It’s the right time to switch to an electric vehicle from your existing petrol or diesel version. While doing so, these are some of the most critical factors that you should keep in mind.
1. Speed
Speed is the primary factor that you might want to consider before buying an e-Bike. When compared to fuel-based vehicles that have ICE engines, electric vehicles (EVs) are known to have higher accelerating speeds. This is because their electric motors are able to produce instant torque.
So, ensure that you check the average time EVs take to achieve the speed of 100kmph (or 60mph) and then compare the same with that of the model you are interested in to get a better idea of how fast the vehicle is.
2. Motor capacity
Just like traditional vehicles, kilowatt (kW) is the unit used for measuring the power of electric motors. HP (Horsepower) of 134 is around 100kW. But electric motors are more diverse as a broader range of RPM could receive their maximum torque.
In other words, the performance of a 100kW electric motor will be higher than the 100kW motor of an ICE engine as they can only deliver maximum torque over a limited range. The peak power output of an EV’s motor is generally mentioned in kW/rpm.
3. The Charging Time and Range
The next important consideration is how long it takes for the battery of your EV to charge fully and what range it can offer on a full charge. Thanks to the advancements in technologies, most EV batteries require only a few hours to go from 0 to 100. The average in the four-wheeler EV industry is currently at 5 hours and the same for two-wheelers is 2-3 hours.
But the charging time abundantly depends on the battery and charger used for charging. The same is the case with the range. It would considerably depend on the model and the battery it uses.
4. Battery Types
Ampere hours or coulomb is the unit used for measuring the electric charge a battery can store. The total energy is mostly indicated in watt-hours. Most modern EVs are powered by a lithium-ion battery. There are several models that feature a lithium-polymer battery.
These are the most popular choices as they have lower weight in comparison to their energy density. But you can also find models that have lead-acid, nickel-metal hydride, or Ni-Cd batteries.
5. Charger Accessories
The next factor you should consider is the charger that comes with your EV. AC fast chargers are quickly becoming the norm in most parts of the world. Vehicles that come with fast chargers generally have li-ion, Ni-MH, or Ni-Cd batteries. These could take 60-90 minutes to make the battery go from 0% to 100%.
The next in the line is rapid chargers which are used for the same lot of batteries. These chargers can take 3-6 hours to fully charge the battery. Then there are slow chargers for Ni-Cd lead-acid batteries which could take more than 10 hours. Some of the modern EVs now come with ultra-fast chargers that only take 30-60 minutes for a full charge.
6. Legal Regulations
One of the biggest reasons why EVs are getting popular is because of the stringent regulations now being worked upon in many different parts of the world. For instance, there are already federal regulations that make it mandatory for EV manufacturers to offer a battery warranty of at least 100,000 miles or 8 years.
So, a thorough understanding with regards to the legal regulations for EVs in your country will help you pick the best.
Ready for the Electric Revolution?
If you are planning to switch to an electric vehicle, these are 6 of the most important factors that you should definitely consider.
Compare the options and spend some time in thoroughly understanding the specs of the vehicle you are interested in to make the right buying decision. You are also welcome to get support from us by email: [email protected]
