- E-car, plug-in hybrid & co. There are these distinctions for vehicles with alternative drive systems
- Which electric car? Range, costs, charging options and more to consider when buying an e-car
- Special feature: Tires The factors that play a role in minimizing energy consumption
- Costs Acquisition costs are only one aspect of expenditure. Other points are also important
- Buy used electric cars There is also a lot to consider when it comes to used cars
Pure electric car or plug-in hybrid vehicle? We show you which criteria and features customers need to consider when choosing a vehicle and provide an overview of costs and the different types of e-vehicles.
Buying an electric car is like an exciting new beginning. While people have always known exactly what they were looking for with combustion engines, electric vehicles are still completely new territory for most people. It is therefore important to find out in advance which electric vehicles are available on the market, which electric car is the right one for you, what costs you can expect and what you need to consider when buying a used car.
More than 100 brands, including all well-known manufacturers and many competitive start-ups, already offer electric and hybrid vehicles for sale or lease.
Electric car, plug-in hybrid & co.: these are the differences
Battery electric vehicles (BEV)
- Electric motor
- No fossil fuels
- Braking energy recovery (recuperation)
- External charging
Plug-in hybrids (PHEV)
- Combustion engine and electric motor
- Can be charged via
- the combustion engine
- by means of recuperation
- From outside via a plug
- Good range
There are also other hybrid variants:
Range Extender
- Small combustion engine with generator
- Supports the performance of the battery
- Increases the range of the electric car
Micro-hybrids
- Braking energy recovery (recuperation)
- Battery cannot be charged externally
- Purely electric driving not possible
Mild hybrids
- Electric drive supports combustion engine
- Braking energy recovery (recuperation)
- Battery cannot be charged externally
- Purely electric driving not possible
Full hybrids
- Combustion engine supports efficiently
- Braking energy recovery (recuperation)
- Battery cannot be charged externally
- Purely electric driving possible for a short time
- Range depending on model and driving style
Which electric car fits?
To find the right e-car, your customers should be clear about what requirements the new vehicle needs to meet: Are they commuters? Are they looking for a family car? Or are they looking for as much driving pleasure as possible?
Whether for employees, as a family car or simply for maximum driving pleasure: this checklist shows the most important decision criteria in advance:
- How important are range and charging speed?
Not all electric cars have a long range or are designed for fast charging. You should therefore ask yourself in advance: Do I use my car (several times) a day? Do I tend to drive long distances or do I usually only need the car to get to work or the shops?
- How much am I willing to invest?
As with combustion engines, there are also electric car models in a wide range of price categories.
- What about charging facilities in the immediate vicinity?
Charging is a particularly important issue: Is there a dedicated parking space at the place of residence where structural measures can be carried out or does your customer rely on public charging? If the latter is the case, it is advisable to consider a plug-in hybrid. This way, the customer remains independent with their vehicle and can still enjoy the benefits of electric driving.
- How much storage spacedo I need?
Shopping for a large family or regular trips with the kids will require significantly more storage space than an electric car used primarily for commuting to work.
- What features should the vehicle have?
Last but not least, the customer must be clear about what special features they want for their e-car: should it be designed for city or off-road driving? Is comfort or luxurious equipment important? Should it be a little sportier?
Special feature: Special tires
To keep emissions and energy consumption particularly low and thus achieve long ranges, rolling and air resistance must be as low as possible. Less resistance means less power consumption per kilometer and therefore more range. The tires of the electric car play a not insignificant role here: with optimal tires, a range increase of up to 15 % can be achieved.
However, it should not be forgotten that not only should the driving resistance be as low as possible, but short braking distances, a long service life and good rolling comfort are also important. In addition, the tires must also offer sufficient safety in winter conditions. The right balance between safety and efficiency is therefore crucial.
To make it easier to compare individual products, tires are given labels similar to those for electrical appliances. These consist of two letters and describe the environmental friendliness, energy consumption and performance.
Letter 1 stands for the energy efficiency class and thus for the rolling resistance. It indicates how high the tire's contribution to the vehicle's emissions is.
Letter 2 describes the grip of the tire on wet asphalt. The better the grip, the shorter the braking distance.
In addition, a decibel rating provides information about the volume of the tires while driving.
So-called low-rolling resistance tires have a reduced rolling resistance. These can significantly reduce fuel consumption and are much more durable than normal tires - but they also cost a little more and are not suitable for winter use.
Due to the increased risk of slipperiness in winter, tires with higher rolling resistance are mandatory. Although this increases energy consumption, grip is very important, especially for braking in adverse weather conditions.
These costs are incurred by electric drivers
The purchase costs for an electric car are essentially dependent on the battery costs. For this reason, e-vehicles are still more expensive than cars with a combustion engine. However, purchase prices have already fallen significantly in recent years and this trend will continue in the coming years.
However, purchase costs are only one aspect of the overall costs. There are also other points to consider:
Maintenance costs
According to the ADAC, the maintenance costs for purely electric cars are 20% lower than for combustion engines.
Why is that? An electric car has fewer mechanical wearing parts and requires less oil and brakes. In addition, there is no exhaust - and therefore one less component that is particularly susceptible to repair.
The maintenance costs for plug-in hybrids are generally similar to those for purely electric vehicles, but can be up to 15% higher depending on the car manufacturer.
Energy costs
Of course, it is not possible to make a blanket statement about how high the electricity costs will be in individual cases. They usually depend on where the car is preferably charged. While you charge at home at the normal household electricity rate, the costs on the road depend on the respective charging tariff. In addition, your own wallbox can also be linked to the photovoltaic system, which further reduces electricity costs. When charging on the move, charging losses of a good 10-30% are also possible, which can occur depending on the battery temperature, cables and charging power.
In principle, however, the electricity costs per kilometer driven are generally lower than the petrol costs.
Taxes
Good news: New electric cars are not subject to road tax for the time being. Electric cars registered between 18.05.2011 and 31.12.2020 do not pay tax for ten years; electric cars registered by 31.12.2025 are exempt from vehicle tax until the end of 2030 at the latest.
Important: The tax exemption only applies to pure e-vehicles and not to hybrid cars.
Buying used e-cars
Even if the market for used electric cars is still quite small, the increasing popularity of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is also increasing the supply of used electric cars.
As a general rule, the range and charging technology must meet individual requirements. Of course, the battery must also function accordingly. It is therefore essential to find out the charging capacity, battery size and charging types of the vehicle in question before making a purchase. In addition, just as when buying a new car, you should also be aware of charging options in the area.
The vehicle inspection, on the other hand, differs from the usual used car purchase. Of course, it is also important here to check whether the vehicle has any damage that the seller has not disclosed, whether papers are missing, whether the vehicle documentation is complete, etc. With electric cars, however, there are other aspects to consider:
- Battery
The seller should be able to prove the condition of the battery as accurately as possible, for example through regular maintenance and checks in the (manufacturer's) workshop. A conspicuously low mileage should make you suspicious. This is because a battery is significantly impaired by deep discharge, i.e. if the vehicle is parked fully charged or discharged for a long time.
- Brakes
Special attention should be paid to this before purchasing: Thanks to brake energy recovery (recuperation), there is less wear and tear when braking than with combustion engines. However, the brake discs can corrode if they are used too little.
- Charging cable and accessories
When buying an electric car or a plug-in hybrid, it is essential to record in the purchase contract which charging cables and other accessories come with the vehicle and whether they are damaged.
This is because a missing or defective charging cable constitutes a significant defect during the regular main inspection and can result in the TÜV sticker being refused.
- High-voltage cables
Visible high-voltage cables can be recognized by their orange color.
Important: They must not be touched under any circumstances!
However, the cables can be visually inspected for damage. Damage can not only be dangerous, but also expensive and would therefore be an exclusion criterion for the purchase.
- Tire condition
The condition of the tires should always be checked in advance for any signs of wear.
- Service booklet
Many manufacturers offer a battery warranty of up to eight years. But: Warranty claims can only be asserted with precise documentation. Therefore: Check the service booklet carefully!
- Test drive
As with other vehicles, you should definitely take a test drive before buying. The following aspects should be considered:
- Range test: While a short test drive is sufficient for an initial assessment, an extensive range test is recommended if you are seriously interested in buying. The fully charged battery should be driven as empty as possible to get a feel for the actual range. The driving behavior should reflect the usual driving style in everyday life. If the seller refuses to do this, reasonable doubts are justified.
-
Driving data and charging test: Following the test drive, the driving data (distance, consumption, remaining range, battery charge level) should be recorded and compared with the initial data. A charging test is also recommended. The various charging options should be tested using a multicharger that allows both DC fast charging and AC charging.
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