Read This Before You Buy an Electric Vehicle!

Written by Expert Contributor Jack Crowley, Jr., C&J Automotive Specialists

It’s obvious that 2022 is the year of the Electric Vehicle (EV). From the Ford Mustang Mach-E to the luxury Mercedes- Benz EQS, many legacy automakers are already in the game. There are also new automakers focusing solely on EVs, such as Lucid, Rivian and Polestar.

Quite a bit of pre-purchase consideration usually goes into the car’s looks, trim level and performance. Comparatively, very little thought goes into the upkeep of the investment, including repairs and maintenance. So here are several important things — aside from how an EV looks and drives — that you should consider before purchasing one.

Charging

The most common concern EV buyers have is how and where to keep it charged! In the Marple Newtown area, there are only two public charging stations, where there are currently five gas stations. Unless there’s a charging station that offers your vehicle’s charging type and speed at or near where you work, you’ll most likely be charging your EV at home.

Inspection and Emissions

EVs still require a yearly PA State Safety Inspection and Emissions test. However, because EVs don’t have an Evaporative Emission System (EVAP), which disposes of fuel vapors before they’re released into the atmosphere like fuel-run vehicles, they are exempt from the Emissions test and automatically pass.

Maintenance

Your typical Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle requires regular oil changes, but with Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), no oil change is needed. Instead, most of your visits to the mechanic will be for tires and suspension work.

• Tires:

Many have seen the power a BEV has on the road, with its roller coaster-esque acceleration. To achieve that, BEVs require a lot of traction, which eats tires like there’s no tomorrow! That’s why BEVs — especially Teslas — are more frequently in for new tires than ICEs.

• Rotations and Alignments:

These two services will almost replace your regular oil changes as preventative, proactive maintenance that prolongs the life of the tires you invest in.

• Suspension:

To put it concisely, potholes do not discriminate against the types of cars they affect!

Other Repairs and Updates

Depending on the manufacturer, some repairs may have to be completed at the dealer due to the parts needed for the repair. For example, Tesla does not allow independent shops to purchase certain parts. Most EVs can get software updates over-the-air via Wi-Fi, but some may need a trip to the service center for a hardwired connection.