What are electric cars capable of?

With car manufacturers now focused on these types of vehicles and the government planning a gradual phase out of internal combustion vehicles within two decades, there is really no option being given. In the meantime, here is what you need to know about the capabilities of Electric Vehicles.

When it comes to these environmentally friendly vehicles, sceptics are more worried about the electric car range than any other thing. Commonly known as range anxiety, this phenomenon is simply people looking for certainty that they would drive to their destinations without the battery running out in the middle of nowhere.

Over the years, manufacturers have strived to solve this issue and have gone ahead to focus on the battery capacities. Currently, the range of electric vehicles ranges from 100 miles to more that 300 miles. Below are some of the best offers in the market;

The Tesla Model S has to be appreciated for making electric cars exciting. Some models provide auto-driving technology while offering a range of between 285 and 310 miles depending on the model. They also allow an acceleration of 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds with entry level models doing the same in 4 seconds.

The Polestar 2, which is an aggressive competitor of Tesla, has a 78kWh battery powering two motors. It gives a range of up to 292 mile and acceleration of 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds. The car is built for luxury and its 150kW charging ensures range anxiety free journeys.

The Audi e-Tron Quattro has an all-wheel drive capability that enables it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.85 seconds. It can attain a maximum speed of 118 mph with a range of 300 miles assured.

For a car of its weight, the Porsche Taycan has been able to maintain the same sporty feel provided by their petrol sports car counterparts. The car promises a range of 279 miles and supports fast chargers.

The Tesla Model x is perhaps the quickest SUV in the market. With an acceleration of 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, this powertrain allows maximum performance in all weather conditions with up to 340 miles of travel guaranteed.

It is important to note that the performance of an electric vehicle also depends heavily on your driving habits and weather conditions.

Charging of electric vehicles is almost the same as filling a petrol car. What is different is the pumps are replaced with plugs and charging takes a considerably longer time but minus fumes.

With the upsurge of electric cars hitting the streets, there has been some infrastructural gap between the cars and publicly accessible charging stations. This, though, is among the industry players top priority.

While the public available charging stations are good, it is more ideal to set up a charger at home. This is due to the long time it takes to fully charge your car. The best way to charge is overnight so that you do not spend time waiting for the car to charge.

The charging speed varies depending on the type of charger you are using; DC charging (level 3) is the most convenient as it converts AC to DC before entering the car unlike the AC charging (level 2) that requires a converter. The other way of charging though slow is wireless charging (level one) that uses electromagnetic waves to charge a car.

When buying a charger, you should consider the following;

Price
There are different chargers from different brands thus it is important to explore options.

Compatibility
The different chargers are compatible with different vehicles. Take into account your travel distance, power needs and type of vehicle you want to buy.

If you are opting to install a charger at home, it is good to look for an expert to help you out. Take into consideration factors like the possibilities of buying more than one vehicle which will require you to use double cable chargers for both vehicles.

The time to be keen about our environment is here and electric cars are at the forefront of helping make the work easier. The continuous research and improvements on the technology promises better results in the near future meaning the evolution is far from over. Get an expert and be advised on what car and charging infrastructure suits you.