Buying an Electric Car: 4 Tips

More and more people are interested in electric cars. Not only the environmental benefits, but also rising fuel prices and a growing selection of models are factors in this trend. But what should you look for when buying an EV? With an electric car, different factors are important than with a diesel or gas-powered car. Are you planning to buy an electric car? Then read these tips.
By the end of 2021, there were 381,815 electric passenger cars on the road. That’s three times as many as in 2016. Electric cars are set to play an increasingly important role on our roads. Used electric cars are also becoming more and more popular. So it’s no surprise that more and more people are looking for information about buying an electric car.

I want to buy an electric car. What should I look for?

There are a number of important things to consider when buying an electric car. We’ve listed a few points below:

Is the car right for your needs?

The first thing you’ll probably look at is the price of the car. Of course, that plays an important role, but the price has to be in line with your needs. What do you plan to use the car for? Will you be commuting to and from work every day, or will you mainly use the car to taking your children to the sports club? Calculate approximately how many kilometers you drive per day. Ideally, the electric car you choose should be able to travel that distance on a single charge. It would, of course, be a shame to buy an electric car only to find out later that it isn’t right for you.
Tip: As a private individual in the Netherlands, you may be eligible for the Subsidy for Electric Passenger Cars for Private Individuals (SEPP). That can make a difference in the purchase price of your car.

Where can you charge the car?

You’ll need to charge an electric car regularly. That’s because an electric car runs on a battery that you have to recharge. You can charge it on the go at a charging station, or at home or on the street using a charging station. A home charging station is often much cheaper than charging at a commercial station.

How long does it take to charge?

The charging time for your car is not entirely unimportant. The charging time depends on the size of your battery in kW and the charging rate in kWh. So before you buy an electric car, it’s a good idea to check the battery. With an average 54 kWh battery, it will take about 64 minutes to fully charge the car using a 50 kWh public charger. An average 7 kWh home charger will take about 7 hours and 42 minutes.
Are you thinking of buying a used electric car? If so, it’s important to check the quality of the battery. The driving range can decrease over time.

Combine with solar panels

Do you already have solar panels on your roof and are you thinking about buying an electric car? That’s a perfect combination. You can use the “free” electricity you generate with your panels to charge your car. Our smart EV charger, zappi, makes that even easier. The device checks whether you’ve generated solar energy and uses that power to charge your electric car. If you haven’t generated enough power or don’t have solar panels, zappi uses energy from the grid. With various modes, zappi can be set to charge your electric car only when the most cost-effective rate applies.