Driving an EV (Electric Vehicle) aka “electric car” is just like an ordinary car. The difference is what’s under the hood, but in the case of an EV there really is no “hood”. It is what is inside the car that makes it run that is the major difference. I have tested the Tesla Model S and X, Nissan Leaf and I guess you can include the Prius Hybrid as well. The one thing EV has that is an advantage to ICE (internal combustion engine) cars is they don’t use gas, they are all electric. Zero emissions because it doesn’t burn fuel and also cuts the cost at the pump. EV are known for their advanced electronics and on Tesla the Autopilot ADAS, but that is for another discussion. Instead I discuss the feel of driving an EV. Here are things to know about that experience.
“No keys, true keyless”. When I first did a test drive on a Tesla Model S, I asked the representative where the key was. It actually does not need a key to open or start the car, that simple. While the Nissan Leaf required an electronic key for push-to-start, the Model S just requires a key fob or you can use the keyless driving feature. There are no buttons to push on Tesla. Once your inside the Model S, you just buckle up and you’re good to go. Keyless driving doesn’t require the fob at all. Enabling keyless driving requires registering on a mobile app. You complete a driver login on the mobile app and that enables it. However, I would suggest keeping the key fob since keyless driving can be spotty at times.
“The silence is deafening”. You won’t hear an engine running, or any familiar noises like when starting up a regular car. EV are ready to drive, just push on the pedal and steer away. In fact EV are so silent, sometimes it makes you wonder why it’s so quiet. This is because EV use electro-motors, not a fuel-injected combustion engine. That noise is sound that comes from the engine revving up and running. The interior of an EV is also so quiet while on the road, you can actually hear your own breathing. People walking along the street may not even notice an EV is driving by, and that can be dangerous for crossing pedestrians.
“Instant torque”. EV produce immediate motion once you step on the pedal. This is due to instant torque that the electro-motors generate to produce forward acceleration. An EV accelerates faster than a regular car. In a race an EV can leave a fast modified car behind, but could sill lose the race in the long run. Specialized street racing cars with liquid nitrogen turbo engines do have a speed advantage. However, when it comes to 0-60 tests, a powerful EV can leave most cars in the dust due to it’s instant torque capability.
“Charge it like your phone”. It’s easy to forget when you are driving around that EV do need to be recharged. An EV uses batteries, often Li-Ion type. That is the same type of battery on smartphones and other mobile devices. Thus it requires recharging. A Model S can be charged at home using a 240V power outlet. It requires overnight charging to full capacity, which is usually between 7 to 8 hours. There are also faster charging facilities called “Superchargers” for Tesla cars that can charge the battery to 50% in less than 20 minutes. Superchargers are sometimes referred to as Level 3 chargers and use fast DC charging. Other charging facilities are called Level 2 and allow for charging but not as fast as a Supercharger. It is also good to know the locations of charging stations ahead of time because driving with a low power EV can cause some anxiety. New EV models also have longer range unlike the models from before. A single charge has an estimated range of 300 miles. There are also a network of charging stations across the US and in other countries to provide service for EV owners.
“Braking powers the battery”. The regenerative braking feature found on the Prius and other EV sends kinetic energy back to the battery whenever braking. While on regular cars, braking is inefficient because it burns up more fuel. With EV, braking actually helps to recharge the battery.
“No oil change or tune ups”. Maintenance is different with EV gives you less worry. You no longer need an oil change, transmission fluid and other things related to a fuel engine. It makes maintenance a lot easier and economical as well. An EV does need coolant changed for it’s battery system and a/c as well. Since there is no engine to work with, no tune ups as well are needed with an EV. That also means no muffler maintenance or emissions test to worry about.
Finally ….
“It’s still a car.” An EV is just like any regular car. It takes us from point A to B. With that said safety is always the most important thing to consider once on the road. Some EV with ADAS like Tesla’s Autopilot may entice you to use it’s self-driving features but that should be done with plenty of caution since these cars are not fully autonomous. It is still very much a car that we drive to get to where we want to go, only now it’s electric.