February 9

Tips for Shopping EVs

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So you’ve decided to take the leap and purchase an electric vehicle (EV). Congratulations. You’ll save money, lower your carbon footprint, and if you buy the right EV, you’ll have a more spirited driving experience than you ever thought possible. However, purchasing the right EV has its challenges. So we asked our EV experts to create this buyer’s guide to shopping for EVs. Here, you’ll find the answers to essential questions to help you select the perfect EV for your lifestyle and budget.

Make Sure You Stay on Budget

A quote by the late former NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer sums up this question nicely. “The answer to all your questions is money.” Depending on the model and options, you can spend from $20,000 up to $175,000 on an EV. Fortunately, most EVs fall between $30,000-$60,000, making them affordable for most people. Our finance department can quote you an accurate monthly car payment based on your needs.

Financial experts recommend keeping your car payment at or below 15% of your monthly income. This is prudent advice you should listen to. Our finance team always suggests that you review your budget to see what you can afford. Remember that insurance on your new vehicle may cost more money to protect than your old car. You can ask your insurance agent for a quote on a car you’re interested in buying to get an idea of the cost.

Another consideration is refueling costs, or in this case, your electric bill. Ideally, your home charging station is your refueling station. You can expect an increase in your home electricity expense due to recharging your EV every night. However, this should be offset by not paying for gas anymore, so if you plan carefully, you can save money. Planning carefully includes charging during off-peak energy hours.

Find an EV with Enough Driving Range

For years, car owners have cited the driving range of EVs as their biggest concern. Battery capacity equals driving range, so be sure you have a large enough battery. You want to get to and from your destination without worrying about recharging. Fortunately, new EVs, such as the Hyundai Kona, have plenty of range. The Kona EV can travel up to 258 miles on a single charge. Since the average American drives between 30-40 miles daily, you don’t have to worry about your battery running low.

Other factors like driving habits and weather can impact an EV’s driving range. Weather alone causes several circumstances that lower your driving range. For example, according to research conducted by AAA, your driving range drops as much as 40% when the temperature falls below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because drivers need to run the heater to stay warm, which drains your battery. Conversely, when the temperature rises above 90 degrees, your range drops by 17%, mainly due to running the air conditioner.

Batteries perform more efficiently in moderate temperatures between 50-80 degrees. Based on that figure alone, an EV with a 250-mile range would only have a 100-mile range if you lived in a cold climate.

Another consideration affecting range is the recommended charging limits. Experts agree that you shouldn’t let your battery power dip below 10% and should always stop charging at 80-90%. Adhering to these figures helps prolong your battery’s life, something everyone should want to do. However, that means you lose another 20-30% of capacity, which translates to less driving range. Still, you should have enough power to complete your daily commute if you live close to work.

Consider Your Charging Options

Living in McKinney, Texas, or nearby Plano, Dallas, and Fort Worth, you have over 350 charging stations available. Many of these have DC fast-charging capability to help you recharge quickly. For example, the IONIQ 5 can recharge from 10% to 80% in only 25 minutes using a 400-volt DC charger. However, if you have access to an 800-volt DC charger, you can accomplish the same in 17 minutes. While this time may be longer than refueling gas, it does make recharging manageable.

Using a 120-volt AC Level 1 charger at home, you can recharge most EVs to 100% in less than 12 hours. We recommend you install a 240-volt AC Level 2 charging station at home for the best results. A 240-volt AC Level 2 charger is the same type of outlet you have on your clothes dryer or electric oven, only with a different plug type. They cost a few hundred dollars to install. Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 can recharge from 10% to 100% in seven hours using 240-volt AC charging. So you can plug in your EV at night when rates are lowest and wake up in the morning to a full charge.

EV Driving Differences

Most drivers quickly realize that an EV performs much differently than a gas powertrain. First, an EV uses an electric motor and a single gearbox to propel the vehicle. An electric powertrain delivers instant torque, and the single gearbox allows for smooth acceleration. These factors mean you get up to speed quickly. For example, the IONIQ 5 can go from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. To put that in perspective, most crossover SUVs achieve an 8-second or higher zero to 60 mph time.

An electric powertrain makes almost no sound. That whisper-quiet operation can be off-putting to some drivers used to the steady hum of a gas engine. However, once you drive an EV for a while, you get used to the sound, or lack thereof. Therefore, you’ll want to test drive an EV to ensure you can handle the power and feel before buying.

Shop for a Hyundai EV in McKinney Today

Of course, you have other considerations, like comfort and convenience features, cargo space, etc., that you’ll need to review before deciding on an EV. We recommend starting your EV buying experience by shopping our virtual inventory online. We have an expansive EV inventory at competitive prices, and our convenient location on North Central Expressway in McKinney makes us your logical choice. Once you find a vehicle you’re interested in, you can visit us for the all-important test drive.


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