Driving Electric Vehicles: 5 Tips For First Time EV Drivers
If you have only ever driven a diesel or petrol car, then it can be quite a big change when you switch to an electric vehicle. While electric cars have been around for a while, it is only recently that they have started to become more accessible to the average person, which has led to more and more people making the switch to electric.
While electric cars are very easy to drive, it can be a bit of an adjustment if you have never driven one before. We have put together this article to give you some tips that can help you get used to your new electric vehicle. If you are thinking of investing in an electric car or you have recently started driving one, then this article is for you. Keep on reading to find out five tips for first time EV drivers.
Go For Some Practice Drives
When you first get your electric vehicle, one of the first things you can do to help you get used to the car is to just take it on some practice drives. Electric cars tend to be a much smoother ride a,nd their engine is far quieter than that of a diesel or petrol car. Because of this, it can be difficult for first-time EV drivers to get used to how the car runs, as they do not need to pay attention to the sounds of the engine. Taking your new electric car for some practice drives will just help you get used to your new vehicle, and it means you can spend time getting to grips with the different technology installed. Spend some time driving your new car around the block and give yourself the time you need to understand how your new vehicle works.
Consider Leasing Instead Of Buying
When it comes to making the switch to an electric car, one thing you need to consider is whether you want to buy or lease the car. There are benefits to both options, but ultimately it comes down to how much money you have to spend, and whether you want the stress of reselling the car once you are done with it. The great thing about leasing an electric car is that you can pay monthly instalments towards the price of the car, and it means that once you have finished with the car, you can then return the car and upgrade to a new model. If you are someone who likes to switch to a newer model every few years, then leasing could be a good option for you. This guide to driving a leased electric car, from LV ElectriX, would be a good place to start if you are considering leasing over buying.
Understand How To Charge Your EV
Another important tip that can help first-time EV drivers is that you spend some time learning how to charge an electric car. One of the biggest adjustments that you will have to make when buying an electric car is working out when and how long to charge your vehicle. When driving a petrol or diesel car, it is pretty easy to refill your tank as there are plenty of garages to choose from. However, when you are driving an electric car, you need to do some research to find some charging points. Thankfully, as electric cars have become more widely available, there are now plenty of charging points available around the country, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding somewhere to charge your vehicle. If you are committed to the electric car lifestyle, then it may be beneficial to install a charging point in your home, as this will give you constant access.
Get Some Electric Vehicle Apps
One thing you can do to help you adjust to your new electric car is to install some electric vehicle apps. A great advantage of using an electric car is that they are installed with modern technology, which means that there are different apps that you can download that work with your vehicle. For example, you can download a charging app for when you are on the go, which means you can keep track of the charge of your car and, more importantly, it means you can find charging spots along your journey. For someone who is new to electric cars, downloading some apps will be really helpful, and it can give you some useful guidance and advice.
Plan Long Journeys Ahead Of Time
Our final top tip for first-time EV drivers is that you plan any long journeys ahead of time. The last thing you want is to be stuck somewhere with an uncharged electric car and not know where any charging points are. Therefore, when you are planning to take a long trip, it would be a good idea to plan it in advance, so you can pinpoint exactly where charging points are along the way. As mentioned above, the best way to find charging points is to use an app, as it will clearly show you what is available along your route. Planning your journeys in advance is extremely beneficial, and it means that you will have a stress-free journey.
