EDITORS DESK
No doubt, since the start of the year, many of you have already read the many announcements from multiple car brands about even more electric vehicles (EVs) slated for introduction in the country. Some are likely wondering why this momentum is continuing, despite some car buyers still hesitant to make the change.
Granted, for families that can only maintain a single car, this is still a big leap to make, and probably not recommended. However, for those that can maintain two or three cars at a time, having one of them be an EV is beginning to be a practical option. If you’re one of them, here’s how an EV can be a suitable addition to the family stable of cars.
The new daily driver
For now, as our EV infrastructure is catching up, EV ownership is best suited for those who live in single detached homes, or at least who own their own garage and can have a home charger installed. Such homes also likely have two, three, or more cars in the garage. The older Internal Combustion Engine (ICE; gasoline or diesel) cars can serve as the back up or out of town vehicle. Because refueling and extending their range is not a problem, they can continue to serve for longer or unpredictable trips.
The EV, on the other hand, can be the new daily driver. After all, it’s number coding-exempt and can be used every day with little worry. It’s best used on short, predictable trips within the city or at least those with only short stretches of highway involved. This is because most families' daily commutes typically span anywhere from 10 to 30 kilometers a day, more than easily covered by a modern EV’s total range of 200 to 400-km, depending on the model.
With this setup, many will find that charging is best done when the EV is at home, ideally once or twice a week, and overnight when the vehicle is not in use. The current public chargers in malls, after all, are slow and will take hours to fully recharge a car. Only a handful are fast chargers, capable or refilling batteries within minutes. They’re also quite expensive, with a top up amounting to at least ₱2,000 or more. Why count on these when there’s a cheaper alternative at home. It’s better to top up the battery a little bit every couple of days by charging at home. So avail of that free home charger installation, or shop around for an even more powerful (and faster) home charger if you've got the budget and a good electrician.
Being relegated to short drives and commutes, there’s little need to shop for a large EV with a big battery that “can make it to Baguio in one charge,” as so many think is necessary. One of the many small hatchback or small crossover EVs with 200- to 300-kilometer batteries (that are also priced more affordably) will be more than enough for the daily drive to school, work, the grocery, or other errands.
Long term gains
It’s true that EV ownership can lead to long term savings down the line. But these savings will come sooner if these vehicles are used every day as intended. Don’t use them sparingly in an attempt to keep the mileage down, and the battery in good condition, in the hopes of staving off depreciation. If used every day, you’ll find it will have a more dramatic effect on fuel costs. The monthly ₱6,000-₱10,000 spent on fuel for the ICE daily driver can be brought down to just ₱3,000–₱5,000 more in the electric bill. No more anxiety when fuel price increases are announced.
Many are worried about the batteries and the costly quotation to replace one when they’re finally drained. However, many of these car brands offer generous seven, eight, or even 10-year warranties on the battery.
As such, use the EV everyday and make full use of that long and generous warranty. If the car is used frequently, your chances of claiming that free replacement while within warranty are even higher. If you do find yourself in that position, you might even get a better deal. Because the battery is situated so deep inside the vehicle, replacing it will be so costly and time-consuming to the dealer that they may likely offer to simply replace your old vehicle rather than go through the arduous task of removing it and replacing it. In which case, you get a new car.
If the battery doesn’t fail within that generous warranty period, you shouldn't be worried about that battery replacement cost. How many have actually paid to replace the batteries on their aging Apple MacBook laptops? Chances are, they're slow and outdated by that time. Like the laptops, by the time the battery of an EV begins to show its age, it might be more cost-effective to simply get a new car than pay for battery replacement. By then, there will likely be new models with batteries that can stretch from 600- to 800-km easily.
Granted, the EV's value will have depreciated quite a bit, but the savings (from lower fuel and maintenance costs of an EV) after seven to eight years of daily use will likely make up the difference. Don't bother selling your old EV in the second-hand market and get low-balled. Chances are, the same dealer will accept your old one as a trade-in.
Rare opportunity
The EV may not be a perfect ICE replacement yet, but as a second car for use within the city, it ticks all the boxes. It's best for families with their own garage, and more than one car. Keep the old ICE for out of town drives, but enjoy the EV's perks on your daily short drives.
It’s unfortunate that many are saddled by the fear of the many unknowns of EV ownership to see the many benefits of taking that leap. The number-coding exemption, long battery warranties, and massive savings to be had put the early adopter buyer at an advantage for a change. As more buyers consider making the shift, these benefits won’t stay stacked in your favor for long.
(Iñigo S. Roces is the Motoring Editor of Manila Bulletin)