Should you buy an EV? Yes, of course, but what kind? We assume that you have looked at gas prices, pollution, range, cost, charging and other EV basics. Lets look at how the modern EV stacks up. We are talking about electric cars, trucks, eBikes, and cycles.
At the present, the most popular EV is the Hybrid Electric Vehicle. The hybrid offers flexibility and a moderate cost between the Battery EV and the gas burner. Yhr HEV though has only a small battery pack. The PHEV, or plug in hybrid electric vehicle offers even more battery range and the option of charging the pack by plugging it in.
The Battery EV is increasing in sales, but not as fast as the HEV. Battery costs are still pretty high, around $600 per kWh.
Electric motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles are gaining market share too. The eCycle is popular in the west. EBikes are popular in many places. Two wheel EVs offer in our estimation the best current deal in electric travel.
You have done your EV price checking and determined that price is not a problem.
Environmental Concerns One of the main considerations for an EV buyer is contributing to cleaner air. It happens that the modern EV generally is generally much cleaner than the modern ICE vehicle. Check our EV Impacts pages for the specifics. The EV Energy section gives the
types of energy used in transport and some of their sources.
Range Concerns One of the main comments about the EV is shortened range. It is true that the range of newer electric cars is about 30% of similar gas powered cars. It is also true that for most urban chores, the modern electric car has plenty of power to get the job done. Check our electric car range page for more.
Charging Questions Every week, there are more and more charging stations installed in countries over the globe. Governments are making real commitments to providing charging infrastructure for the electric car. Check out our electric car charging pages.
Electric Bikes and Cycles
Ebikes are the most efficient electric vehicles on the planet. They are fast enough, powerful enough, well built, and well priced these days. If you have room for two wheel travel we highly recommend an eBike. Ebikes make great second vehicles.
If you don't mind rolling up your sleeves and doing some wrenching, you might prefer a DIY electric car or eBike. Do some planning, check our electric car DIY pages out first. If you want an eBike, try our DIY eBike page.
Electric Cycles are fast becoming performance equals with some with gas burners. They are not yet price beaters. People riding new eCycles give many great reviews however.
Electric Scooters are making progress as well. We review many now on the market. A scooter would make sense to those interested in transport a regular route.
What Kind of EV To Get?
So, you want an EV. Maybe you are interested in a cleaner form of personal transport than the gas powered car. Maybe you want to save gas money, or just like the idea of an EV.
We assume you have checked out our pages on EV History, Energy, Impacts, and Cost and Range. If you have not and have questions about electric vehicles and their benefits and costs, check below for those EV areas of concern we cover in some detail.
Electric Cars
The modern battery electric car offers all the modern amenities, but the range is restricted. For many people this is not an issue. If it is, we recommend a second car for range or a Hybrid. There are new PHEV cars that offer flexibility in range and EV power like the Chevy Volt and the C-Max Energi.
If you want an electric car or plug in electric car at the best new car price, we recommend the Mitusibishi iMiev, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, or Ford C-Max Energi. The iMiev can be purchased for about $20,500 in California. The C-Max will be ready for sale soon for under $30,000.
Buy a Used EV: The next class of EVs is the used EV. These can be a very good way to get into an electric vehicle, and to get around. If you want to save the most on a used EV, buy a used EV, then
If you want extended range and electric vehicle performance, check out hybrid electric cars. If you are interested in a pure BEV head to electric cars and trucks. We have one of the most comprehensive listings around. There are electric cars that will toodle along at 25 mph, and those that will hit closer to 200 mph.
Check the Spec: If you are interested in comparing electric vehicles, check the spec. We have listed specifications for some 60 electric cars and trucks. Compare and contrast specs for cars and trucks from the fastest to the finest and the best value.
