven-seater cars.

The biggest downfall for the company came from the lack of larger cars. They have a range of family-friendly wagons and hatchbacks, but nothing that exceeds five-seats. The 2005 launch of the seven-seat Tribecca was too small and was discontinued less than a decade later.

Subaru vehicles are known for ease of maintenance, although the cars themselves are expensive, the cost of a Subaru mechanic isn’t any more than for any other vehicle. The cost of repairs comes down to the cost of parts, which is slightly higher, but they come with long-life assurances.

But now, Subaru has come up with the new Subaru Ascent. This three-row SUV seats eight and competes with many of the classics from Ford and Chevrolet. It was revealed in this year’s New York Auto Show to great success.

Tom Doll, the Subaru America President, said that the plan is to keep the generation that grew up with Subarus with the company. Meaning that Millennials who grew up during the boom of success over the past decade, who might have had Subarus since learning to drive, now have a car that has grown with them – a family-car ready for the new generation.

There are rumours of a possible hybrid version, but no official comment has been made. Passing up the chance of a hybrid SUV, to follow in the success of cars like Toyota’s Hybrid SUV seems like a stupid move.

The Ascent concept is decked out with technology, from a built in Sat Nav to touchscreen locks and window mechanisms. The sleek design is one we have come to know from Subaru, and the heavy front grill is one we often find synonymous with SUVs. The style follows on nicely the Visiv-7, with a few technological advances. The concept measures 78.3 inches wide, 198.8 inches long and 72.4 inches tall. The 117-inch wheelbase puts Subaru directly in line with other large SUV companies. The car also boasts a newly developed turbocharged Boxer engine.

The Ascent is a big step in the right direction for Subaru, and it will hopefully be rolled out throughout the world. Currently, productions are limited to America, but there are hopes for the UK, Europe and part of Asia.

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The Choice Conundrum: Are Electric Cars All The Same?

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For enthusiasts of green motoring, the last few years have certainly brought more good news than the decades that went before them. With governments worldwide looking at moving away from fossil fuel vehicles within the next few decades, companies that want to keep up with the changing marketplace are being forced to look into new technology. Electric and hybrids seem to be the way of the future, but what does this change mean for right now?

We do know that, traditionally, there’s been less choice for the green motorists compared to petrolheads. Given we’re now well into the age of non-fossil fuel cars, are the choices improving for the green-minded car enthusiast?

The good news is that some vehicles are appearing on the horizon that answer that question in the affirmative; choice is no longer the reserve of the piston engine.

Manufacturers Are Accepting The Inevitable

The news of more and more countries looking at going electric is a positive step for the environment, but most announcements have come with an underwhelming deadline of the late 2030s. However, the effect on manufacturers has been a pleasant surprise, as they are beginning to see the futility of continuing to develop all-fossil fleets.

One result of this acceptance is that electric vehicles are going to join the true, reliable heavyweights of the road. A great example of this is the forthcoming Land Rover PHEV LSE. With a sturdy workhorse frame, this is an electric vehicle that gives a feeling of safety on the road, and a welcome addition to the Chevy Bolt in that respect. As a result of its reassuring sturdiness, the feeling of needing a car accident law firm number to hand “just in case” of any unexpected surprises, should diminish with the PHEV LSE.

The Electric Car Range Problem Is Getting Better

Until recently, if you could find an electric vehicle that would do more than 200 miles per charge, you held onto it for dear life. With charge points not exactly around every corner, range has been the defining issue of all electric cars to date.

Good news, then, comes in the shape of a few cars that are soon to be released to the market. The Tesla Model S is capable of hitting 295 miles before needing a charge. Furthermore, Mercedes have announced that their EQ — slated for 2019 — will have a range of 311 miles. These models show that the improvements in range might be slow, but they are getting better.

“Affordable” Will No Longer Mean “Awful”

The inconvenient truth for many electric car fans is that, if you want quality, you either have to pay a lot or accept a small range. Fortunately, the gap in the market for a longer range green car that you’ll actually want to drive is now in the midst of being filled. As you might expect, Tesla are the ones blazing the trail, with their Model 3 about to hit the streets at an affordable $35,000– and a 215 mile range. Electric cars that are affordable and go the distance? The future might just be green after all.

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5 Reasons You Should Rock Down To Electric Avenue

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plug in ev

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There is no denying the EV revolution has begun to gain momentum, but there still aren’t enough people sat in the driving seats of these vehicles. Of course, it is only a matter of time before this changes, namely because they are becoming more alluring and sexy. At one point it was a market dominated by Nissan Leaf’s and the G-Wiz, but now we have the likes of Porsche set to enter the market and Tesla already doing their thing, which will inherently make going electric more appealing.

However, to wait would be criminal, so what can we do to urge more driver’s to go electric now? Well, the obvious answer – at least in our eyes – is to educate them. After all, the benefits are already available, it is just a matter of getting them into the frontal lobes of people in the market for a new car.

So, without further ado, here are the biggest positives to add to your EV argument:

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  1. Fuel Savings

We don’t want to overload you with math because these arguments rarely hold sway over the Average Joe, so we’ll keep it sweet. The average electric car uses $3.74 worth of electricity to complete 100 miles. A conventional car costs $13.36. That is a saving of $9.62 every 100 miles, or a saving of $1,154 every 12,000 miles (which is the annual average).

  1. Safety Matters

For anyone stepping into a car, the matter of safety is right the way up there. That is where electric cars snatch another point from the gas-using counterparts. Not only do EVs have less moving parts, meaning there is less likely to go wrong, and thus less chance of a collision ending with you hiring the experts at https://www.davidchristensenlaw.com/, they also don’t use gasoline; a highly flammable – and explosive – liquid. The other thing worth pointing out on this front is there is no fire required. Unlike in gasoline cars.They require a spark in order for them to run hot. Do the math.

  1. Purchase Price

Since these cars were first introduced to the market, their prices have tumbled dramatically. The Nissan Leaf has slashed over $6000 from its cost, Honda has reduced the price of its Fit EV by a third, and the Mitsubishi I-MiEV is now under $15,000 when you factor in the federal tax credits that are offered. That is hard for anyone to ignore.

  1. Tax Incentives

We mentioned the federal tax credit thing briefly, but it really demands its own section. In short, the federal government offers up to $7500 in tax credits when you purchase an EV, while some states and local governments offer other incentives too. If the former part of that statement interests you then you can read about it in depth at https://energy.gov. This drastically reduces the cost of a new car, whether you paying upfront or looking to pay it off in finance. We can’t say exactly how much of an incentive you will get in your area, but it is worth looking up when shopping around.

  1. Less Maintenance

If we point you back to number 2, you will notice we touched on the less moving parts thing. To expand on this in the briefest way possible, less moving parts means less maintenance. No engine, no spark plugs, no valves, transmission, catalytic converter, distributor or anything like that. You know what we’re saying.

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Electric Vehicles: Playing With Fire?

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Naturally, any new type of technology is going to spark concerns about safety. Electric cars have been evolving for a while now, and they’re also a new take on something that has already existed for a long time too. So concerns over their safety aren’t exactly rife, and most people are probably more concerned about the safety of autonomous cars. But there are still some concerns that people have with the safety of electric vehicles on the road, as well as in other situations. Read on to find out some of the issues people have with electric vehicles and whether they’re right to be concerned.

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Electric Car Fires

One of the problems that have arisen in relation to electric cars is the risk of fire. A few fires involving electric vehicles have occurred, which have made some people question their safety. Some politicians have even used these instances to put down electric cars. However, these accidents are very rare, which is why they often appear in the news. Most of them are connected to the use of lithium-ion batteries, which are no longer used in mass-produced electric cars. In fact, the rate of fires involving gasoline cars is much higher. However, it’s important to remember that this could be because there are still fewer electric cars on the road.

Safety in Accidents

Safety on the road and how electric cars perform in accidents is also important. Like any other car, electric vehicles need to go through vigorous safety tests and receive a safety rating. In addition, EVs need to conform to specific standards just for electric vehicles. These include things such as chemical spillage from batteries and ensuring batteries are secure in a crash. One benefit electric cars can offer is that their lower center of gravity often means they’re less likely to roll over. Still, if you drive an electric vehicle, you still need to be prepared for accidents by following guidance like the advice at https://www.caraccidentlawyer-ny.com/brooklyn-car-accident-lawyer/. It’s always better to assume that you could get into a crash caused by you or someone else.

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Electric Vehicles and Pedestrians

One safety concern specific to electric vehicles relates to their quiet operation. While this is a benefit in some ways, it can also pose a danger to pedestrians. When pedestrians cross the road, it’s helpful if they can both watch and listen for traffic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking at ways this issue could be addressed. They have suggested it could be helpful to require EVs to emit sounds at low speeds – something that some vehicles already have. Drivers should be extra careful to watch out for pedestrians when driving an electric vehicle.

Maintenance for Electric Vehicles

To keep electric vehicles safe, it’s important to conduct regular maintenance. Different vehicles have different maintenance requirements, but all should have their electrical systems checked often. This helps to prevent accidents and other issues. Find out more at http://knowhow.napaonline.com/electric-car-maintenance-need-know/.

Electric vehicles have some of their own safety concerns, but they largely share the same issues as other vehicles. They can even be safer in some respects.

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5 Things You Should Know About Alternative-Fuel Vehicles

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If you’re making an effort to go green, it’s time to consider an alternative-fuel vehicle. This one, simple change will help you lower greenhouse gas emissions, save on fuel costs, and qualify for tax breaks. Before you take the plunge and buy a brand new Tesla, do some research to help you determine the best vehicle for your lifestyle. In June of 2017, CarMax teamed with CleanTechnica to find out more about the people who drive alternative-fuel vehicles. Their survey resulted in a whopping 2,300 responses, and we’ve sifted through the data to answer these 5 frequently asked questions.

  1. Who buys alternative-fuel vehicles?

You may think that all hybrid owners are millennial hipsters with ironic t-shirts and Bernie Sanders bumper stickers. However, the reality is quite different. The average hybrid-owner is a 30-year-old male from the east coast with a bachelor’s degree. The truth may be surprising, but you can’t argue with the numbers:

  • 88% of alternative-fuel vehicle owners are more than 30-years-old.
  • 70% of the responses came from people with bachelor’s degree or higher
  • 26% of the responses came from the pacific coast

  1. Why do people buy hybrid and electric vehicles?

For many people, alternative-fuel vehicles have less to do with environmental concerns and more to do with practical considerations. More than half of the survey’s respondents report spending less than $100 per year on vehicle maintenance. In addition, more than 60% of the respondents expect to own their vehicle for more than 4 years. Last, but not least, some cities offer tax credits and HOV lane perks to drivers with hybrid or electric vehicles. Here are the details:

  • 29% purchased their vehicle to save money
  • 38% purchased their vehicle to save the environment
  • 29% purchased their vehicle for another reason
  1. How far can a person drive without recharging?

Range anxiety is one big reason why people hesitate to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles. Fortunately, these fears are (mostly) unfounded. Less than a quarter of all survey respondents have driven their vehicle until running ran out of fuel. On the other hand, nearly half of survey’s respondents have never driven more than 100 miles on a single charge. Here’s the breakdown:

  • 42% have a second non-electric vehicle for long trips
  • 14% have driven until they ran out of fuel and charge
  • 48% have never driven more than 100 miles on a single charge

  1. How do people charge their vehicles?

Charging stations are another other major hesitation among alternative-fuel vehicle owners. However, the survey results contradict this basic assumption. More than three quarters of the respondents own a vehicle with some sort of plug-in functionality. See for yourself:

  • 85% own a plug-in or all-electric vehicle
  • 84% of these people charge their vehicles in their home
  • 56% say it’s convenient to use a public charging station

  1. What are the most popular alternative-fuel vehicles?

The alternative fuel craze is really taking off. Since 2001, CarMax has sold nearly 100,000 electric and hybrid cars in the U.S. According to their survey, more than 75% of the respondents have owned their vehicle for two years or less. In addition, nearly two thirds of these vehicles were purchased by first-time alternative-fuel vehicle owners. That said, the top five most popular alternative-fuel vehicles are as follows:

We left the most important statistic for last. The CarMax survey also asked respondents whether or not they would recommend a hybrid vehicle to a friend or family member. On a scale of one to five, the average response was 4.8. I guess it’s true what they say–once you go green, you never go back.