High-Tech Rides: Everything You Need to Know About Electric Cars

If you’re thinking of switching to an electric car, there’s never been a better time. Thanks to driver demand and an increasing awareness around climate change and the environment, there are more models on the market than ever. That means there’s a wider range of rides to choose from, and the prices are going down. But what are the pros and cons of an electric car?

In this article, the experts at Gov Auctions share everything you need to know about investing in an electric car.

Electric cars pros and cons

Even though electric cars have been around for a while, many people still have a lot of questions on their pros and cons. Are electric cars practical? What’s the cost of running one? Going green has its advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional gas cars, so take these factors into account when you’re shopping around:

The advantages of electric cars

They’re better for the environment

Let’s start with the obvious perk: Electric cars are eco-friendly. They don’t require gas, so they don’t release carbon emissions into the atmosphere. By driving one, you’re helping to cut down on the harmful emissions that contribute to poor air quality and climate change.

The big brands are getting in on the action

From Tesla to Nissan, BMW, Hyundai and Renault, car manufacturers are busy electrifying their vehicles. As a buyer, you have more cars to choose from than ever before.

Most models have a long range

Electric car technology is improving at lightning-speed, which means the most recent electric cars can run for more than 200 miles on a single charge. If you’re considering an electric car, think about the local weather and the kind of roads you drive on. You’ll burn through more energy driving on highways than suburban streets, and whenever you have the heater or air-conditioner on.

They’re easy to operate

Electric cars run solely on rechargeable batteries, which means you won’t have to worry about all the usual bits and bobs that come with a conventional petrol or diesel car. There are no expensive exhaust systems, starter motors, fuel injection, or radiators, and far less servicing is required.

These are the disadvantages:

They’re expensive

Electric cars aren’t as expensive as they were a few years ago. But they do have a higher sticker price than their gas counterparts. You can expect to pay between $10,000 to $30,000 more for an electric car made by the same manufacturer. This applies to brand-new cars, though. You can get great deals with used and secondhand electric cars.

They have a limited driving range

The new generation of electric cars can travel for hundreds of miles on a single charge. It’s impressive, but a lot less miles than many gas cars. When you’re looking at electric cars, consider the maximum mileage you’ll need.

You’ll have to recharge your car when it’s running low on juice. You can plug it into a standard 110-volt outlet at home for Level 1 charging, or a 240-volt outlet for Level 2 charging, which will get the job done in as little as four hours. Luckily, there are 10,000 electric car charging stations across the country that you can stop at. You’ll usually find them in retail parking lots and public parking garages. Some of them even offer Level 3 charging, which can charge up to 80% of your battery in 30 to 60 minutes.

The cost of maintaining an electric car

Since electric cars have a higher price tag, you can expect to pay a little more for insurance. But you’ll save a ton on gas in the long run, so that can offset some of the costs. If you regularly service your electric car, you might not ever need to replace the battery either.

Go to an electric car auction

To cut down on the cost of an electric car, turn to auto auctions. On Gov Auctions, you can browse our range of electric cars, and refine your search by features and price. These cars are only searchable on our site, so you won’t be competing for cars with the rest of the internet.

Join now to find an affordable electric car and make the most of our deals!