Electric Vehicles

introduction

As country is shifting the gears to adopt EVs, people have started responding and investing in electric vehicles. Various auto biggies are offering dozens of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and there are more on the way. Whether you want to buy an electric car or bike, there are lot of options available in the market. Though electric cars and scooters are cleaner and environment friendly, but before you can silently start the engine and quietly drive away, there are lot of other factors to consider.

Tips for Buying an Electric Vehicle

The most important question you need to answer before you begin your search is, “Do you want an all-electric car?” Pure electric cars have reduced range compared to hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions. Also, the initial cost of an electric car is high, but it is cheaper to run, as they do not use any other fuel than electricity.

Here are a few other things you must consider:

Range of the Vehicle:

Check for the battery range if you are going for an all-electric vehicle. Generally, all electric cars/scooters/bikes offer low range as compared to other hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions. Electric vehicles are cost-effective and better for transiting within the city, while go for other options if you travel longer distances.

Power Vs Fuel:

Driving an EV is a completely unique experience, as motor of electric vehicles deliver a direct connection between your foot on the accelerator and the vehicle’s response. It is a completely silent driving experience, and you really don’t hear the roaring sound of the engine.

Budget:

Consider the budget and research about the pricing. Pure electric vehicles are expensive as compared to hybrids or plug-in hybrids. Moreover, in order to make India go all electric, government is offering various subsidies and tax saving options for electric vehicle buyers. So, explore this.

If you are planning to opt for financing, then interest rate could be better in new verse the used one.

Charging stations around your place:

Before you go for an all-electric car make sure you have charging stations around your area to avoid any inconvenience, especially during long journeys.

Different driving experience:

Think electric cars are slow and boring to drive? The basics of driving an electric car are the same with an accelerator and a brake pedal. But in other ways an electric car can be strange to a seasoned driver, as the lack of pistons and noisy combustion, means an electric car ghosts along very quietly. The lack of noise and quick acceleration can be difficult to get used to at first, as it becomes difficult to appreciate how quickly you are moving. But as you get used to it, the lack of noise can prove to be very relaxing.

New Vs Used Cars

More Choices:

Buyer gets more choices to choose from in case of new cars rather than being limited to what is available in case of used cars.

Features:

New latest cars are loaded with exciting new features and specs. However, used cars offer limited features and specs.

Cost:

Cost is very important deciding factor. The similar model of a new and a used car can differ drastically in pricing. New car is much more expensive than a used version with same features.

Rate of Depreciation:

Depreciation rate is much faster in new cars verses old cars. Value of new car is depreciated by almost 11% as soon as you get on the road. If you buy a used car, its rate of depreciation is lesser because there’s no initial depreciation.

Resale Value:

Resale value of a used car is higher than the new car, as there’s less difference between buying price and selling price.

Financing:

If you are planning to finance the car, then financing rate could be better in new verse the used one.

Know What You Buy:

When you purchase a new car, you know exactly what are you buying and what you will get. There’s no uncertainty about the features and you need not dig out the history of the vehicle. However, when you shop a used car you must assure all the documents are complete and original, learn about accidental history (if any), find papers of insurance or finance, check service history or any major damage, and more information.

Insurance:

Buying insurance for a brand-new convertible is expensive. Generally, companies offer better insurance rates for a used vehicle.

Cheat sheet

Types of Electric Vehicles

Choosing a new vehicle is a difficult task. Before you invest in it, you must know the different types of electric vehicles available in the market. And, it is important to understand what type of vehicle would be best for your requirements. There are three main types of electric vehicles (EVs), that are differentiated on the basis of electricity used as an energy source.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs):

These vehicles are powered by both petrol and electricity. These are traditional hybrid vehicles with normal combustion engine and an electric battery. In these vehicles, it is not usually possible to recharge the battery remotely, but electric energy is generated by vehicles own braking system and it is recharged by the vehicle itself whilst the car is in motion. This is called “regenerative braking,” a process where the electric motor helps to slow the vehicle and uses some of the energy normally converted to heat by the brakes. HEVs are more expensive to run than PHEVs, as they can not be recharged on the public station or any plug-ins.

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

These vehicles are also a combination of electric motor and traditional internal combustion engine. They are also called as Extended-Range Electric vehicles (EREVs), powered by both petrol and electricity. These vehicles can be charged up by plugging the vehicle into an external electrical charging outlet and also through regenerative braking. The petrol engine extends the range of the car by also recharging the battery as it gets low. The PHEVs offer readily-available fuel for long distance travelling and considerably higher range as compared to BEVs. The battery of these vehicles is smaller than BEVs, so the charging time is less.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

These type of EVs are fully electric vehicles and do not have an alternative fuel source, which means they are only powered by electricity and do not have a petrol engine, fuel tank or exhaust pipe. These vehicles are charged using standard charge stations. BEVs are ideal for point to point travel within the city or people who travel short distances. One of the most beneficial thing about these vehicles is, they do not produce any tailpipe emissions. The price of BEVs is significantly higher than the similar petrol-powered (or diesel) vehicles, but they save on fuel and maintenance cost.

Who provides it?

If you are looking forward to buy a new or used car there are multiple ways to choose from. Both online and offline there are different vendors who can help you get your dream car. Here we go with them:

Classifieds – Online space is overcrowded with classified websites offering listings for used cars. You can ransack these various online portals to get a car that fits your requirements.

Marketplace - You can go to Droom.my, to get your dream vehicle. Get enormous listings of used and new cars along with motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters. Droom is the first online transactional platform providing sellers and buyers with a plenty of other benefits.

Dealer - Contact a dealer online or visit him personally to buy a used car.

Individual Seller - You can find an individual seller and contact him to crack the used car deal.

Authorized Showroom - Visit an authorized showroom to buy a new branded car. Different makers have their own dedicated showrooms that offer wide selection of latest models of cars.

how can i get it?

You can opt for any of the above mentioned options to buy a used or new car. Before making a final deal, make sure to search various online websites to compare prices and know the actual value of the vehicle. This will help figuring out estimated price of the car and you will be in a better position to negotiate with the seller.

It is even better to get it with some additional benefits. Companies like droom offers some hot coupons, buyer protection, genuine listing, safe platform, diversified listings, and so on as extra benefits.

Things to remember before getting one

Before choosing a vehicle make sure to keep in mind the below mentioned points especially when it’s about a used car.

• Seller Verification: The seller’s credibility should be well-established. If required ask for professional references from the seller.
• Dealer Reviews: Get reviews of a dealer from previous customers or try finding them online if possible. This will help knowing the trustworthiness of the dealer in long run. At droom.in you can find seller reviews and know their authentication.
• Registration Documents: All original documents like RC, insurance papers, service records and more must be available for viewing and verification.
• Diagnostic Report: You can opt for vehicle inspection to get a professional diagnostic report mentioning about health and condition of your vehicle. Vehicle inspection is done by an automobile expert who will offer an unbiased review about the vehicle.