Written in Partnership with Amir BakianElectric vehicles are all the rage, with sales going up despite a market downturn. However, there are a few things you should know before switching from a fuel car to an electric vehicle. We spoke with Dwi Sutandar, an expert in this field, to gain a better understanding of EVs.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are an environmentally friendly alternative to fuel cars and offer a great way for us to do our individual part in combating climate change. However, buying an electric vehicle is buying into a whole new lifestyle, one that may require you to make some adjustments.
Before jumping headfirst into buying an EV, there are some things you should know to help you make a more informed purchase. Expert and entrepreneur in this field, Dwi Sutandar shares five tips here:
1. Choose The Right EV For You
Electric vehicles is a broad term used to describe three different types of cars. There are Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), which are powered solely by an electric battery. Then there are Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), which have a gas tank and a charging port, and lastly, there are Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), which use an electric motor to assist gas-powered engines.
Depending on what you’ll be using the car for, certain types may be better than others. For example, if you live in a small town where your place of work is not too far away, a BEV is a really great option.
“BEVs are the greenest among other popular types of EVs,” Sutandar says. “The charging infrastructure is ready to support most travel needs.” On the other hand, if you like to travel long distances and frequently go on road trips, a PHEV or HEV may be best. To learn more about the different types of EVs, click here.
2. Always Follow The ABC Rule
The ABC rule stands for always be charging. “The best practice is to charge your EVs battery slowly and limit charging to 60%-80% to maximize its lifetime,” Sutandar adds. “Yes, it may not always be possible, but if you have the option to top up your battery, say, while you’re shopping at a mall, that would be better for your battery instead of draining it completely and then charging it with a DC fast charger,” he continues.
This doesn’t mean that you have to always avoid DC fast chargers all together, Sutandar explains that they are still useful, especially for long-distance travel.
3. Apps To Help You Find Charging Stations Are Not Always Reliable
As a connoisseur of EVs, Sutandar recently drove an EV from West Lafayette, Indiana to Seattle, Washington, just to see if there is enough public infrastructure to support charging his vehicle along the way. But unfortunately, he learned firsthand that that was not the case.
“We almost got stranded in Oregon because all of the chargers in that specific place were broken,” he shares. “We didn’t know that because the mobile app didn’t relay any of that information to us.”
This situation is unfortunately all too common. The term “range anxiety,” was coined to describe the fear of running out of battery mid drive. Luckily AeonCharge, a software that Sutandar developed, bridges EV charging networks with service providers, allowing drivers to access any charger in the U.S.
4. EV Ranges Differ Significantly From Fuel Cars
A car’s range refers to the amount of miles it can travel without running out of fuel, or in this case, energy. If you are someone who needs to drive long distances, it’s important to make sure the vehicle you select can accommodate that.
BEVs typically have shorter ranges than their PHEV or HEV counterparts. Some cars, for example a 2021Audi A7, is a PHEV with a full range of 440 miles, but an electric range of just 24 miles.
5. EVs Require Less Maintenance Overtime
If you ask any EV driver what they like about their car, they’ll mention the lack of maintenance it requires. EV vehicles have far fewer moving, mechanical parts which means they require much less maintenance.
“In general, EVs require less maintenance overtime than gasoline vehicles. This is possible because there are less moving parts in an EV, reducing the number of possible failure modes compared to gasoline vehicles,” Sutandar explains.
However, that doesn’t mean EVs don’t need any maintenance at all. Although your servicing bills will be much lower, there are still some critical things you’ll need to keep an eye on, such as the health of your car’s battery, and of course its brakes, tires and fluid.
And there you have it! Five tips that will help you make a more informed decision on whether or not an EV is right for you.
To summarize, it’s important to understand which type of EV is best for you, considering its range and maintenance requirements. Charging has been a major concern for EV drivers, but with technological advancements including Sutandar’s own AeonCharge, it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. If you would like to learn more about the EV revolution, Dwi Sutandar or AeonCharge, be sure to visit their website or LinkedIn today.
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