Todd Sumamno
If you think Electric Vehicles are just the ‘updated’ version of petrol vehicles, think again. EVs have been re-engineered from the ground up to take advantage of all the latest safety, entertainment, and comfort technology in the automotive space built into what seem like space-age vehicles. So, what are the best design features of EVs at the moment? Here are some of the best – as well as one that’ll save you a bit of money.
Fast charging
Gone are the days of EVs taking forever to charge. Fast charging of 250kW+ is now becoming standard across so many vehicles, which takes cars from 10% to 80% in a matter of minutes instead of hours. That could mean topping up your car when you’re doing a weekly shop or dashing around for appointments. Range anxiety? With Fast Charging and the PlugShare app installed, you can forget about it!
Vehicle 2 Grid / Vehicle 2 Home
Another great feature for people who are stepping up to everything all-electric, including solar power, is using your car as a battery for night-time use. Vehicle 2 Home tech uses your car as a battery to use surplus energy generated during the day; or you can sell it back into the grid using Vehicle 2 Grid tech. Who says an EV doesn’t pay for itself?
Artificial intelligence-powered safety
AI is everywhere – but can it save your bacon in a pinch? Smart side mirrors, lane change assist, proximity warnings – it can all help you avoid accidents to yourself and other people. Many EVs such as the Tesla series have all this baked in, so you can rest assured you’re driving in a much safer vehicle than most petrol or diesel vehicles on the road.
Auto parking and autonomous driving
Though most EVs are fitted with sensors and cameras to help you park, you can let the car take over and parallel park perfectly each time with automatic parking. Autonomous driving or “autopilot” can also assist you on long journeys, especially if there’s long stretches between curves and tight turns. Autonomous braking can also react quicker than a human, so you’re able to better avoid collisions.
Cheaper to service
EVs have fewer moving parts than petrol vehicles and can be up to 70% cheaper to maintain – gone are the days of six-month oil or fluid changes. Brake pads and machining as well as tyres are still a factor in maintenance – but even under high use this could net you 60,000km before you even think of driving to the mechanic.
Financing and re-financing EVs
EVs are coming down in price and increasing in reliability – so if you were unfortunate enough to buy an EV with a high interest rate, you should consider refinancing your EV with a lower interest rate and reaping the savings. If your credit score has increased significantly, you should definitely look into it – you could save a bundle by reducing your loan term and keeping up your current repayments! Remember to ask a broker for more information before committing to a refinancing deal.
Brittany
