Rate this post

https://e-vehicleinfo.com/things-to-check-before-buying-an-electric-car/Electric vehicles are considered the future of transportation for a variety of reasons, most importantly being cleaner and greener for the environment, and rising fuel costs, and depleting fuel reserves. India has been around for almost two decades with the launch of Reva in 2001, despite being considered a nascent market for EVs.

Despite this, the total electric cars sold in 2018-19 stood at 3600, while Maruti Suzuki alone sold over 18 lakh cars in the same financial year [1,2], an increase of over 70% over 5 years of NITI Aayog Fiscal year 2026 with prediction.

Now with the growing response and welcome for Tata’s entry in the Electric car segment with Ola’s entry in the electric two-wheeler segment and Ather and Hero being the major players for the past 3 years, let’s look at the Electric Vehicle buying guide- What to check while buying an electric car in India?

Table of Contents

5 Things to Check Before Buying Electric Car in India

  1. Cost of Buying an EV

Although the overall cost of EVs may be lower than that of their ICE counterparts, the initial cost of owning an EV is quite high. This is the major hurdle for any EV (car or two-wheelers) due to its intricate powertrain and battery packs.

A cost of an electric two-wheeler is almost twice of their ICE Counterparts (base model comparison) and the cost of a base model in an Electric car is higher than its premium ICE model (Tata Nexon).

Despite this, the investment on an EV is considered lower due to the cost of maintenance in an ICE as an EV generally has lower moving parts and therefore maintenance cost is lower and the running cost is also low due to the rising cost of fossil fuels.

With increased Tax benefits the cost of an EV is also getting lower with interest reduction of 1.5 Lakhs and lowered GST alongside specific state rules where there are 100% road tax exemptions, the cost is low.

Also, there are options to own an EV with companies like Revolt EV that offer to get an EV for ₹2999pm for 37 months

2. Utility of an Electric Car

Usually, the utility of an EV depends on the driving range, type of EV (Scooters, Motorcycles/Cars) & charging conditions on the locality. In Electric scooters, the range is enough for a charge in city drive whereas it changes drastically when it comes to a Car.

The range of scooters changes from 100-125 km/charge while it is 150 km/range when it is to the electric motorcycle. The range of an Electric car begins at 250 km and it goes all the way to 350 km/charge. The range is useful for a long drive it may not be sufficient for the trips between two cities until and unless there’s infrastructure support which is available in some cities and coverage is being increased.

3. Electric Car Battery & Range

The most expensive part and the integral part. They’re made of Li-ion and their capacity determines the range of an EV. Usually, a larger capacity battery implies greater life, although it is also related to the mechanical output of the vehicle.

The charging specifications albeit underused is crucial as it provides the utilization of the range. EVs comes with standard and fast charging options although fast charging solutions are expensive, manufacturers provide customized solutions for domestic and home installation

4. EV Power & Maintenance

Running through the power – torque calculations are necessary, although they are present in both ICE and EV, the meaning varies drastically. Torque in an EV is instantaneous thus they accelerate higher than their ICE counterparts but they are not essentially faster. Also, underpowered EVs may hinder the necessity of driving in fast-moving traffic.

It is also necessary to look at the top speed of EVs as they are also an indication of the power-torque combination of EVs as some low-powered electric vehicles and scooters had three major drawbacks – low range, acceleration, and top speed and thus only used For short commutes.

The maintenance of an EV is lower due to its lower running parts, although spare parts may be expensive, they’re covered through insurance schemes thereby it is inexpensive. The only drawback at the moment is the lower maintenance and service centers but they’re increasing either as dedicated stations or hybrid ones.

Warranty on a battery pack is also provided either with driving distance or several cycles thereby it is necessary to check on this parameter before purchasing.

5. Resale of an EV and insurance

The resale value of EVs is higher due to their lower maintenance aspect and the lower running costs. For getting a reused EV and buying guide for electric Car you can read this article. 

Read here- Things to check while buying an Electric car

Insurance packages are always available and they are inexpensive and their comprehensive plans cover everything from bumper to bumper to passengers cover.

From the above, we’ll shortlist the requirement for selecting an EV

  • Driving Range
  • Battery range, life, and warranty
  • Charging options and Type
  • Maintenance cost and Insurance coverage

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here