What are the most important features to consider when buying an EV?

Have you been telling everyone that your next car is going to be electric, and now it’s time to walk the talk? Did you just do a quick research on the internet and realized that there are over 50 different EVs in the market that you can choose from? But which one is the best for you? Let us help!

How many different EV models are available in the US?

For some people “EVs = Tesla”, but this is just around 60% true. Even though Tesla is the true market leader in EV penetration, almost every OEM has at least one electric model to offer to the US market. By the end of 2022, there were around 30 different makes and models available in the US. This year this number almost doubled.

You can find many different options from trucks (Rivian R1T, Ford F150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV) to small city cars (MINI Cooper SE, Nissan Leaf S), from beautiful Korean SUVs (Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5) to new American EV startups (Lucid Air, Fisker Ocean).

How to choose an EV that suits your personal needs?

Current electric vehicles vary a lot, from $100,000+ luxury performance sedans such as Audi RS e-tron GT to affordable and practical hatchbacks such as Chevrolet Bolt EUV.

First of all, you should decide what body type you are looking for:

Hatchback - perfect for city, short distance trips at low speeds
SUV - perfect to run daily errands for the family
Sedan - more comfort
Truck - perfect to combine business and electric off-road activities

What is your budget?

Defining the budget for your electric car will help you a lot. There are less than ten models available below $30,000 and there are some models that can cost you $150,000 or more.

The price depends on the trim and features you add to your vehicle, but the most expensive basic models are Lucid Air Grand Touring, Audi RS e-tron GT, Mercedes Benz AMG EQS Sedan, and Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.

The cheapest electric cars are Hyundai Kona EV, Nissan Leaf S, and Chevrolet Bolt EUV 2023.

How important is the range for an EV?

Range anxiety is overrated. Studies show that the average distance people drive in a day is less than 30 miles. According to the data provided by the US Department of Transportation, the two extremes are the male drivers in the age category of 35-54 years who drive as much as 50 miles a day, and female drivers in the age category of +65 years who drive as low as 13 miles a day.

The Mazda MX-30 EV is the car with the shortest available range and it is still double the needs of the age category with the highest range averages. Even more, people in the category of “lowest range needs” would only need to charge their Mazda once a week.

The average range of a new EV is around 270 miles. There are several vehicles that fall under this category:

What are the other important factors for choosing an EV?

Of course, each person is different and everyone has their priorities. Some people look for a vehicle with a lot of horsepower, others care about off-road capabilities, and others are looking for the maximum range or shortest charging times.

First of all, electric vehicles are usually well performing and have very powerful motors. It is highly likely that your favorite gas car will have less horsepower than its electric rival.

Electric vehicles are also highly valued because of their off-road capabilities. Some EVs have a motor for every wheel. The GMC Hummer EV even has a crab walk mode. Most electric trucks have heavy batteries that lower the truck’s center of gravity. This reduces the likelihood of the car toppling over when driving on rough terrain.

Finally, to get the shortest charging times, you need to have a level 2 charger at home. Lectrium can help you with this. Answer a few questions online and we will find you a local and certified electrician for your home charger installation. The level 2 charger installed at the right amperage will make sure that you fill your car’s battery at the maximum speed possible.

Find your ideal EV in just a few clicks

We know that choosing a car is a tough decision that takes a lot of time and research. Therefore, we developed a tool for you to find out which car would match your needs best.

Find your EV match here.