What is important to check before buying an electric vehicle?

Congratulations! You have decided to replace your car and switch to an electric vehicle. If you have reached the stage of asking: "What is the most recommended electric vehicle?" or "Which electric vehicle should I buy?" you are not alone. This is indeed a legitimate dilemma, and the best answer is: "What suits you best." What does that mean? It should be cost-effective and meet your personal needs. Before you make the right decision for you, we have gathered some points to consider.

The vehicle that suits you best
The electric vehicle market is evolving and allows for choices between different categories, models, and multiple equipment levels. The electric vehicle includes advanced technological and safety systems, so there is no reason to choose an electric vehicle that does not meet high safety standards.

Defined budget and various options to choose from
Buying an electric vehicle is a significant financial decision, so it is important to understand your available budget. Consider additional costs such as a charging station and its installation, insurance costs, licensing fees, maintenance, and significant energy cost savings. Today, there are various options for purchasing a vehicle, such as cash purchase, financing, or private leasing, which eliminates all the hassle involved in buying and maintaining the vehicle.

Service and warranty
Buying an electric vehicle requires special attention to service and warranty. It is important to check who stands behind the brand and what the warranty period is for the vehicle, battery, and other components. Most electric vehicle importers offer a three-year warranty on the vehicle (or 100,000 km, whichever comes first) and a seven to eight-year warranty on the vehicle's battery (or 160,000 km, whichever comes first) from the date of purchase. The warranty provided varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, so it is recommended to check according to the purchased vehicle.

Driving range that meets daily travel needs
In this case, it is important to know whether the electric vehicle will allow for a reasonable driving range between charges. This data appears in the vehicle's technical specifications ("maximum combined driving range according to WLTP standard").

To do this, we will check the vehicle's battery capacity. This data is measured in a unit called kilowatt-hour (kWh). The battery capacity directly affects the driving range of the electric vehicle. The larger the battery capacity, the greater the distance the vehicle can travel, and vice versa.

Suitable charging infrastructure
To charge the electric vehicle, ensure that there is a suitable home charging infrastructure. The charging infrastructure includes:

• Ownership of the parking space: If you live in a private house with owned parking, there is no problem installing a charging station. However, if you live in a shared building, ensure that the parking space is owned by you and registered in your name in the land registry. In such a case, the residents of the shared building cannot prevent the installation of the charging station, as it is a normal and reasonable use and does not harm the common property.
• Charging station: A charging station is a device that provides electrical energy to charge electric vehicles. The station is usually a fixed station connected to the power grid, with a socket or cable that allows connection to an electric vehicle. When the vehicle is connected to the charging station, a "connection" is made between the station and the electric vehicle, after which the station transfers the electric current to the electric vehicle.
• Before installing the charging station, ensure that there is a suitable electrical infrastructure. That is, have a certified electrician check if the electrical panel can handle the required power of the charging station.

The time required to charge the electric vehicle
To answer this question, we want to check the vehicle's charging rate, which is measured in a unit called kilowatt (kW). The charging rate is important when choosing a vehicle and when choosing a charging station for the vehicle, as the electric vehicle can receive charging at a certain rate, and the charging station can charge a vehicle at a certain rate. It can be said that the factor with the lower charging rate will determine the charging rate.

To calculate the charging time of an electric vehicle from a completely empty battery to a fully charged battery of 100%, you can use the following formula: number of phases x current strength x voltage (230V) = power.

Example for illustration:

• In the case of single-phase, 16A, 230V, we get a power of: 3.7kW
• In the case of three-phase, 16A, 230V, we get a power of: 11kW

Assuming the electric vehicle has a battery capacity of 60kWh, the vehicle's charging time will be as follows:

• In the case of single-phase, charging time: 16.2 hours
• In the case of three-phase, charging time: 5.5 hours

Charging station insurance
When purchasing an electric vehicle and wanting to install a charging station, it is important to ensure insurance coverage against damages that may occur due to the use of the charging station. The coverage should include the charging station itself and third-party coverage, meaning coverage for damages caused to third parties by the charging station.

In any case, it is important to check with the insurance company what coverages are provided and not rely on what is written here.