Is an Electric Car Suitable for Everyday Life?

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Is an Electric Car really practical for everyday use?

Even of you have a very predictable route that you take each day, and generally only travel within the confines of the area in which you live, there will come a time when you will need to travel a distance that exceeds the range of your electric car. If your electric car is a second car – that is, in addition to your conventional combustion engine or hybrid car – this will not be an issue for you, because you will always have the option of using your other car for long distance travel. However, if your electric car is your only car, then you may have to consider other options:

Hire the services of a car company

Ride the train to your destination

  • Become a member of a car club in which you have access to a car whenever you need one

 Some electric car manufacturers have tie-in companies that you can join when you purchase your electric car so that you can be sure of finding a car for long distance travel when you need one at a cost that is reasonable.

Car clubs are essentially car sharing with other members of the club. Car clubs have the advantage of offering different types of cars for different needs. If you are travelling with a large group, you can reserve a large car. If you are travelling alone, you can reserve a smaller and more stylish car. You can even reserve a luxury car if you want to treat yourself extra special.

If you go on regular long distance trips, you might want to consider using public transportation like the train or the bus. This option may not be appealing to all car owners, since you are limited to the schedules and vagaries of public transport.

Before you actually commit to and buy an electric car, you must first thoroughly consider whether an electric car is a practical car for you and your family – if you have one. You may decide that it is not a suitable car for you right now, but you can always wait a couple of years and see if the situation has changed. After all, electric cars manufacturers are always innovating and improving their designs. It may be the most practical choice for you to wait for the exact and ideal electric car of your dreams before bringing one home to live with.  

Here are two other options that you might want to consider:

Sharing a car

    • If you live near some friends or family who are also interested in buying an electric car, you can consider the option of sharing a car with them. You can pool your money together and buy an electric car that you then share according to a pre-agreed upon schedule (a  lot of trust is inherent in this type of agreement – also an important consideration to take into account).
    • On the other hand, you might get an electric car for yourself and pool together with family or friends