Pros And Cons of Electric Cars

Electric Cars are becoming more popular, and they will probably replace the majority of gas vehicles in 10 to 15 years. I did a search to have a better understanding of the pros and cons of new Electric Cars when comparing them with gasoline-powered cars.

What are the Pros and Cons of Electric Cars? Pros: Reliability, High-Performance, Lower Maintenance Costs, Lower Operational Costs. Cons: A More Expensive purchase, limited range, Recharging takes time, Expensive Battery’s replacement.

Below is more detailed information:

Benefits of Electric Cars

1. High-Performance: Electric Cars’ batteries convert around 60 percent of energy into vehicle movement while gas-powered vehicles only convert between by 20 percent.

   This means that charging an EV’s battery puts more towards actually powering the vehicle than filling up at a gas pump.

2. Lower Operational Costs: Electricity is cheaper than gas which makes its operation an advantage over gasoline cars; the cost per mile to fuel an EV is approximately one-third to one-quarter the cost of gasoline (on a cost per mile basis)
   
   
3. Reliability and Lower Maintenance Cost: Electric cars have less moving parts which make their maintenance cost lower; electric cars don’t have exhaust systems and don’t need oil changes, which reduces the cost of maintenance.

   The brakes on an EV typically don’t wear as quickly as those on a conventional car.

4. Tax Credits: The original owner of an electric vehicle, will likely receive a tax credit just for helping to lessen the impact on the environment by driving a zero-emissions car.

   A tax credit can be as high as $7,500, depending on the make and model. A tax specialist should be consulted about this.

Cons of Electric Cars

1. High Price – Electric cars are more expensive than comparable gas-powered vehicles. The cheapest Electric car cost more than $30,000, so the price is probably one of the major cons when evaluating the possibility of buying an EVs.
   
   
2. Range – Range is one of the biggest concern for EV buyers. Apart from Tesla, the rest of the electric car segment all have a range between 100 to 278 miles on a full charge, making the prospect of driving an electric car for day-to-day activities daunting and possibly problematic.
   
   
3. Charging Times and Availability of Charger Places. – One of the major problems that plague electric car owners is the ability to easily charge a vehicle in rural areas.

   Long road trips will be a challenge to plan out and rural areas don’t have as many charging stations as cities do.

   This also poses a problem for condo/apartment dwellers in cities who don’t have access to at-home charging.

   The lack of easily accessible charging areas can make driving an electric car quite stressful.

4. Battery Replacement Cost. – EV’s batteries are designed for a long life but will wear eventually. Most manufacturers are offering 8 years/100,000 miles warranties for their batteries.

   The replacement of the battery of the Nissan Leaf cost approximately $5500 plus 3 hours installation charge.

5. Diminished Resale Value – On average, used EVs cost 45 to 70 percent less than new ones.

List of 10 – 2018 Best Electric Vehicles

1. Tesla Model S 100D – Range: 335 miles – Price $94,000. – The Tesla Model S, five-seat interior, offers more range than any other electric vehicle on the market and accelerates quicker than many supercars.
   
   
2. Tesla Model 3 – Range: 310 miles – Price $49,000 –  The Tesla Model 3 has a minimalistic cabin and relies on its 15-inc center-mounted touch-screen display and a phone app to control almost everything in the car.

   It offers autopilot and provides respectable space for five passengers.

3. Tesla Model X 100D – Range: 295 miles – Price $96,000 – The Tesla Model X Boast great acceleration and has one of longest electric ranges, free over-the-air software updates, and access to Tesla’s Supercharger network.

   It seats up to seven passengers with plenty of comfort in its premium cabin.

4. Chevrolet Bolt – Range: 238 miles – Price $36,000 – The Bolt is reliable, has good acceleration and sporty handling, with a roomy, well-built cabin, and comes packed with standard features.
   
   
5. Nissan Leaf – Range: 151 miles – Price: $29,990. – The Nissan Leaf comes with a more traditional sportier exterior that matches the design found in the rest of Nissan’s lineup. It seats five-person in its cabin.
   
   
6. Volkswagen e-Golf – Range: 125 miles – Price: $30,000 – The Volkswagen e-Golf provides an upscale interior, athletic handling, and a cushioned ride.
   
   
7. Hyundai Ioniq Electric – Range 124 miles – Price 29,500 – The Hyundai Ioniq earns a perfect 10 U.S. News Safety score and comes with an industry-leading warranty.

   It features a first-rate cabin with spacious, comfortable seats and plenty of room for cargo.

8. Ford Focus Electric – Range: 115 miles – Price: $29,120 – The Ford Focus comes in a hatchback configuration, which means it has more cargo that the traditional Focus sedan.

   It seats five passengers with ample space and comfort up front, but the rear seats are cramped.

9.  BMW i3 – Range: 114 miles – Price: $44,450 – The i3 provides engaging driving dynamics and a smooth ride, It seats four with plenty of room and ample space for cargo. The i3l comes with rear parking sensors,rain-sensing wipers, and a rearview camera.
   
   
10. Kia Soul EV – Range: 111 miles –  Price: $33,000 – The Kia Soul is one of the most reliable cars in the market. It offers an expansive, upscale cabin and an industry-leading warranty.

Tesla, Pasadena to Install 44 Fast-Chargers for Electric Cars

Tesla is teaming up with the city of Pasadena to build the largest electric vehicle super-charging network in the western United States.

The project will sit atop a parking garage near the city’s convention center and two major shopping districts.

Tesla will install 24 fast-charging plugs and lay the conduit for an additional 20 fast-chargers for other EVs on the roof level of a city-owned parking garage at 155 E. Green St., located on the Northwest corner of Marengo Avenue and Green, according to Margie Otto, spokesperson for Pasadena Water And Power.

The City Benefits

The city’s utility estimates it will see from $500,000 to $700,000 in additional revenues from electrical use just from the Tesla Fast-charging units. As part of its climate action plan, the city wants to reduce both, greenhouse gases and smog-forming emissions.

The completion of the project is expected by the end of this year. The Direct Current Fast Charge plugs will provide 80 percent of an electric car’s battery power in less than 30 minutes. Charging rates have not been determined yet.

Can other EVs use the Tesla Fast Charge Plugs?

At the time I wrote this article, only Tesla Electric Vehicles are able to use the Fast Charge plugs.

Tesla allows owners of non-Tesla electric cars, like the BMW i3 or the Nissan Leaf, to charge at Tesla’s public Destination Chargers or using the Tesla Wall Connector.

But it won’t be possible for vehicles of other automobile leaders.

Tesla’s Destination Chargers use Tesla’s proprietary connector, which made them unavailable to other vehicles.

These charging stations are specially designed since it enables Tesla to only use a single plug, but it also limits access to the stations which are often supplied for free to businesses, like hotels and restaurants.

Can Tesla Electric Cars Use Any Charge Station?

With a Tesla, you can literally charge anywhere—as long as there’s an electrical outlet.

So, that means, yes, you can plug into a Supercharger if it’s convenient, or at any public charging station, including stations in the EV Connect network, which you can easily find with the use of the EV Connect app for iPhone and Android.

All public Level 2 (220 volts) charging stations, including EV Connect’s, use the same universal connector (a J1772) to plug into an EV.  For Tesla driver, they will need to use the Telsa-provided adapter to convert the J1772 connector to the outlet in their car.

Charging an Electric Car at Home

Home Charging Solutions: Level 1 & Level 2

There are two types of home charging: level 1 charging and level 2 charging.

• Level 1 charging happens when you charge an electric vehicle (EV) using the adapter charger included with the car.

  These chargers can be plugged with one end into any standard 120V outlet, with the other end being plugged directly into the car.

  Charging your car with a 120V charger only adds about 3 miles per hour to your car.

• Level 2 chargers are sold separately from the car, although they’re often purchased at the same time.

  These chargers require a slightly more complicated setup, as they are plugged into a 240V outlet which allows charging 3 to 7 times faster depending on the electric car and the charger.

  They usually have to be installed by an electrician.

For every electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid, the use of a level 2 home charging station is recommended to help you charge faster and enjoy your EV’s full potential.

2. Charging speed (amperage and power)

Level 2 home charging stations operate at a voltage between 208V and 240V. The fastest charging you can get out of your charger depends on two factors:

• The amperage of the charger (usually 16, 30, 32 or 40 amps)
• The car’s acceptance rate in kW

The maximum power you can get from 16 amps, 30 amps, 32 amps, and 40 amps chargers are the following:

• 16 amps at 240V: 3,84 kW
• 30 amps at 240V: 7,2 kW
• 32 amps at 240V: 7,7 kW
• 40 amps at 240V: 9,6 kW

Today, the max power acceptance of the vast majority of EVs is 7.2 kW or less. This means that even with a charger of 9,6 kW and 40 amps, most cars won’t charge any faster.

Using a charger that outputs more power than what your car can accept won’t damage it. Your EV will simply take as much as possible. That being said, every vehicle with a higher power acceptance than 7.2 kW will charge faster with a 40 amp char

Why should you choose a 40A (9,6 kW) charger if the majority of EVs can’t yet accept that power?

Firstly, the available voltage varies between 208V and 240V. This means that if the only current available is 208V, a 30 amp charging station will deliver a maximum power of 6.34 kW, while 40 amps at 208V will deliver 8.32 kW of power.

In this instance, only the 40 amp charger will charge your electric car with 7.2 kW of power acceptance at the maximum possible speed.

Secondly, car manufacturers will progressively increase the power acceptance rate of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in order to decrease the charging time.

If you purchase a 40 amp charging station, you will benefit from the most optimal charge even with the next generation of EVs.

The pros of home charging

To enjoy all the benefits of charging at home, you need to use a level 2 home charger.

Another advantage of home charging is the low cost of residential electricity compared to the cost of public charging stations and the cost of gas.

Are you thinking to buy an Electric Vehicle?