Category Archives: -Other EVs-

-Other EVs-

Traveling with an electric vehicle: Making a cost-effective and efficient trip

4 Comments

INSIDER SECRET: Going all-electric for your daily drive (or even road trip) likely means huge savings from not having to refuel at gas stations, and you can save even more money by using one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards for your everyday purchases.

As recently as 10 years ago, people laughed at the idea of an electric vehicle being a viable mode of transportation for a daily short-haul driver, let alone one who goes on long road trips. They were mocked as unsafe, unreliable, and able to only travel very short distances before requiring a ton of time to recharge.

Fast forward to today. Technological advancements in batteries used in electric vehicles now allow you to travel long distances. Charging is quick and seamless. And electric car company manufacturers like Tesla have shown they’re a viable (even preferable) alternative for daily drivers, winning awards like MotorTrend’s Car of the Year.

Using an electric vehicle can make for a very cost-effective and fun road trip. (Photo by Smile Fight/Shutterstock)

Electric vehicles can also be much more economical. I personally own a Tesla Model S, and it has saved me over $500 a month on gas. Over an 8-year period of ownership, that will add up to $48,000.

(Note: If you decide to go all-electric, you probably won’t have much use for a gas credit card. That’s where some of the best no-annual-fee credit cards can be a great substitute. These cards don’t cost you anything to keep open and offer a strong rewards rate on everyday purchases.)

To give you confidence that an electric vehicle can be used for traveling long distances, we’ll go over current trends and options, as well as some of the pros and cons compared to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

Electric vehicle options

If you’re thinking about going electric, you can choose between a hybrid car or a fully electric vehicle.

Hybrid vehicles use two different types of power. The most common ones combine a gasoline-powered engine with an electric motor. Some of the most efficient hybrids have a fuel efficiency rated as high as 60 mpg on the highway, according to CarsDirect. That’s a lot higher than the overall average U.S. vehicle fuel economy, which Reuters says is 24.7 mpg.

Fully electric vehicles, however, deliver the most in terms of fuel efficiency. Vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 have been rated as high as 136 mpg equivalent (the EPA energy measurement for electric vehicles), and can save you tons of money you would otherwise spend on gas.

Road trips in an electric vehicle

With technological advancements in batteries, electric vehicles can now go just as far on a charge as gasoline-powered cars can on a tank of gas.

According to Business Insider, here are some of the top-selling electric vehicles, along with their top battery range:

  • Tesla Model 3 – 310 miles
  • Tesla Model S – 370 miles
  • Tesla Model X – 325 miles
  • Chevrolet Bolt EV – 238 miles
  • Nissan Leaf – 226 miles
  • BMW i3 – 153 miles (up to 200 miles with range extender)
  • Volkswagen e-Golf – 125 miles
  • Audi e-Tron – 204 miles
  • Jaguar I-Pace – 234 miles
  • Smart EQ Fortwo – 58 miles

Making your road trip seamless

There are a number of things you can do to make a road trip in an electric or hybrid vehicle seamless, such as planning your route to include charging stations, making use of EV-specific perks, staying close to large cities, driving efficiently and more.

Charging

Today, charging an electric vehicle can be done quickly and conveniently, both at home and on the road.

At-home charging

One of the greatest advantages of owning an electric vehicle is the fact that you can charge your car on your own time and in the safety, comfort and convenience of your own property. In other words, you won’t have to make a special trip to a gas station to refuel.

The popular YouTube channel Like Tesla cites the following data points in one of their videos:

  • According to a study done by Kelly Blue Book, the average length of car ownership is five years
  • The average person drives 37 miles per day while getting 24 mpg
  • With those numbers in mind, the average person would need to refuel once every nine days
  • Doing the math, that’s 40 stops at a gas station per year (365 days per year/nine days)

Assuming it takes five minutes to refuel, that’s at least 200 minutes per year the driver of a gasoline-powered car spends at gas stations, versus zero for an electric vehicle if you have access to a convenient place to charge it when it is not in use (i.e. at night while you sleep).

If this sounds appealing to you, do keep in mind that you will need to have a charging station installed by an electrician, which can be an added cost of a few hundred dollars. You’ll also want to make sure that installing a charging station is allowed, depending on your living arrangement.

Those living in apartments or condominiums, for instance, may not have the physical space necessary to install a charging station. In some cases, you may have to seek approval from your landlord or homeowner’s association. If charging at home isn’t possible, you’ll have to rely on public charging stations which can be far less convenient than refueling in a gasoline-powered car.

Destination charging

Charging your car on a long road trip can be just as seamless as charging art home because of the number of public charging stations now available throughout the U.S.

According to GreenCarCongress, there are over 68,800 Level 2 and DC Fast charging units throughout the U.S. Additionally, Tesla also has its own charging network of over 14,000 Superchargers in more than 1,600+ unique locations nationwide.

Recharging your car on a long road trip can be quite convenient. After driving for several hours, it’s not unusual for many people to want to stop for at least 15-30 minutes to eat, rest, and use the restrooms. With a vehicle like the Tesla Model 3, that’s enough time to charge the car to 80%.

Planning your route

Although electric vehicle charging stations are becoming increasingly common, it’s still a good idea to plan ahead to make sure there are enough charging stations along your specific route. Tools like EVTripPlanner can be helpful in mapping out a route for your road trip to ensure you have the ability to recharge at convenient points along the way.

Some vehicles, such as Tesla, have an in-car navigation system that includes the locations of charging stations, along with recommended stops, to ensure you do not run your battery too low.

Utilizing destination perks

As an owner of an electric vehicle, there are a number of perks that you may be able to enjoy:

  • Priority parking spaces: some retail stores and shopping centers will have special designated parking spaces right up front for electric vehicles. These can save you tons of time because you can skip having to circle a busy parking lot for a spot.
  • HOV carpool lane access: depending on the state in which you reside, you may be eligible to apply for HOV lane stickers that will grant you access to the carpool lanes even if you are traveling solo. If you live in a busy metropolitan area like I do, carpool lanes can easily shave off 15-30 minutes off your commute.
  • Free valet parking and hotel charging: some hotels offer free valet parking and destination charging. This can save you the trouble of having to make a special trip to find a charging station before or after your arrival to the hotel. Not all hotel locations will offer this so you’ll need to check ahead of time, but some hotel chains that offer this include:
    • Marriott
    • Holiday Inn
    • Best Western
    • Hyatt

Stay closer to cities

Large cities typically have a higher density of charging stations. Tesla Superchargers, for instance, are typically located in large shopping centers or within walking distance to restaurants and entertainment areas.

For anyone looking to own or rent an electric vehicle, living in or around a large city likely means you’ll have easy access to a strong public charging infrastructure to support your daily driving needs.

Here is a list of top EV-friendly cities, according to AutoBlog:

  • Portland, Oregon
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Baltimore
  • New York
  • Denver
  • Los Angeles
  • Atlanta
  • Chicago
  • Austin
  • San Francisco

Drive efficiently

If you’re looking to skip as many charging stations as possible or are worried about running out of juice before your next stop, there are a few things you can do to improve your car’s fuel efficiency.

Not using your car’s air conditioning or other accessories are two small things that can help. But by and large, the single largest thing affecting your car’s range is your driving style.

Speed is one of the biggest items that can negatively affect your range. The faster you go, the more aerodynamic resistance will come into play. Simply put: slow down and limit your top speed to significantly improve your range. You can also avoid “jackrabbit” starts, and instead take it nice and easy on the accelerator.

Drafting is another strategy you can use to improve your car’s efficiency. By driving behind another large vehicle, you can improve your own vehicle’s fuel efficiency because you’ll have a lot less aerodynamic resistance to cut through.

Keep in mind that altitude, temperature, and weather conditions may also affect your vehicle’s range. Because you don’t have control over those factors, it’s a good idea to build in an appropriate buffer to ensure you don’t run out of battery life.

Don’t push your limits

It’s never a good idea to run your car’s gas tank down to zero, but it goes doubly-true for an electric vehicle. Even though your car’s battery reading might indicate it has a few miles left, it’s largely dependent on the accuracy of that reading and your battery’s calibration. Your battery’s age, health, temperature and weather conditions are just a few factors that could affect the accuracy of that reading. Because of this, there have been few reports of people’s cars running out of battery even though the battery gauge indicated it still had several miles left.

The best thing to do is to keep a buffer of at least 10-15 miles to avoid being stranded.

If you run out of battery

If you do happen to run out of battery power and find yourself stranded, roadside assistance should be your first call. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, some roadside assistance services may be able to provide charging services so that you can make it to the nearest charging station. AAA, for instance, offers these services in certain locations. In other cases, your car may have to be towed to a charging station.

Bottom line

Thanks to technological advancements, a road trip in an electric vehicle is not only possible but can be more preferable compared to a more traditional gasoline-powered car. Electric vehicles nowadays can drive many hundreds of miles on a single charge, are much more economical and can be recharged quickly and conveniently at home or on the road.

Plus, as an EV owner, you can take advantage of special perks like carpool lane access, priority parking space in certain shopping centers, free valet parking, free hotel charging and more.

If you’ve taken a road trip in an electric vehicle, let us know what your experience was like in the comments below.

For the latest tips and tricks on saving money on your travels, please subscribe to the Million Mile Secrets daily email newsletter.

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

Rock Your Electric Road Trip with these Essential Items

Leave a comment

Image source

 

There are those who say that when you drive an electric car, it is a less joyous experience than driving a traditional vehicle. Of course, those of us who know and love electric cars know that is anything but true.

 

In fact, driving an electric car, which is powerful, but silent, and fast, yet very clean has to be one of the best experiences there is. Oh, there’s the little matter that they’re much more economical to run, which means you can have more fun in them too! That’s why electric cars are almost perfect for road tripping.

 

Why do I say almost? Because as great as electric cars are, there are a number of gadgets and products that will make any road trip rock more…

 

The CarStations App

 

Probably the most important thing you’ll need if you plan to road trip in an electric car is the CarStations app, or one similar to it. Why? Because although gas stations are aplenty, places where you can easily charge your electric car are still not as abundant as they should be. Having this app, which will let you see where all of the available charging points are will make it much easier for you to have a successful electric road trip experience.

 

A Decent Amplifier

 

Most cars, electric or otherwise, do not come with really rocking sound systems as standard, which is a real shame because everyone knows that the second best thing about being on a road trip – the first being the journey itself -is the road trip playlist. So, if you want to ensure that your road trip truly rocks, check out these car amplifier reviews and ratings and act accordingly. Then, take out your smartphone or mp3 player and start adding some of these classic road trip tracks to your playlist. Bliss!

 

The Minipresso

 

The Minipresso is truly a godsend to the coffee lover who’s on the road. Why? Because it enables you to make a cup of high-quality coffee wherever you are. It’s operated by hand, so you don’t even have to worry about finding somewhere to plug it in – you can just crank it up and get your daily fix, even if you are out exploring in the middle of nowhere.

 

An Emergency Kit

Image source

 

Unfortunately, road trips don’t always go as smoothly as we would like them to, but as long as you have a decent auto-emergency kit, like the ones sold by AAA, you should be able to deal with most minor problems quickly and effectively. Safety first and all that.

 

Windshield Coating

 

Coating the windshield of your vehicle is a good way of ensuring that you have maximum visibility when you’re out on the road on those less than perfect days when the weather isn’t playing ball. You can purchase it in a portable form, which you can add to your windshield yourself, and which will last for six months if you want to keep costs down and it will really help you to have an easier time when you’re off on the road.

 

Effective Air Fresheners

 

If you and your road trip buddies are going to be spending a lot of time in your car (which you undoubtedly will be on a road trip), and especially if you’re going to be sleeping in there on occasion, then you’re going to want to invest in a few effective car air fresheners. That will help to keep the interior smelling sweet, as will opening the windows and feeling the wind in your hair as often as possible.

 

The Pelican Elite Cooler

 

The Pelican Elite Cooler is the perfect road trip companion because it will keep your snacks and beverages cool and refreshing for as long as ten days, It’s also leak-proof, so you won’t have to worry about it making a mess of your car’s interior.

 

Vacuum Packed Storage Bags

 

If your electric car’s trunk space isn’t as big as you would like, then invest in some vacuum packed storage bags, and you will be able to fit more clothing and provisions into the vehicle than you even though possible. This is good news because you won’t have to wear the same dirty clothes for long, nor will you have to limit yourself to just a handful of practical outfits.

 

Travel Pillows

 

It makes sense to pack travel pillows when you’re heading out on a road trip because, even if you plan to stop at a motel or whatever every night, there could be times when you need to nap between driving or when you simply don’t make it to your planned destination and you need to crash, having travel pillows,and blankets or sleeping bags too, for that matter, in the car will help you to get a more comfortable night’s sleep.

 

A Cell Phone Mount

 

If you don’t want to invest in an expensive GPS system, then simply invest in a cell phone mount that will enable you to safely look at the maps on your cell phone as you drive. Depending on where you’re traveling too, you might want to pay for a specific GPS app to ensure that you can find your way around with ease, but it will likely be much cheaper than having to buy the whole shebang.

 

A Mobile Hotspot

Image source

 

If you have a cell plan that allows you to tether your cell to other devices, then you can do without this, but if you do not have that capability, then it may well be worth investing in a mobile hotspot that will enable you and your road trip buddies to connect your phones, tablets, computers and any other devices you may need to use during the course of your trip to the world wide web when you’re out in more remote places where you can’t easily find free Wi-Fi or as you’re traveling and therefore unable to connect to one particular source of free Wi-Fi for an extended period of time.

 

Time to hit the road. Have a great time!

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

Super Cheap Ways to Make your Car Look Great

1 Comment

Your car is a huge investment and if you want to make it look great then there are a couple of things that you need to take into account. After all, you need to make sure that it is accessorised and you also need to make sure that it is clean and polished as well.

Cleaning your Car

Every time you get out of your car, make an effort to take any rubbish out. You also need to try and focus on your interior detailing as well. For example, are there any marks that you could cover up? Is it possible for you to replace the gear shifter knob? Little things like this can make a huge difference to your car and by simply dusting your dashboard you can really improve the general appearance of your vehicle. Organizing your car also helps and you don’t have to spend a ton of money on organisational tools or spiffy hardware. Try and consider using ziplock bags to keep all of your car manuals together, or even use cable tidies to keep your phone wires together. Of course, it’s understandable that you won’t want to wax your car every month, but do consider doing it a couple of times a year. It also won’t hurt to put it through a car wash from time to time, and make sure that you give the alloys a good scrub as well.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/blue-bmw-sedan-near-green-lawn-grass-170811/

Floor Mats

The first thing that will get ruined in your car is probably going to be your floor mat. If your car has the original floor mat that it came with and it is in great condition then you have nothing to worry about here, but if you don’t or if you know that your car mats are in bad condition then you may want to get these replaced. When you do get them replaced, try and opt for rubber mats. Felt mats can store mud and moisture, and all of this can lead to a mould build up. Eventually you’ll have to buy a brand new set and this can cost you a ton of money as well. Rubber on the other hand, can be cleaned time and time again.

Keywords: driver;motion;auto;car;man;boy;guy;street

https://www.pexels.com/photo/adult-automotive-blur-car-13861/

Car Body

If you have dents or dings in your car then why not consider getting them fixed? A Jeep rear bumper for example is very easy to buy and very easy to replace as well so you can easily bring your old car back to life. If you haven’t cleaned your windshield wipers in a while then you need to get a microfibre cloth so that you can get all of the dust and debris that you have accumulated over the years. This will help to keep your glass clean and it is a great way for you to really boost the general appearance of your car.

Other things that you can do include replacing the alloys, the door handles or the trim underneath the car. These things are a little bit more expensive but they can make all the difference.

 

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

3 Reasons You Should Lease Your Next Car

Leave a comment

Image Credit: Pexels

As the technology that goes into cars gets better and better, they are also gradually increasing in price. While this is part and parcel of creating some incredible new vehicles and pushing the boundaries, it is problematic for people who are passionate about cars and love driving but simply can’t afford those prices. This means that if you are looking for a new car – hybrid, electric or otherwise – you should start considering other methods for funding your transportation.

In the future, it seems very likely that we won’t have our own cars at all. Self driving vehicles are looking increasingly viable as a wide-scale option, opening up the opportunity for people to effectively hire the nearest car rather than owning their own. This lifestyle makes a lot of sense on both an economical level and an environmental level.

But this future doesn’t have to be that far away. In recent years, car leasing has become more and more popular. You get to lease the perfect car for you and in a few years time you can switch it up for a better model, incorporating new technologies and more green credentials. While we don’t have self-driving cars just yet, we can certainly start to learn how to share assets much better and begin to let go of the notion of ownership.

So, what is so good about leasing?

Fit in With Your Monthly Expenses

Leasing is one of the best ways to get a car when you don’t quite have the money to buy one. Cars are expensive and getting more and more expensive as time goes on. This can make it quite tricky for people who require a car but aren’t earning enough just yet to acquire the savings in time, like first time car buyers.

As a good compromise, leasing allows you to figure out how much you can afford to spend out of your monthly budget on your car. With this money, you can then lease a car without having to put down a deposit to begin with. In other words you get the car you want, right now, without having to save up for one first.

Fitting any large expense into your monthly budget can be quite difficult but luckily there are a wide range of cars available to lease. At the end of your lease, you can choose to either swap your car for a new model that will suit your new needs, or you can lease your same car again. This is slightly different to paying for a car on finance as you won’t own your leased car at the end of your contract. However, the monthly payments are quite a lot cheaper so this could be a better option if you are shorter on cash. You can read a little more about the differences between leasing and financing online at www.wcvolvocars.com.

Upgrade to Enjoy a New Car at the End of Your Lease

One of the most exciting things about your lease is that once it ends you can upgrade to get a better car that will suit your needs. As technology and cars are moving along at a rapid pace, this is a really good advantage to have as in a few years time, you can’t even imagine what kinds of changes will have been made. Having the ability to join in straight away will be really very exciting!

This might sound a bit weird if you haven’t thought of leasing a car before, but think of it like a cell phone. We all know how quickly cell phones have suddenly taken off with brand new technologies seeming to appear almost every month. The car industry may be a slightly slower industry given that a car is a much larger investment for anyone to make, but it is rapidly catching up and now this attitude to leasing rather than owning is taking off. And, when you think about it that way, it makes a lot more sense.

Your Car is Protected Under Warranty

One of the biggest worries that drivers have is that should anything go wrong with their car, they will have to pay to get it fixed again. This is particularly worrying when you have already spent pretty much all you have on buying the car in the first place!

With a lease, the car you are driving will be protected and covered so that if there are any problems, this won’t be coming out of your pocket, but will be paid for by the warranty. This means that while you should certainly continue to take excellent care of your car and drive sensibly and safely at all times, if there are any problems, you won’t need to worry about covering the cost.

This is a huge bonus if you are looking for an electric car or a hybrid as these cars are generally much more expensive to fix when they go wrong as they contain specially made parts that can often only be fitted by a particular garage or technician. Knowing this will also help to bring your insurance cover down as your insurer will not be shouldering the cost of these repairs either.

Leasing a car might not sound like it’s for you, but even if you only look at these three reasons to lease your next car, it is clear that there are a few significant advantages at play as the technology in cars improves at a rapidly increasing rate, you don’t want to get left behind the times when you know that the next awesome breakthrough in efficiency is coming. Being able to change your car regularly will allow you to stay on top of the trends without breaking the bank or having to save up a ridiculous amount for a deposit.

Take control of your car and take control of the future. Leasing is a trend that will soon be working for everyone and the sooner you climb on board, the more likely it is that industries will work to develop a future where everyone has a way of travelling around easily and efficiently – where you don’t need to be wealthy to have a stake in the best of the city.

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

How To Prepare Your Vehicle For Business Uses

Leave a comment

Being able to drive is a wonderful privilege that we have, and while being able to get from A to B easier and faster than walking, our cars can be used for much more than just transportation. Many people use their cars for business purposes, whether that be to get them to business meetings, pick up clients, or even advertise their own business. If you’re looking to utilize your car for business uses, take a look at the advice in this article so that you can be safe on the roads, while driving in comfort at the same time.

https://pixabay.com/en/car-dashboard-speedometer-speed-car-2667434/

Use radar detectors

For those who don’t know, radar detectors are installed in cars to alert you when you’re going too fast and when there are police detectors nearby. This could prove massively helpful if you’re using your car for business purposes because not only will it save you from gaining points on your license, but it will also save your business from creating a bad reputation. Take a look at the best undetectable radar detector and buy yourself one to protect yourself, others, and also your business.

Keep business cards and merchandise in your car

Ensuring that you constantly have a supply of merchandise and business cards in your car will allow you to do business wherever you are. Even if you’re not on a business trip, it’s likely that you will run into someone and begin talking about your business, and having everything ready in your car could gain you more customers! Make sure that they are kept flat and away from any damp so that if the time comes that you are showing off your business, that you look professional and prepared.

Have it serviced regularly

Like all cars, there’s a chance that your car could break down at some point, which will obviously not be good for business, especially if you have places that you need to be. Getting your car serviced regularly will give you that extra bit of reassurance that your car is going to be reliable through all journeys that you need to make. Also, having it serviced more regularly will likely prevent any pricey fixes coming your way because your mechanic should be able to pick up on small problems before they turn into larger and more expensive ones.

Add some homely touches

Being a business owner means you will probably be spending a considerable amount of time in your car, travelling to clients and other meetings. Take the time to make your car more homely so that you can travel in comfort. Things you could add to your car include:

  • Hands free set
  • Seat warmers
  • GPS
  • Snacks and water
  • An improved sound system

There are many other things you could add, but the above would make any journey much more bearable.

Use these tips to prepare your car for business uses and you will soon find yourself in a safe and productive car that can help you and your business.

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

A Beginner’s Guide To Classic Car Restoration

Leave a comment

Whether you have a passion for restoring them or driving them, there are many classic car lovers out there. Bringing a classic or vintage car back to life can be a labor of love and can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It could be to sell the car on, and the process is what you enjoy. It could be to then keep the car yourself and enjoy it as a weekend vehicle.

But if you’ve not done it before, but quite fancy the idea of it, then where do you start? Here are a few of the steps you should take if you’re interested in a classic or vintage car restoration. Then, no matter your previous skills or experience, you can be on the right path to getting the project done well.

image

Do Your Homework

A vintage car restoration is not a small project. So you need to take some time to figure out how much it could cost you and what you have available to spend on it. What are the tools you need for such a project? Do you have the right ones? If you know someone that has done it before, then that could come in really handy.

Choose the Right Car

Choosing the right car can be one of the trickiest parts of a car restoration. It isn’t always going to be straightforward; the chances are that you will find one with a few problems. But you don’t want to have too many problems that will cost you a lot to fix. So take your time checking out what is for sale near you. Looking up ‘car auctions near me’ could be a good idea too, as you can often get a good deal at an auction. Classified ads, local papers, and car garages can be good places to look to. Be sure to ask plenty of questions for the previous owners.

Original or Personal

When it comes to classic cars, there are some stalwarts that believe you have to recreate the car back to its original form. But will that be the route that you take? You could opt for classic, or add some personality to the car. Making a plan and deciding what you want the car to look like is really key. It can be a good idea to know what you want to do beforehand, so that you can plan the right tools and design.

Space

You might have grand plans for your car restoration, but have you thought through where it is all going to go? Do you have space in your own garage, or would you be placing the car elsewhere? If so, you’ll need to check the security of the place, as well as check on insurance (though if the car isn’t driveable yet, it can reduce the insurance).

The thing to think about is why you are doing it, as classic car restoration can take a while. It should be a labor of love, as that will make it more appealing, and get you out there each week, rather than putting it off and wasting your money.