Buying Used Electric Car

Buying Used Electric Car: 6 Things You Should Know 

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The increasing number of electric vehicles on Australian roads shows that the average consumer is already adopting electric cars. However, one of the biggest hurdles potential buyers face is the high price of new electric cars.

Many manufacturers are introducing new models at a brisk pace but when compared to the cost of an ICE vehicle, the electric cars are still pretty expensive even though you will always come out on top in the long run in terms of money saved on fuel costs as well as the cost of regular servicing and maintenance. 

If you have made up your mind to own an electric vehicle and are concerned about the high initial cost, you should seriously consider buying a used one. The used electric car market is also heating up and just like ICE cars, not every used car EV out there is not worth your money. 

Here are a few things you should know about used electric cars.

Used Electric Car Facts You Should Know

  1. You have plenty of options
  2. It is fun to drive a well-made electric car
  3. You will start saving money on fuel right from the get-go
  4. You won’t have to spend almost any money on maintenance as compared to a used ICE car
  5. You will save a lot of money in the long run when you compare the total cost of ownership
  6. It’s not that difficult to check the battery health of a used electric car

What to Look for When Buying Used Electric Cars

Buying a used car whether it’s a gas-guzzling model or an electric vehicle is always challenging. Thankfully, there are a lot of choices and buying a used electric car isn’t as difficult as it used to be. 

However, just like you would do a number of checks before buying a used internal combust5ion engine vehicle, here’s what you need to look at when buying a used electric car:

  1. Battery health — The most important or rather the most expensive part of an electric vehicle is its battery pack. The manner in which a battery is charged determines the battery’s health. For instance, regularly using superchargers or fast chargers may degrade battery health over time. Charging behaviour and regular charging can help in preventing battery degradation. Every electric vehicle comes equipped with systems to get a battery health report. Make sure you check the battery health report before making a decision.
  2. Battery size — As you already know, this determines the distance you can travel on a single charge. Battery capacity is mentioned in kilowatt-hours and a bigger battery means a bigger range but also more money.
  3. Type of plug — Electric vehicles have different types of plugs though efforts are being undertaken by the authorities across the globe to standardise the plug design. It is important for you to make sure that the public charging network available in your area is compatible with the type of plug you have.
  4. Accessories available with the vehicle – Almost all new electric cars come equipped with a charger to allow you to charge the vehicle at home. When you are buying a used car, you also need to find out whether you will get that charging cable. If not, those chargers may cost you several hundred dollars.
  5. Service history — Just like you would check the service history of an ICE vehicle, it is important for you to check the service history of an electric vehicle too.
  6. Warranty — Most car manufacturers offer a warranty for either 8 years or a distance in excess of 1.5 lakh kilometres. Companies that import electric cars to Australia also offer a warranty for several years on the battery. Make sure you check the warranty terms carefully before agreeing to buy one.

Buying Used Electric Car

Should You Buy Used Electric Cars

There are several advantages and limitations to buying a used electric car. The used electric car market is on a high but so is the case with the used petrol/diesel vehicles. 

One of the biggest advantages of buying a used EV is that you get to save a lot of money, especially when compared to the cost of buying a completely new electric vehicle. Also, you will be spending far less money on servicing and maintenance. You will also benefit from the smoother driving experience of an electric car and on top of that, these cars are better for the environment.

Having said that, not all the used EVs available in the market is a good deal. You never know how fast the battery is going to degrade. Also, the charging infrastructure is still rolling out but it is expected to get better in the coming years. You might develop buyer’s remorse as newer electric vehicles typically offer better battery performance and use the latest technology.

On the whole, used electric cars offer a much better experience and if you do not want to spend a whole lot of money on a completely new EV, there is nothing wrong with buying a used electric car.

Final Thoughts

Overall, electric cars are here and even though they still account for a minuscule part of the overall Australian car market, they are growing steadily. Also, the government has announced plans to invest in public charging infrastructure and a number of fast chargers and level II chargers are expected to come up in all parts of the country in the near future. 

Buying a used electric car allows you to experience the comfort and smooth driving experience and you can also take pride in driving an environmentally friendly vehicle. However, not all used electric vehicles are up to the mark. You need to do your research to find something that is good and is available within your budget.

Buy Electric Vehicle Chargers at GET Electric

GET Electric is a premier supplier of a wide range of reliable and affordable electric vehicle chargers in Australia. Whether you’re looking for a charging solution for home use or for your commercial establishment, we have the right solution for you.

Please call us today on 1800 GET NOW to learn more about our EV charging and infrastructure solutions or leave an enquiry and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

 

Sustainable Mobility and Its Future 

What is Sustainable Mobility and Its Future 

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Mobility has always been a challenge for humanity. The advent of the internal combustion engine has been a boon in cutting down the distances across the globe but it has also created new challenges including climate change. 

The future of mobility doesn’t look sustainable without major changes in our travel habits. The number of vehicles on the roads is expected to grow substantially in the near future. There are also a lot of initiatives in various parts of the world on building more roads which naturally means more vehicles.

However, the future of mobility lies in sustainability and things like electric vehicles, for example. Things can’t remain the same. In this blog post, we’ll explore the need for sustainable mobility, how the future looks as well as the key drivers that are expected to shape the future of transportation.

What Is Sustainable Mobility?

There is a common misconception that sustainable mobility is all about reducing emissions but it’s a much broader term. 

People and goods need to travel, and as more people in different parts of the world move upwards to enjoy a better quality of life, it is going to put a lot more pressure on the already stressed mobility infrastructure.

The concept of sustainable mobility has been defined by various international organisations but the gist of this term is that the system should be capable of not just meeting the needs of people today but also of future generations. The system should benefit current and future generations in a more efficient, resilient, accessible, affordable and safer manner while minimising its environmental impact.

Some of the key drivers that are likely to shape the future of mobility include shared mobility, public transportation, smart mobility, and zero-emission transportation, among other things.

Why Do We Need Sustainable Mobility?

While there is a lot of hoo-hah surrounding climate change, global warming and other environmental issues, the fact is that mobility remains one of the biggest environmental challenges faced by the current generation.

Transportation has a share of almost a quarter of the direct carbon dioxide emissions generated through the combustion of fossil fuels. Out of this, almost 75% of the emissions are generated from road vehicles.

Mobility isn’t just about moving people and goods from one place to another. It is deeply intertwined with economic sustainability. The manner of travel also has a direct impact on the social cohesion of cities.

Sustainable mobility is needed as it advocates a way of transportation without harming the environment. In short, it’s all about meeting the current and future needs of people without sacrificing safety, affordability or accessibility while also minimising the impact on the environment.

Sustainable Mobility and Its Future 

Key Drivers Shaping the Future of Transportation

There are 4 main elements that are going to shape the future of transportation. These include:

  • Shared mobility
  • Public transportation
  • Smart mobility
  • Electric vehicles

Shared mobility means using cars, scooters, mopeds, bikes as well as other types of transport on shared platforms. Shared mobility is already a reality in some cities across the globe. It is expected to play a key role in reducing congestion as well as emissions. 

Today’s transportation is focused on single ownership of a vehicle that sits idle for most of the day. The future is likely to be where people are more likely to pay per use without owning the means of transportation. Shared mobility is not only going to be super helpful in reducing emissions and congestion but also the need for parking spaces in urban areas.

The growth of public transportation is also likely to be a key driver of the future of transportation. Strong public transportation infrastructure is already a reality in many parts of the world and it has been extremely efficient at reducing congestion and emissions. Many studies have shown that the availability of trains in a metropolitan area has a significant impact on the production and emission of greenhouse gases.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that future of mobility is smart transportation. With the Internet of things becoming a reality, peer-to-peer and vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity will soon become a reality. It should help in improving public transportation access and reducing fuel consumption as well as congestion.

Electric vehicles are already making a change. In fact, most manufacturers that sell electric vehicles are not able to build enough vehicles to satisfy the current demand. The only challenge lies in generating electricity through renewable resources instead of using fossil fuels.

The Future of Sustainable Mobility

The future is bright but affirmative action is needed to prioritise public transportation, shared mobility and smart mobility. There is no denying that electric vehicles are the key to sustainable transportation and one of the biggest challenges today is the availability of recharging points.

There should be more investment in public transportation and shared mobility. Shared mobility is already changing the way people travel in many parts of the world and it is likely to continue growing at a fast pace.

Final Thoughts

Overall, sustainable mobility is all about changing our habits, our mentality and our thinking that we owe a cleaner planet to future generations. The way we travel has a huge impact on climate change and for the future to be sustainable, more sustainable options than private car transport need to be considered across the globe.

While most people want to embrace the electric vehicle revolution, the lack of recharging points is proving to be a big bottleneck. Thankfully, there are government initiatives in Australia that are focused on helping businesses establish recharging points with support from the government in the form of incentives.

There is a lot more that needs to be done to build a sustainable mobility model that is able to connect people without harming the environment. However, things are already changing for the better with more people switching to electric vehicles.

Buy Electric Vehicle Chargers at GET Electric

GET Electric is one of the premier suppliers of EV charging solutions. We offer electric charging solutions for residential and commercial use.

Please call us today on 1800 GET NOW to learn more about our EV charging and infrastructure solutions or leave an enquiry and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.