I know so many people who have been reading and asking about electric cars recently. I laud them for their enthusiasm, although I am against letting them buy something without knowing some background about it first. It’s great that you finally want to get away from being dependent on gasoline and clearly, choosing an electric car is one hell of a choice.

However, before you withdraw some cash and order the latest model, there are some things that you have to know first. The fact is, there are many manufacturers offering them now, but unlike regular cars, there are special considerations that you have to be aware of before purchasing one. So here I go.

Not Exactly Your Average Car

Yes, you read that right. Every electric is unique but if there’s one common thing about them is that they travel at very low speeds. Something like 25 mph and anything above that is illegal. Because of that, you can’t expect an electric car to torch the road because it can’t and it isn’t allowed to do so.

Why Are They Slow?

The fact is, most electric cars are small and they have not undergone the rigorous crash tests that the conventional cars have to go through. Because of their size, they can’t have the massive engine that most gasoline-powered cars have. However, these cars are so energy efficient that you can expect to make the most out of every voltage that you use on it.

The Federal law however that prevents electric cars from being really free out there is because of the golf carts. A couple of years ago, golf carts have become so prevalent on various communities even without having safety equipment such as seat belts, horn, brakes, tail lamps, and even windshield. So basically, you should blame it on golf carts for preventing funky electric cars from owning our highways.

NEVs Anyone?

An NEV or Neighborhood Electric Car does not necessarily give you the handle, drivability, and versatility of most traditional cars, but that was back then. These days, more and more manufacturers are making their electric cars less cute as they try to emulate sedans and even pickups. Although they still need to do a lot of work as far as comfort and performance are concerned, it will not be surprising if electric cars catch up with their more illustrious and older counterparts.

There Are Two Kinds

Just like your gasoline-powered vehicles, electric cars come in two varieties and these are the enclosed and the open-air types. The latter gives you that sensation of being inside a jeep, while the latter looks more like mini cars. Open-air types are good if you’re don’t like cramped space. However, they offer very little protection against the nasty weather that closed types provide.

The Cost

Naturally, an electric car costs more than your regular car because it uses special batteries, motors, and systems. However, two years of driving can pretty much cancel out the amount that you spent for it because you won’t be paying anything when it comes to gas. All you need is electricity and that’s about it, although there are serious concerns when it comes to the distance that this kind of vehicle has. Basically, most electric cars have a price range of 7,000 to 15,000 USD.

The Worth

An electric car is not for everyone, especially if you want to travel for long distances. However, if you just roam around the city from home to work, then this one is a solid choice. Even if these cars look weird and they don’t provide the boost that most cars provide; they have amazing advantages that can never be overlooked and these are: no tailpipe emissions, no dependence on petroleum, and more importantly, they look great.