Electric vehicles are the latest trend in automotive technology. They are considered eco-friendly due to the fact that they use no gas or any other fluids for their power. You can find electric motors in a variety of different makes and models. Companies such as Fiat, Ford, Kia, and several others have created a series of economy-sized vehicles designed to run on pure electricity. Not only do you avert rising fuel costs when driving an electric car, but you can also save on costly maintenance as well.
Lower Maintenance Costs for Used Electric Vehicles
Consumers might be surprised to know that maintenance and repair costs are much lower for used electric cars than for a traditional gas-powered car. This means that you save both at the gas pump and the repair shop.
Electric Vehicles Have Fewer Moving Parts
People who purchase pure electric vehicles may pay an initial cost that’s higher than that of a gas-powered vehicle. You are paying more money for improved technology, after all. The good news, though, is that it is a technology that will last for a much longer lifespan than a regular car.
The average lifetime cost for vehicle repairs is around $9,200 for any normal car. However, vehicles that run on electricity have an average of $4,600 total in lifetime repairs and maintenance. There is one good reason for this, and it lies within the engine. Gas-powered vehicles use far more moving parts than electric cars.
There are far fewer parts in an electric engine than in a car that runs on gas. Not only this, but electric motors also run at a lower temperature than their fuel-fired counterparts. This reduces the heat stress on many of the components that both vehicles share.
With gas-powered cars and vehicles, wear is considered a normal part of owning a car. This leads to extra costs at the repair shop over time. With a used electric car, you won’t need to worry about that.
You Don’t Need to Pay for an Oil Change
The components in an electric motor don’t require lubrication, so there’s no need for an oil change. With standard cars, an oil change can cost $25 for regular oil. But if your vehicle needs synthetic oil, you may be spending $80 or higher. Add in at least $35 to change your filter, and you could be spending almost $100 every three months or 3,000 miles. But with an electric vehicle, you can take advantage of saving that money for a rainy day.
Additionally, you’ll never have to worry about your vehicle dripping oil in a crowded parking lot. For those who are trying to reduce their fossil fuel use, electric cars allow you to stop using both gas and motor oil.
You Save a Bundle on Gas
When the world is in a crisis, one of the first things to increase in price is gasoline. What once cost no greater than $2 per gallon has risen exponentially very recently. In the winter of 2022, gas prices rose to a nationwide estimated average of $4.17 per gallon. Owning an electric vehicle can save you the concern of fluctuating prices at the pump.
While the price per kilowatt from your power company may also rise when you charge your electric car, the efficiency of an electric vehicle still means that you won’t see the big cost increase that you will by using a gas-powered car.
Regenerative Braking Saves Wear and Tear on Your Braking System
Regenerative braking is a fairly recent invention. This technology takes the heat energy that is generated through the friction of your brakes when slowing to a stop and recycles it. It uses that energy to keep your battery charged, effectively extending your miles between charges.
Electric Vehicles Have Fewer Fluids
There are far fewer fluids being used in electric vehicles, and that has greater advantages for car owners. This is one of the reasons that car maintenance and repair is so much lower. In fact, used electric vehicles only require three fluid types, for brakes, windshield wipers, and coolant.
The reduced labor and supplies in this simpler system can save car owners up to $300 in repairs. Fewer fluids also means less leakage, especially where your engine is concerned. That alone should save you the trouble of costly engine repairs for the life of your vehicle.
Reasons Why People Are Hesitant to Buy Electric Vehicles
There are still quite a number of people who have concerns about driving an electric car. One is that there are concerns about how long you can drive using electricity alone. Known as “range anxiety,” it is the fear that the car’s battery will run out of juice if taken on long trips.
Luckily, there is an ever-increasing network of electric charging stations along the U.S. highway system. This is well-documented online, so you can plan your routes based on the availability of these stations.
A common rumor about electric cars is consumer safety concerns regarding batteries. There are some who worry that electric car batteries may be a safety risk in terms of fires. These fears were perpetuated by news reports regarding lithium-ion batteries that have combusted over time.
The best way to combat these fears when seeking a used electric car is to research the safety ratings of the vehicle to date. Companies like Consumer Reports provide regularly updated information about safety trials, recalls, repairs, and longevity. This can be an excellent resource.
The purchase price of an electric vehicle can also cause some hesitancy. However, a used electric vehicle may have an edge over a new vehicle in this case. Since cars naturally depreciate in value over time, that means buying anything used, even an electric vehicle, can save you quite a bit of money, especially in the long run.
Questions to Ask About a Used Electric Vehicle
When shopping for a used electric vehicle, it can save you future stress if you ask questions. While not every used car comes with a complete history, you should be able to find some of these answers if you’re an interested, curious customer.
Find out what the typical mileage was between charges and how frequently the car was maintained. Ask what services were done on the vehicle in its maintenance history, and pay special attention to major fixes. You can also ask if an older electric vehicle still holds a charge for the same (or close to the same) mileage that it did when it was new.
With gas prices on the rise, there’s no better time to buy an electric vehicle than now. They run quietly and efficiently and require very little maintenance. Even costly routine repairs such as oil changes will be a thing of the past. The initial cost of the vehicle purchase may be high, but it’s definitely a worthy investment.
