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Can You Reduce The Costs Of An E-Car?

Even though the British government has made it clear that the future is not in fossil fuel powered vehicles, a lot of households are still debating the advantages of an electric car. Indeed, at a time where most people need to commute on average an hour to go every day, it’s easy to see how an electric car could make it difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance. After all, who’s got time to put their car on charge for 12 to 18 hours to be able to get to the office on the next day? You can’t just top it up at the pump in a matter of minutes like you would with a diesel or an unleaded petrol engine. Additionally, there is no denying that electric vehicles have not yet addressed all the issues that environmental and legal institutions have complained about regardless fuel-powered engines. So the question remains open for now: If there a way to reduce the many costs of an e-car?

What are the hidden costs of electric cars?  

Electric cars are expensive

For the time being, buying an electric car is an expensive purchase. For a start, even the best selling electric vehicle in the UK, the Nissan LEAF, costs on average £8,000 more than the best selling family favourite car, the Ford Fiesta. For a family budget, £8,000 is not the kind of expense that can be easily ignored. Besides, you need to add the running costs of maintaining an electric engine. A 1.2L petrol engine will need a refuel after roughly 300 miles, and you can expect to pay between £35 and £40. But the Nissan LEAF will need charging after 100 miles, which means that you also need to check for charging stations along your route.

But things will change

Additionally, if you’re looking for a cheap auto insurance, you’d better stick to the Ford Fiesta for now. Electric cars are indeed around £330 more expensive to insure at the moment. Admittedly, it doesn’t mean that you should ignore the option of buying an e-vehicle as you can expect that technology will improve rapidly. Along with the legal incentives, it’s likely that within the next 10 years, electric cars will become cheaper to insure compared to fossil fuel engine, as we’ll get closer to the 2040 deadline set in the UK.

There are already eco-friendly actions

There has been a lot of discussion in the recent years about the green benefits of electric vehicles. Indeed, it’s impossible to ignore the cost of production on the environment. Indeed, the lithium contained the car batteries come from environmentally destructive mines, which are linked to the creation of highly toxic chemicals that are regularly dumped back into the environment. In other words, until this process can be improved, it’s hard to think of electric vehicles are green cars. However, there are green actions that can help to improve their running costs for your wallet and the environment. Indeed, Smart Green Batteries SARL has patented charging stations using recycled oils to charge your car.

In other words, e-cars still come at a high cost in terms of environmental protection, financing, and practicality. However, there are indications that this cost can be decreased through technological progress over time.

Electric Dreams: How To Buy A Used Electric Car

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The revolution of the electric car is well and truly upon us, so much so that the electric vehicle isn’t exclusive to those who have infinite amounts of money or are only looking for a minuscule size car. Now, there are bigger cars, and different sizes to suit all people. From the small, through to the family vehicles, and beyond. But for those who are on the lookout to buy their first electric car, while it is a major investment, it can be a bit expensive up front. So, for those who are looking for a way to benefit the environment but not spend so much money is to invest in a used electric car. This is becoming more popular as time goes on, not just because of the cost, but as those first generation electric vehicle drivers are hoping to upgrade to the most modern of EV technology, it means there’s a whole collection of cars desperate for a new home. So, where do you begin, and does it actually matter if you buy used in comparison to new?

The Facts

When you are buying any sort of used car, there’s a lot of things to bear in mind. Of course, we all have our own ideas with regards to the look, the performance of the vehicle, as well as the brand itself. Practical issues are the main thing with electric vehicles. But for those who are buying the first electric car, there is a sense of trepidation because of the unknown. The first wave of electric vehicles arrived in the UK during 2011, and these cars such as the Citroen c-Zero, and, of course, the Nissan Leaf, are mainstays of the British roads now. The one thing that you can take comfort in buying these cars is that they still run as good as they did on the first day they were used, especially if you compare these two cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs). And, if you need any more convincing, electric vehicles are now being used as the standard car for various cab firms. People are doing this now because they are much more reliable than ICE vehicles. So, if you are venturing into the unknown, and know nothing about electric vehicles, the pros far outweigh the cons.

What To Look Out For

The main concerns with electric vehicles are the two main components, the battery pack and the motor. The one thing that you need to bear in mind with this is the battery, as long as it is recharged and discharged on a regular basis, it can be incredibly economical, and could last you at least 10 years. The problem with buying a used electric car is that you need to find out if the batteries have been charged. The irony is with electric vehicles is that the lack of use is a culprit in killing and electric vehicles battery more than anything else. There were issues in 2012 with the Tesla Roadster, and owners stating that the batteries were dying due to the lack of use. The problem with these batteries is that when they don’t get used for so long, they will refuse to charge. This is known as bricking. So, by investing in a car, especially a Roadster that is an earlier model than 2012, you may have this issue. However, in 2013, Tesla stated the 8-year battery warranty would be honored, regardless of the situation. Although, if you do need to replace the battery, there are ways around this so that it doesn’t cost the earth. So, for example, the battery pack of a Nissan Leaf consists of 192 cells. Instead of replacing the entire battery pack, you could replace each cell. Therefore it costs a very minimal amount in comparison to the battery pack as a whole. Although, sometimes the battery is leased, instead of it being purchased. So this reduces concerns about replacing the battery. There are models, such as the Renault Twizy, and if the battery drops below its 75% performance capacity, it will be replaced; this is as long as it’s under warranty.

How They Drive

For any new car comments always best to take a proper test drive. And what you need to remember when getting used to the contours of an electric vehicle, is that you need to monitor the dashboard to see how quickly the battery wears out, but also look at what you can get out of the car. The big thing to remember is that various issues can drain the battery, from driving fast, navigating hills, or even using the in-car features, such as air conditioning! So it’s important to remember that the car needs to suit your lifestyle, much like a small speedster, if you are using it for stop-start traffic rather than off road, you should think about exactly what you plan on using this car for. So, if you are considering an electric vehicle for lengthy journeys, it’s important to make sure that the car is in prime condition in the first place, and, of course, this means looking after things like the tires. It’s always important to remember that with every electric vehicle that you take it to a mechanic that is able to deal with the unique problems. And while a place like Telle Tire & Auto Center does the various aspects of a vehicle, it’s important to remember that some mechanics don’t. Looking after your car can be a bit more difficult when it’s an electric vehicle.

Owning An Electric Vehicle

Luckily, most electric vehicles are easier to drive than ones with an internal combustion engine. That’s, making the change means that there are some sticking points that might be difficult for you to get over. The one main thing to bear in mind is if there are enough electric charges where you live. It’s recommended that you get a charging point at home because it can take a few hours to charge up your vehicle properly, rather than the few minutes when filling up a typical gas tank. So, you need to get online and look at a few forums, such as Electric Forum, which means you can get opinions from other electric vehicle drivers so you can get an informed opinion.

For lots of people, the electric vehicle is the way forward, and for some, it can be quite a transition. So, while there are some fantastic models out there right now, from the Renault Fluence to the Nissan Leaf, as well as the Tesla Model S, remember, is your lifestyle able to keep up with it?

 

Solar Company Eyeing GM Prey

While outdated behemoth automakers struggle to survive, cleantech businesses are becoming interested in their valuable assets. One example of this trend was in recent news when German solar cell manufacturer, SolarWorld, recently made a bid on Opel, GM’s European subsidiary. No news on how seriously GM considered the offer, but it is still a significant statement. Here is an excerpt of an interview with chairman of SolarWorld, Frank Asbeck, from an German publication. The rough translation makes it an interesting read:

Schulz: Do you see itself as a savior for Opel?

Asbeck: Yes, well. These are ambitions which I have not directly, but I see the need that in our industrial society gradually rebuilt. Just as it is in the field of alternative energy sources has already begun, must also be rebuilt automotive industry. That means we need to build vehicles of the future: electric motors, hybrid drives. That can not only Japanese manufacturers reserved. We must “Extended Range Vehicles” build, so cars with combined drives from conventional and electric drives. That is the future. This is also already in the minds of developers at Opel, but they must be released from the stranglehold of General Motors.

SolarWorld is hoping to provide electric cars that can be charged with garage mounted solar panels and possibly car roof mounted panels.

Source: The Energy Roadmap