FAQ’s
Are Evs as Safe as Gas Cars?
A: Electric vehicles must meet the same federal safety standards as other cars, with the exception of NEVs and MSEVs. And you won't be hauling around gallons of combustible fuel wherever you go!
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Vehicle?
A: Different vehicles and different batteries will produce different results, and depending on the price of electricity in your area it may vary slightly. Some vehicles like the Firefly cost about $0.01 per mile. The GEM vehicles cost about $0.02 cents per mile. This is based on having a full charge and going a certain amount of miles, then coming back in and seeing how much power it costs to have a full charge.
What Is the Average Life of a Battery?
A: It can really vary, there are lead acid, gel, AGM and lithium batteries. Lithiums last an average of 2,000 cycles and others around 300 cycles.For great information about on lithium batteries: http://www.lithionicsbattery.com/pdf/faq/LeadAcidGettingOld.pdf
How Fast Do the Vehicles Go?
A: It depends on the vehicle; some are limited to 25/35 mph for the NEVs and MSEVs but some freeway vehicles go over 100mph. There is a vehicle to meet any need.
Are Electric Cars Dependable?
A: Electrics are generally dependable as gas-powered vehicles. In fact, electric vehicles have fewer moving parts and therefore, fewer points of failure than gas-powered engines. There are is also no oil, clutch mufflers, timing belts, radiators, water pumps, fuel filters, or other gas parts to fix.
Why Use an Electric Vehicle?
A: There are several advantages to electric vehicles, the most obvious being its lack of tailpipe emissions. Another advantage is the relatively silent operation which reduces noise pollution. The third big advantage is the reduction of reliance on oil, foreign and otherwise. As oil supplies dwindle the availability of gasoline will become much less stable. As electric vehicles don't need gasoline they will be able to glide through the gas station as others line up to buy fuel.
What About an Evs Limited Range?
A: Range is can be somewhat of a limiting factor with electric vehicles and this makes them unsuitable for some applications. However, as the average person commutes just 22 miles per day, the ability to home charge and start each morning with a "full tank" makes range much less of an issue, particularly when the car is the second vehicle. Most EVs can easily handle a 22-mile commute without recharging during the day. Remember, 15,000 miles per year would be a daily average of 41 miles per day.
Aren't Evs Expensive?
A: Because EVs are currently being built in very small numbers they can be more expensive than internal combustion engine (ICE) powered cars. Offsetting this is lower running costs as it is much cheaper to charge an EV than it is to use gasoline for a given mileage. To help reduce the additional cost and get the electric vehicle industry moving there are many government incentives that have been introduced. For example in Washington State one does not have to pay sales tax on a new electric vehicle.
Don't Evs Just Move Pollution to Power Station Location?
A: Depending on the method used to generate electricity there is some pollution involved. However, it is much easier to control pollution from at a few hundred power generation facilities than it is to control it at millions of vehicle tailpipes. In Washington State over 90% of our grid power renewable energy sources such as hydropower, solar and wind. So that means the environmental impact from charging your EV is very minimal.
When I Run Low on Charge Don't I Have to Wait Hours Until the Recharge Is Done?
A: It typically takes about 6-10 hours to recharge an EV from empty to full using a home charger which is a 110-volt outlet (just like your cell phone). But there are now charging stations in many places so one can plug-in while running their errands. There are also quick charging stations that are 220V or 440V that can cut the charging time to under an hour. The thing to remember is that you don't have to wait until an Electric Vehicle is a quarter full to recharge, you do it any time it is convenient. You also don't need to fully charge it, just give it enough of a charge to get you home.
Will an Electric Car Depreciate More Than a Fossil Fuel Car?
A: Considering the fact that electric cars have far fewer parts and new batteries give them new life it stands to reason that EVs should retain their value more than fossil fuel cars. With the price of fossil fuel out of our control that could cause fossil fuel cars to drop dramatically in value. Plus, regenerative braking turns the motor to generate power and saves brakes and tires.
Are Teenagers Good Candidates for Evs?
A:Absolutely! With vehicles that offer limited speeds, it can keep your teen safer. Over 19,000 teens are killed each year due to car accidents. With an NEV or MSEV teens are limited to a certain range and speed to keep them safer. Read our brochure to help you decide: Is a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Right for my Teen Driver?
Are Senior Citizens Good Candidates for Evs?
A:YES! Once retired many people do not travel more than a few miles a day. With heating, AC and many other comfort options an EV is the great solution for those short trips.
MC Electric Vehicles located in Seattle, WA. We carry GEM, FireFly, Vantage Vehicle, and Columbia.