Looking to make the big switch? Here are all the facts you need.
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We know that buying an electric vehicle can be daunting. What range to choose, which battery best suits your needs, what grants are available? We are here to help remove some of that uncertainty so, if you want to understand how electric cars or EVs as they’re known, work, and what the difference between hybrid and pure electric cars is, then read on.
Before I buy
What types of electric cars are there?
There are a few different types of electric vehicle. Some run solely on electricity, these are called battery electric vehicles. And some can run on a combination of petrol or diesel & electricity, these are called hybrid electric vehicles.
Battery electric vehicle: This means the vehicle uses a battery as the sole means of energy storage for the propulsion of the car.
This type doesn’t need petrol or diesel to run so doesn’t produce any emissions like traditional cars. BEVs are fueled by plugging into an electricity source to recharge the battery pack.
Hybrid: These run mainly on fuel like petrol or diesel but have an electric battery too, which is charged by the car’s engine, the motion of the wheels or a combination of both. There is no charging connector.
Plug-in Hybrid: These cars mainly run on a combination of electricity and traditional fuel engine. The battery pack is significantly smaller than in a battery electric vehicle.
When running on fuel, these cars will produce emissions but when they’re running on electricity, they won’t. Plug-in hybrids can be plugged into an electricity source to recharge their battery.
How do I charge an EV?
An EV battery is charged by connecting the vehicle to a charge point using a charging cable. Most vehicles have a standard charge and a fast charge. You can purchase a home charger or use public chargers. For a full list of options available visit the SEAI’s easy charging guide. A full list of ecar charging points can be found on the ESB’s website.
How far can you travel on one full charge
An EVs range is dependent on the battery size (kWh). Like traditional fuel tanks, the bigger the battery the more range you are likely to have.
Time to buy
Do I choose new or used?
Whether you purchase a brand new or used EV can be down to a number of factors, with budget playing a big part. There are a large number of options available to you whether you go for new or used. Visit the SEAI’s buying guide to find out more.
Where do I go to find new and used EVs for sale?
You can find Ireland’s largest range of 2022 EVs for sale on DoneDeal along with a wide range of used EVs.
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