EVs can save you money and help the environment by not burning fossil fuels and emitting toxic exhaust. They also tend to be quieter than cars with combustion engines.
EVs are increasingly being used for everyday transportation, thanks to improved battery technology that offers longer driving range and greater durability. Some governments are introducing regulations and incentives to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles.
But concerns about the cost and availability of public charging stations and driving distance continue to deter some prospective EV owners. And there is still a general perception that EVs are not as reliable as internal combustion vehicles.
Despite these concerns, EV sales are surging globally. The latest EVs feature advanced drivetrains that combine the efficiency of electric motors with traditional internal combustion engines for backup in case of a power outage or roadside emergency. And many offer built-in telematics to track the car’s performance and provide helpful notifications.
Battery life is another major concern that could discourage people from committing to an EV purchase. But the batteries in newer EVs are lasting longer than researchers have generally predicted. Real-world driving, with frequent acceleration and braking that charges the batteries a bit, isn’t as hard on them as we might think.
In fact, a recent study found that EV batteries may last a third longer than previously thought, according to researchers at the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center at Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The team found that rapid acceleration peaks appear to speed up degradation, but that slow, steady acceleration is much more efficient.