Buying an electric car: what do I need to keep in mind?
Looking to buy an electric car? The electric car purchase checklist from Comparis can help. It tells you what to look out for.
27.06.2024
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1. How much range do I need?
The range of the electric car is a crucial point for the purchase. Remember: many electric cars don't go as far on one charge as a petrol car with a full tank.
Think in advance about what you need the vehicle for. Consider especially the intended regular use, not special occasions.
Which car offers the fewest restrictions in daily use?
How many kilometres do I drive per week? How far do I usually drive between charging points?
What do I mainly use my vehicle for?
How many people are usually in the car?
Do you often drive alone in the city? Then a small car with a short range is usually enough. If you commute long distances with your family every day, it's worth buying a large car with more range.
Tip: to calculate the required range for your new car, add an additional third to your regular route. This should ensure you still have enough charge in unexpected situations and in winter.
Find out about the actual range
Manufacturers test the range of electric cars under standardised conditions. Their results are often unrealistic. The actual range in normal use is usually lower than the manufacturer's specification.
If a used car, ask the previous owner about their experience with the range, or search online for testimonials. This will help you assess if the vehicle meets your needs.
2. What is the charging infrastructure near me like?
Before buying an electric car, consider the charging options in your area (some links not available in English).
Do you have charging options at home? Not having a charging station at home doesn’t have to be a reason to refrain from buying an electric car. However, using public charging stations is more expensive than electricity at home. Consider this before you buy.
If you often travel longer distances, consider the availability of charging stations. The network is now well developed in Switzerland.
Other European countries sometimes have fewer charging stations. But here, too, the trend is positive. In addition, the EU is planning a large-scale expansion by 2026.
Two plugs are common in Europe, depending on the type of charging:
Type 2 plug for alternating current (AC): it is best to buy a three-phase cable. You can also use this for cars with single-phase charging. Three-phase plugs use all phase conductors of the charging station and thus the full potential. Single-phase plugs use only about a third of the possible charging power.
CCS plug for direct current (DC): these allow fast charging. Some older Asian electric cars are still equipped with the Chademo plug. However, this is becoming rarer.
You should also pay attention to the charging capacity when buying the cable. It should suit the vehicle. Remember: an electric car only charges as fast as the slowest part of the charging chain allows.
Here you can find an overview of all common plugs, sockets and charging cable types.
Cars load at various speeds. Thanks to its larger capacity, a car with a large battery can charge faster than a car with a small battery. If you often have little time to charge, you should choose a car with a higher charging capacity.
Not all vehicles can charge with direct current, also known as fast charging. Think about whether you need this before you buy.
3. Buying an electric car: checklist for the battery
The battery determines the range of the electric car. For more frequent long-distance journeys, a larger battery is worthwhile.
The age of the vehicle also affects its range. This is because the "state of health" of the battery decreases as the number of charging cycles increases. If you buy a used car, you should pay attention to the health of the battery:
Have the state of health checked by a specialist. Alternatively, you can check it yourself using the vehicle's testing protocols and service booklet. This is because battery performance is usually also assessed during the manufacturer's inspections.
A first indication of the battery health can be the total kilometres. Divide this by the range of the vehicle. This gives you the theoretical number of charging cycles the car has undergone. Lithium-ion batteries usually have a service life of around 1,000 to 1,500 charge cycles.
Take a longer test drive with the electric car. This will give you a sense of the car's actual range.
Check if the battery is still under warranty. Some manufacturers give a battery warranty for a certain duration or mileage. This is often for eight years and up to 160,000km. Many manufacturers claim that the state of health does not fall below 70% or 75% in this time. The exact specifications depend on the manufacturer.
Ask the seller about damage or repairs to important vehicle parts.
4. Drive types for electric cars
In addition to fully electric cars, there are also various hybrid vehicles. Choose the drive system to suit your needs.
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A fuel cell car is an electric car with energy supplied by hydrogen.
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5. Buying an electric car: more tips
There are other questions to ask when buying an electric car. Some are the same as for a petrol car:
What is my budget for a car? Don't forget your long-term budget. A car costs around 10,000 francs per year to operate. However, electric cars are usually cheaper in the long-term (link not available in English).
How many people usually travel with you? What do I want to transport? These determine the size of the vehicle.
Buy or lease?
This article was first published on 27.06.2024
