Looking to buy an EV? With fuel costs rising, everyone is talking about getting an electric vehicle. But so many of us have very little idea of what it really is or for that matter, what are hybrid cars even. In this blog, I will cover the top 20 Facts, Questions asked and answers about an Electric Vehicle (EV) and talk about if you should buy it as well.
Don’t worry, I got you!
Basics first: Differences between electric vehicles and hybrid cars
What we know is that the demand for Electric vehicles (EVs) has grown exponentially in recent years, leading from the front is the well-known Tesla brand.
One way to look at that today we have more options and newer players in the electric vehicle market, with most of the manufacturers are either releasing their own EV now or have plans in the near future.
Right, then let’s get int to it.
Battery Electric vehicle (BEV) explained
Commonly known as EC’s, BEVs are the most environmentally friendly option as its marketed to have zero carbon emissions when on the road. Unlike the typical petrol operated car, BEVs are powered by an electric motor running on rechargeable batteries like a remote-controlled toy car, if you will. This also mean that there is no engine or exhaust sound and the silence is almost creepy at first.
The biggest bottleneck thus far is the cost of getting an EV. They don’t come cheap! Other than that, there is the issue of charging the battery. Compared to refilling your gas tank, within a few minutes, charging your EV can take hours. Yes, there are the super-fast chargers, but even those take 30 mins to get to 70-80% charge. Then there is the issue of public chargers which aren’t as prevalent as your favorite gas stations.
Good news is however, countries and cities are taking up their own efforts to ramp up the number of chargers and they have serious national level strategies.
Other brilliant aspect is that it has fewer moving parts, which means you don’t have to go every 5 or 10K into your dealer for a service or oil change. Depending on the brand, you need to go only once every 40K, which is outstanding.
What is a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) now?
Think of it as a middle point between petrol operated cars and all electric cars. For all those skeptics, you can start here if you aren’t completed invested into the idea of owning an EV.
In HEV’s, your internal combustion engines, work alongside an electric motor to power your vehicle. The electric motors typically kicks in mainly in shorter drives and is not charged by an external power source, but triggered by the regenerative braking technology to self-charge. All this means that it is slightly more environmentally-friendlier than your petrol cars with lesser emissions and definitely more efficient. You get more miles than your regular petrol car.
So, is it worth buying an electric car?
They don’t come cheap, let’s start with that! But with the rising costs, it may prove to be more budget friendly in the long run, not to mention environmentally friendly too.
Top 20 EV Facts, Questions & Answers about Electric vehicles (EV’s)
In this section, I will try to answer the frequently asked questions about EV’s.
Contents
- How much is a Tesla?
- How much does it cost to charge EV car in Dubai?
- Is EV charging is free in Dubai?
- What is the cheapest way to charge an EV?
- How can I find EV charging stations for free?
- Why are EV prices so expensive, will prices go down?
- Where can I charge my Tesla?
- How Long Does It Take to Charge a Tesla?
- How much does it cost to charge Tesla?
- How do I calculate the Charging time of EV?
- How long does a 7kW charge take to charge an EV?
- How many kilowatts does it take to charge a Tesla?
- How long it takes to fully charge an electric car?
- What is the cheapest Tesla?
- Is it cheaper to run an electric car than petrol?
- Why do Tesla owners tap the charger?
- Which cars can charge at 22kW?
- How Long Do Electric Cars Last Compared to Conventional Cars and what is the lifetime of an electric car?
- Can you jump start an EV car?
- How much is a Tesla battery?
How much is a Tesla?
In summary, the cheapest Tesla is the Model 3 2022 Long range about $58K (or about AED 199K) and the most expensive Tesla is the Model X Plaid 2022 costing about $130k (or about AED 510K).
Check the table below for the detailed comparison:How much does it cost to charge EV car in Dubai?
In Dubai, the prices vary depending on the charger but in general it ranges from AED 4 (45 mins) for 30 mins and the cost to fully charge can go up to AED 50. It’s nothing compared to a full tank of AED 470 for a Nissan Patrol as of July 2022. Find the nearest EV charging station and you should be fine.
Is EV charging is free in Dubai?
Charging at a Tesla charger is free if you are charging at a EV charging station called the Destination Charger upto 400 kWh of free Supercharger credit for Tesla owners. Dubai was leading the way for residents to embrace an electric vehicle and offered free charging for many years until Jan. 2022. The cheapest way to charge at Malls, where they have free chargers and you get four-hour free parking. You can simply charge while you shop.
What is the cheapest way to charge an EV?
Well at the time of writing this blog, the cheapest way to charge at Malls, where they have free EV charging stations and you get four-hour free parking. You can simply charge while you shop. Other than that, you can charge at home, as home chargers have the cheapest cost but they charge very slowly. Keep in mind ultra-fast chargers can cost upto 50% more than home chargers.
How can I find EV charging stations for free?
Well at the time of writing this blog, the cheapest way to charge at Malls, where they have free chargers and you get four-hour free parking. You can simply charge while you shop.
The ChargePoint app is free to download and the best way to find convenient charging stations. You can filter for stations based on real time availability, price (some EV charging stations could be free to use), and charging speed.Why are EV prices so expensive, will prices go down?
Yes. Prices have been going down in general but 5-10 years from now, it is estimate that all EV’s will be cheaper depending on mass adoption. Also, simply put it’s a supply vs demand issue. Demand isn’t as high compared to traditional ICE vehicles.
Where can I charge my Tesla?
You can simply search for EV charging stations on google maps and it will show you the nearest ones. Tesla also provides is Destination Chargers for Tesla owners.
Other than that, ChargePoint is the world’s largest EV charging network, and you can find an EV charging station, availability as well.How Long Does It Take to Charge a Tesla?
Depending on the EV charging station, it takes about 10 hours using a 7kW home charger, 3.5 hours using a fast 22kW charger and about 1.5 hours using a 50kW rapid charger.
See table below for comparison with other makes as well.How much does it cost to charge Tesla?
In the US, Tesla Model X costs about $16 to fully charge, and about $8 to fully charge a Tesla Model 3.
In Dubai, the prices vary depending on the charger but in general it ranges from AED 4 (45 mins) for 30 mins and it may cost around AED 30 for a full charge for a Tesla. It’s nothing compared to a full tank of AED 470 for a Nissan Patrol as of July 2022.How do I calculate the Charging time of EV?
Charging time (hours) = Battery size (kWh) ÷ Charger power (kW)
How long does a 7kW charge take to charge an EV?
Depending on the Battery, charging times vary depending on the various electric car companies. Renault Zoe can take about 7 hours using a 7kW charger compared to 10 hours for a Tesla Model S.
How many kilowatts does it take to charge a Tesla?
The maximum rate at which a Tesla can charge is between 7.2kW-11.5 kW, depending on the Tesla model charging times vary. See the table below for Tesla using different battery chargers.
13. How long it takes to fully charge an electric car?
What is the cheapest Tesla?
Within the 4 models, the Tesla Model X is the most popular model and has a starting price of $112,000 or AED 449,990. The most affordable Tesla is the Model 3 for $47,000 or AED 174,990 including VAT.
Is it cheaper to run an electric car than petrol?
Yes, absolutely yes! – electric vehicles cost less on maintenance and electricity costs and way cheaper than petrol.
Why do Tesla owners tap the charger?
So you obviously have been watching a lot of TikTok.:) But tapping on the taillight apparently helps open the charging port which also can be opened through other ways.
Which cars can charge at 22kW?
How Long Do Electric Cars Last Compared to Conventional Cars and what is the lifetime of an electric car?
While EV’s haven’t been for long, reports have suggested that Tesla’s have racked up over 400,000 miles.
According to Elon Musk, “If you don’t mind driving around with a slightly under-performing battery, then you can expect to keep the same battery for anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 miles”Can you jump start an EV car?
Yes, you can jumpstart an EV but not the other way around.
How much is a Tesla battery?
Tesla battery replacement cost varies but typically it can cost about $15,000 or around AED 40,000. But they come with an 8-year warranty.
Bottom line
In summary, Electric vehicles are definitely more environmentally-friendly and might even prove to me more cost effective over the long run but come with a hefty initial price.
Hopefully I have been able to de-mystify the top 20 frequently asked questions about EV’s. Have more questions? Write them in the comments below and I will update this blog.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter.