When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, many people think that switching to an electric vehicle is the answer. Nothing is perfect nor is anything all bad, but it’s important to know what you’re getting into. Here are a few things you need to know before you make the switch.
RANGE AND REFUELING
On one hand, refueling an electric vehicle is as easy as plugging it when you get home or to work. You never have to go to a gas station again. But it comes with a reality not everyone is prepared for. You might have gone green but you also lost a certain amount of convenience because you can’t fill up in a few minutes at a gas station.
The range of an electric vehicle is anywhere between 80 and 200 miles, depending on the make and model you select. This definitely isn’t a vehicle you can take on an extended road trip. Also, refueling takes much longer than going to the gas pump. Getting an extra 50 miles of range can take nearly 30 minutes. If you don’t remember to charge your vehicle at night, you may be late getting to work the next morning.
CHEAPER TO MAINTAIN BUT EXPENSIVE TO BUY
Because there’s no gas tank and no combustion engine, there’s no oil changes to pay for or many of the typical maintenance costs of gas-powered vehicles. At the same time, you’re also not paying for gas to refuel your vehicle every so often. Electricity is, in general, much cheaper so over the life of owning your electric vehicle, your costs will be lower than you’re used to.
It’s the purchase price that causes sticker shock. Depending on the make and model you want, you may pay $30,000 to $40,000 for your vehicle. The good news is that there are tax breaks and incentives to make purchasing an electric vehicle more enticing. The bad news is that you have fewer options to choose from.
NO EMISSIONS AND NO NOISE
The big appeal of buying an electric vehicle is that it’s much better for the environment. You’re not using fossil fuels to power your vehicle. You’re also not polluting the air with carbon dioxide emissions. Your carbon footprint shrinks when you drive an electric vehicle.
One feature of electric vehicles may also be a bug. Because there’s no combustion engine powering it, there’s also no noise. This is great for noise pollution, especially in big urban areas. What it’s not good for is safety. To be safe, an electric vehicle should be equipped with something that emits some kind of noise so that you, pedestrians, and other people out on the road know when a vehicle is approaching.
No matter what kind of vehicle you buy next – gas-powered or electric – make sure you have plenty of insurance. Anytime you get a new vehicle it’s important to update your auto insurance. You may need more coverage or you may qualify for discounts depending on the safety features.
Electric vehicle or not, contact us at Charlotte Insurance to make sure you have the best auto insurance coverage you can afford. We’re here to help!