Over the years, electric vehicles have become more in demand as people are becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental impact fuel-powered vehicles have. Many mainstream car manufacturers such as Nissan and Kia have already released electric versions of some of their popular models to encourage people to switch to an electric vehicle.
Not only do electric vehicles emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants, but they can save you money over time and even offer you a better driving experience. Electric vehicles have a low centre of gravity, which helps improve handling and responsiveness and allows you to drive in comfort.
So if you’re thinking of making the switch to electric, but you are unsure which model may be best, LeaseCar has created a campaign called #EvTopTrumps, which ranks the best electric cars currently available.
Here are three things you should consider when buying an electric car.
Range
Every make and model will vary on how far an electric car will go on a single charge. A few years ago, you either had the option to buy an expensive electric car with a 200+ mile range or a more affordable electric car with less range. But in 2021, most electric vehicles have a significant range that allows people to go about their daily routine without much interruption.
If you want to drive further or take longer trips, you will need a longer range model. The Tesla Model 3 has a max range of 267 miles, while the Renault Zoe has a max range of 224 miles.
Charging Time
A concern for many people when switching over to electric vehicles is how long they take to charge. If you use your car a lot, you might think that you’ll need to charge it up all the time or that it will take hours to charge up. You can get some electric vehicles that don’t take as long as others to charge fully.
How fast it takes to charge your electric car will depend on the size of your car’s battery, but it’s worth considering the charge time before you decide on a model. The Hyundai Ioniq has a battery capacity of 38.3 kWh and takes around 370 minutes to charge on a slow charge.
Battery Capacity
Battery capacity is also a significant factor to consider when choosing an electric car. This will obviously depend on your needs, and if you just need a vehicle for small drives or the school run, then a smaller battery capacity shouldn’t be too much of a problem as day to day driving typically uses considerably less energy,
The Tesla Model 3 has a great battery capacity of 60 kWh, but even the Kia E-Niro would suffice with an average battery capacity of 39 kWh.
Let us know what factors you think are important when choosing an electric vehicle using the hashtag #EVTopTrumps.