Category Archives: -Other EVs-

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

Your Car Is More Than Just Transportation. Here’s Why!

Leave a comment

For most people, their car is just a way to get from A to B. It’s a handy tool that can help them get around in their day to day life, but it doesn’t bring them any extra benefits apart from being a convenient mode of transport. However, it is a very expensive mode of transport. Sure something this expensive should bring more benefits to your life than just a form of transport? Well, thankfully, it can! Your car doesn’t just have to used to getting you from A and B. Here are some other great ways you might want to benefit from your little auto.

Picture Credit

Money Maker

Your car doesn’t just have to drain your finances – it can actually be a nice little money maker and can bring you a small extra income if you are smart with it. Have you already heard of the likes of Uber and Lyft? These platforms give you the chance of becoming a taxi driver and making some cash from transporting people around using your car. The great thing about these kinds of platforms is that they give you the chance to be as flexible as you want to be with your work. You can take to the road and pick people up at times to suit you, so you can be your own boss!

Marketing Opportunity

Do you have your own small business? If so, then your car could be turned into an extra marketing tool. Wraps for cars and trucks are a great way to get your company name out there so that more of the public will encounter it. All that you need to do is pay to have a wrap designed with your company’s logo and branding. This will then be applied to the exterior of your car. You will then have a nifty little advert on the side of your car that everyone will see next time you go out for a drive!

Status Symbol

There are lots of people out there who use their car as a status symbol to show off their wealth and assets. Even if you aren’t the wealthiest person in the world, there will still be a really cool car out there that reflects your personality and street credit. One of the most obvious go-tos for a status symbol has to be a sports car. If you can’t afford a brand new Lamborghini, you could simply buy a chic second-hand sports car – it may have a previous owner, but it will still ooze coolness!

Stress Reliever

Some people see their car as a stress reliever. Whenever they are feeling stressed, they will simply jump in their car and go for a long drive. It doesn’t really matter where they go as the action of driving can help some people really calm down and unwind. If you need some extra calm, you could always take a drive to a peaceful rural location.

So, why use your car as just a mode of transportation when you could use it one of the ways above?

-Other EVs-

Promises, Promises: Electric Pledges From Car Producers

Leave a comment

Are you thinking about making the change and getting an electric car? We’re not talking about a hybrid here. No, we’re referring to something quite different, a fully electric car that has no need or use for a petrol engine. Don’t let anyone fool you, these type of cars are still quite rare on the market. However, there is a lot of hope for the future. Many of the biggest car manufacturers are taking huge strides in their commitment to electric cars, and we’re not just talking about hybrids.

It’s interesting to explore the pledges and promises made by car producers. That way, we can analyse how realistic they are and whether we think the company will live up to them. As well as this, it gives us a brilliant look at the future of the auto world and, as we’re about to discover, the future is electric.

Let’s start by thinking about Volvo. The company is taking great strides towards a future based on the electric car.

Volvo Make History

Pic Source

It’s true, Volvo is the first ever company to commit completely to the idea of electric vehicles. In 2019, every vehicle that Volvo produces will have an electric motor. What does this mean? Well, if you want a traditional type of powered car, you’re going to need to get one second hand, and you can read online here the type of Volvos that you might be buying. However, this also suggests that the car producer realizes how important electric powered cars are going to be. It’s also worth pointing out that the point of making this reality isn’t too far away. It’s amazing to think that in just two years, Volvo will be the first car producer to commit completely to electric. And they will be the first as currently, they are the only company to make this type of commitment.

It is, for many, a new chapter in the history of vehicles and the car industry. Volvo has suggested that this move is to benefit the current demand for electric cars and they are certainly right about that. There are many people who are eager to get their hands on an electric car. However, it’s important to understand that the car in question must fit into their budget and be something that they can rely on. Right now, it’s an either or. Either you have an expensive electric car that performs well. Or, you have a car with a low range that is cheap enough anyone can afford it. The answer? Well, Volvo might provide it with their aim to bring five fully electric cars between 2019 and 2021. The key detail here is that each of these cars is going to fit into different categories and as such, there will be high-performance electric cars that everyone can afford.

We’ll find out in a couple of years whether or not Volvos plans come to fruition. It’s worth pointing out that this isn’t the only major plan from the business in the pipeline. The company is also keen to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities in a Volvo car down to zero by 2025.

Volkswagen’s Electrifying Goal

Pic Source

Another producer has their own plans for electric cars and would you believe, it’s connected to self-driving vehicles. The company has announced a Together-Strategy 2025. This is simply a plan to commit to both self-driving vehicles and electric vehicles at the same time.

Audi, one of the companies that form the Volkswagen group are seriously aggressive with their stance on self-driving cars (in a good way). In fact, Audi has claimed that by 2020, 30 percent of the cars they produce will be electric. It’s not quite the commitment to the idea Volvo are trying to make, but it’s not a bad start. And, unlike Volvo, they seem to have some concrete plans.

For instance, Audi aims to release something called the I.D in 2020. We don’t know much about this car aside from the fact that it’s fully electric and a nifty little speedster. It won’t be the first electric sports car to grace the market, but if Audi is involved, it could just be one of the best. If you’re interested in autonomous tech, this speedster will supposedly work using lasers on the roof. It all sounds very sci-fi, and we can’t find a way to see how it comes together.

It’s worth pointing out that unlike Volvo this company is in dire need of repairing it’s damaged reputation. After all, it wasn’t too long ago that their supposed ‘clean diesel’ tech wasn’t quite as clean as everyone had hoped.

Ford Thinking SUV

Credit Link

It’s no surprise that Ford’s pledge for electric is all about the SUV. Ford are well known as the producer of family-friendly vehicles, and there’s nothing more family-friendly than a good old SUV. That’s probably why they have aimed to produce an EV SUV by 2020. But that’s not the big news. The big news is that this beauty will have a range of three hundred miles. That’s pretty good and certainly rivals some of the offerings from Tesla. Though, if we’re fair, we would say Tesla will probably have leapt over that type of range by 2020. The pioneers of auto technology are unlikely to be taken over by Ford, but one can’t help but admire their efforts here.

Daimler

Pic Link

People who aren’t up to speed on the car industry may not recognize that name. That’s why it’s worth noting that this is the producer working behind the scenes of the Mercedes brand. Mercedes, of course, are known for selling high class, luxurious vehicles and those who can afford them will be pleased to hear that by 2022 the company expects to have 10 EVs on the market. This means they might have more than a company that plans to go all in for electric in the next couple of years.

As we can see then, car producers are taking bold steps to commit to electric cars, and it will be fascinating to see what type of progress they make on keeping these pledges over the next few years.

 

-Other EVs-

Why An EV Makes The Perfect First Car For Your Teen

Leave a comment

https://www.pexels.com/photo/action-adult-blur-car-620335/

When you teen first starts learning to drive, it can really freak you out. Not only does it feel really strange to see your baby behind the wheel and have to realize that they’re growing up and no longer your baby, you worry about them too. Because road traffic accidents are always an issue, and you never want your baby to be in harm’s way. So, one thing that you can do as a parent, is make sure that you choose the best car possible for your teen. Now, we all know that there are tons of reasons to go electric with your car choice, but it’s also a great choice to consider for your teen too. Still need convincing? Then let’s consider the benefits.

Safety

Up first, we have the safety factors – which are often the most important. We’ve all seen the road traffic accident and distracted driving statistics, and although you can tell your teen until they’re blue in the face that they have to be responsible, you need to have backup too. And that often comes in the form of incredible safety features. With EVs, you know that they come with incredible tech, like the Chevrolet Spark EV with its stability and traction control and ten airbags too. When you know you’re buying safe, you know you’re making a good move.

Speed

Then there’s also the issue of speed. Because as much as you will tell your teen (especially boys) not to drive fast, they still might be tempted. But with an EV, we know that they’re known for being slower than fuel-based cars. They tend to take awhile longer to get up to speed, some models at least. So when you’re buying electric, you know that you’re not putting them in something that could potentially be a death-wish.

Technology

At the same time as offering incredible safety tech, EVs can also come with some great in-car tech too. This means you can really sell some models to your kid, and they’ll prefer them over non-EVs. From state of the are navigation to great entertainment options, you’ll be happy that they have everything they need, and they’ll be in love with their new gadgets.

Running Costs

Then you’ve also got the running costs to think about. Because keeping a car on the road can be expensive for a teen. But when it comes to running an EV vs. running a fuel car, you can save money. So whether you’re going to be paying the running and maintenance costs for them, or they’re paying for themselves, you will find that many EVs are great cheap choices.

Purchase Cost

And then, of course, you also have the purchase cost to consider too. Whether you’re leasing or buying, you will find that EVs are affordable options to purchase outright, with many around the $25,000 mark and even costing under $200 a month to lease, you will find that it’s an affordable first car choice for your teen.

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

5 Reasons You Should Rock Down To Electric Avenue

Leave a comment

plug in ev

Image source

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:

Image source

  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.

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

Electric Vehicles: Playing With Fire?

1 Comment

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.

Credit

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.

Credit

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.

-Hybrids-, -Other EVs-

5 Things You Should Know About Alternative-Fuel Vehicles

1 Comment

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.