EV CHARGING SOLUTIONS

No. Instead of fuel tanks and internal combustion engines, EVs have rechargeable batteries and electric motors.

This is your standard gasoline-powered vehicle. An internal combustion engine (ICE) provides power to a traditional car by means of the heat produced after a fuel, like gasoline or diesel, is oxidized and ignited in a combustion chamber.

To make it easier to understand its testing results, the EPA doesn't just report range. It also provides a miles-per-gallon equivalent measurement, or MPGe, that you can compare with the EPA MPG estimates given for ICE vehicles that you're probably already familiar with. You might also hear the term km-per-kWh or kWh/100, which are designed to help you understand how efficient your EV is and help you compare it to a similar-sized gas car.

Since EVs don't require big gasoline engines, transmissions, and other components, they are often more spacious inside than their gasoline vehicle counterparts. More storage is often available as well, with some EVs providing both a traditional trunk in the rear and a frunk, or front trunk, in the space where a gasoline vehicle's engine would be. They also tend to take advantage of the latest technology, such as cruise control, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, and much more.

Strictly speaking, no. It's a different animal. While an EV relies solely on battery power to drive its electric motor, a hybrid uses a combination of electricity and conventional fuel for power. There are other kinds of cars that call themselves electric cars but they are not pure battery EVs; you can learn more about those here.

No, strict EVs do not have an internal combustion engine (ICE), so of course also no fuel tank, so no petrol is necessary. You might be thinking of a hybrid EV, which uses a combination of gasoline and electricity to produce power.

Contrary to some popular misconceptions, EVs typically offer superior performance to gasoline vehicles in a lot of aspects. While EV performance varies between different makes and models, all EVs benefit from the fact that they use drivetrains that are fairly simple compared to gasoline vehicles. Additionally, EVs are much quieter in operation, which is another byproduct of using battery-powered motors instead of gas-powered engines.

There are four main types of batteries that are used by EVs today: lithium-ion batteries are the most common, followed by nickel-metal hydride batteries (this type is used more often in hybrid vehicles, but they also power some EV vehicles), lead-acid batteries, and ultracapacitors.

Actually, no, not these days. In fact, some electric vehicle batteries are guaranteed to deliver a promised range of up to 10 years or 250,000 kilometres. The latest battery technology is pushing 500,000 kilometres in laboratory testing. That's over 20 years of (generally) emissions-free driving.

Yes, usually, but if you think swapping out the battery in your EV is as easy as it is for a handheld gadget, think again. Depending on the vehicle make and model, it's expensive and occasionally not possible. The good news is that even older EV models don't typically require battery replacements as today's batteries can last for hundreds of thousands of kilometres. 

Once your EV battery's components are well and truly dead, maybe another 10 years down the road after use in a second life, it's time for recycling. Currently, about 50 percent of the typical battery is recyclable. Eventually, new processes are expected that could push upwards of 90 percent EV battery recycling, minimizing as much environmental impact as possible.

 Today's typical electric vehicle batteries tip the scales at around 1,000 pounds each.

There are a lot of short-range EVs designed primarily for in-city driving, but you can also find EVs that are capable of traveling 500 miles or more on a single charge. Range has always been one of the biggest advantages that gasoline vehicles have over EVs, but that gap has closed fairly rapidly given improvements to the charging infrastructure in New Zealand. Taking an EV on a road strip still requires more advanced planning than driving a petrol-powered vehicle, but even that is far easier than it was in the past.

The answer all depends on your driving habits, the type of geography you live in, and how far you typically go on a daily basis. For example, a lead footed driver needs a bit more range than someone who accelerates slowly. EV owners living in flat areas like the Canterbury Plains, too, can go farther than those living in more mountainous areas like Queenstown with the same type of EV. Drivers who carry lots of cargo or many number of passengers in an EV would need more range than a solo driver, for instance.

Actually, yes. Performance is a bit of a tricky subject to compare both types of vehicles in but EVs can and do perform quite well in several key areas. They have impressive acceleration, for instance, with some EVs hitting 0 to 60 in about two seconds. On the other hand, petrol cars still take the lead in producing top speeds. Overall, however, acceleration, torque, and speed are convincing more people to switch to EVs.

No. EVs actually perform better than gasoline vehicles in this area. That's because electric vehicle motors, usually called motor-generators (MG) deliver torque and power but don't need to get up to speed to do it. This is because MGs deliver all their torque at zero rpm, right off the line, then keeps on pushing through about half its maximum speed. Conventional internal combustion engines (used in petrol-powered cars) generate torque and power based on displacement and speed, but you can't get both high torque and high power with those.

It all depends on your situation and where you are. It's important to know the difference between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging. While EV drivers can access Level 1 and Level 2 charging in many residential and work settings, you might need an app to help find the nearest super-fast Level 3 charging station.

Yes, but the practicality of charging an EV with solar panels depends on many factors, like average daily sunlight and solar panel setup. For those with sufficient sunlight and willing to make the initial investment, a home rooftop solar panel setup with appropriate charging equipment is one solution. Unfortunately, solar panels don't yet produce enough energy to be installed on an EV itself and used to continuously keep it charged.

Yes! Charging at home is usually less expensive than at a public charging station, unless you're lucky enough to have frequent access to a free charger.  Many utilities also have lower electricity rates during the night when demand is lower, which can be especially advantageous for EV owners since that's when charging typically occurs. These rates can be half as much as during day, or even less, but you may need to sign up for these programs.

That depends on the type of charging station you use, your EV's battery capacity, and how much you drive. Regardless of the type of charging station, the speed at which an EV battery charges is always limited by the maximum amount of power it can handle. If an EV has a charger that can handle 350kW, it will charge much faster at a DC Fast Charging station than a vehicle that can only handle 50kW.

You need both home and public charging to live comfortably with an EV. If you don't have a home charger, you'll could be relying on a potentially spotty and sporadic public network. Conversely, if you don't have access to public chargers, you won't be straying too far from home. Ideally, you need both. However, you don't need to use them equally.

It depends on the type of charger you plan on installing at home. A level 1 charger, which charges your EV the slowest, uses as standard 110V outlet, the same kind that you plug your phone charger or TV into. Many people use this type of charger overnight while they sleep. A level 2 charger, which charges your EV faster, requires a 220V outlet, the same kind of outlet that your electric range or dryer uses. You can purchase those chargers and have them installed by a PERL Electrician for, depending on the type of charge you buy.

No. Electric vehicle charging receptacles currently come in several forms. These are still relatively early days for EVs, so what's hot today may be passé tomorrow. Far from a universal one-size-fits-all approach, there are three distinct charging levels, as well as four competing plug standards, most of which are incompatible with each other.

Maybe. What's best for you depends on many factors like daily use and personal driving habits. However, Level 1 and Level 2 home chargers (unlike super fast Level 3 chargers) are designed to safely charge an EV overnight. Once you're done using the car for the day, letting it charge overnight is fine, often less expensive than charging during day, and is a pretty common practice. Using a few best practices (like sticking with home charging) can help you extend your battery's life, by the way.

Much like a fuel gauge warning light, an EV will tell you how much charge is left on its battery and warn you well in advance before the next charge is needed. Many EVs also have apps that can keep you informed of charging levels when away from your vehicle, too.