Complete Guide to Electric Vehicles

As electric vehicles become more prominent in the auto industry, a lot of Kansas City and Overland Park buyers have questions. It seems considering an EV in Kansas City can make a lot of people nervous. Yet before considering an electric car in Kansas City, you want to know everything about them.

Aristocrat Motors has been working with different car brands over the years and have been looking at the emerging EV market with interest. Whether it’s getting a buyer’s home ready for electric vehicles, available tax credits, or even just the benefits, we’re here to explain. Read on to learn more about electric cars and the EV industry. When you’re ready, call us at 913-404-5862 or online to test drive an ev in Merriam.

How to Prepare Your Home for An Electric Vehicle

The first thing many people have to know when considering an electric car in Kansas City is how they’ll prepare their home. Electric vehicles have many benefits, including reduced maintenance costs and the chance to lower your carbon footprint, yet your residence needs to be prepared. Once you know you want an EV in Kansas City, you’re going to need to have an EV charging station installed in your home.

1. Electric Vehicle Home Charger: Choose Your Level

You’ll need to do research on your EV home chargers. Most of them fall into the following categories: Level 1 and Level 2. For more specific information:

• Level 1: Using this system can take days to fully charge and power up your electric vehicle.
• Level 2: Charging an electric vehicle’s batteries with this can take only several hours to fully power up. You might be able to get between 60-200 miles of range in only 20-30 minutes with the Level 2 Direct Current (DC) charging. A lot of EV owners like to mix daytime “top-off” charging with charging their vehicles overnight.

2. Prepare Your Garage for An Electric Vehicle Charging Station

If your garage is a total mess, now is the time to clean it up for your new electric vehicle. Whether you live in Merriam or Leavenworth, you want to get your garage prepared for the EV before it arrives. Clear out your existing clutter and prepare the space needed for your eventual EV home charger.

3. Find Your Power Panel & Assess Consumption

Your home’s power panel is able to distribute electricity throughout your entire home. The maximum amount of current flow is measured in Amperes. Most new residential homes feature a 100 Amp Power panel. Yet you’ll still be able to find an Amperage rating printed on your main circuit breaker. 

This can determine how much electrical energy you use per day, before installing your EV home charger. The key point being you don’t want to overload your electric distribution panel.

4. Hire an Electrician

You’ll want to find an electrician near your home in Merriam, Kansas City or wherever you live. The main concern being that you need to understand your power consumption and what adding EV charging stations can do. They’ll also have to install a dedicated 240-volt plug or add a hardwired circuit within your power panel.

Such installations can cost several hundred dollars, but can cost up to $1,000-$3,000 if your existing power panel is not able to support this and needs upgrading.

5. Buy Your Charger & Get it Installed

If you’re considering an electric vehicle for your next purchase, you’re going to need to research and purchase the right EV charger beforehand. It will also need to be professionally installed by a local electrician who can handle this properly. 

Hybrid vs. Electric Cars: Which Should You Choose?

For those preparing to move from a traditional gas-powered combustion engine, there’s a lot more to consider nowadays. Between hybrids and electric cars, what’s the differences between the two? Let’s read on below to learn more.

The Basics of Hybrid vs. Electric Cars

Both hybrid and electric vehicles utilize electricity to power parts of your Kansas City drivers. Yet their mechanisms are far different. Hybrid vehicles use both gas and electric power, while electric cars only use electricity.

Benefits of Hybrid Vehicles

Today’s hybrid vehicles use gasoline like a standard traditional car, but also feature an electric motor. Both work together to power your Overland Park drives in a far more effective manner. At the same time, the battery charges itself while you drive. Other benefits include:

• The Battery Charges Itself.
• You Can Stop and Fuel up at Any Gas Station.
• Hybrids Are Often More Affordable Than EVs.

Rather than worrying about running out of a charge or changing up your refueling routine, you can go about your normal routine with a hybrid model.

Benefits of Electric Vehicles

Many Leavenworth drivers like electric vehicles primarily for their environmental benefits. Completely eliminating the use of gas, this can simplify both your annual budget and even maintenance costs. While most feature extended range, electric vehicles are also great for short commutes around town. Among the key advantages are:

• Low or Zero Tailpipe Emissions
• Quieter Ride With No Engine Noise
• No Money Spent on Gas 
• Fewer Maintenance Costs (No Oil Changes or Engine Upkeep)
• Potential EV Incentives Based on Your Location 
• Flexible Charging Options, Including Home and Public Options

Public Electric Vehicle Charging Options in Merriam

Beyond the home chargers we’ve discussed, there are also public EV charging stations now. Popping up all over the US and in Overland Park, these can provide another option alongside your EV home charging station. To specify what they’re like:

• Public Charging: Found in parking garages, malls, hotels, apartment buildings and even chain stores like Walgreens and Kohls, they’re becoming a common sight. Each public EV charging station varies in type and speed. Most provide something close to the Level 2 charging speeds. 

How Does The Federal Tax Credit For Electric Cars Work? 

Many electric vehicles have a federal tax credit tied to them. They start at a minimum of $2,500 and can go up to $7,500, which depends on your EV’s traction battery capacity and gross vehicle weight rating. Purchasing an eligible electric vehicle means you’ll earn this credit, provided your EV selection is applicable. 

Which Models Are Applicable For This Electric Car Tax Credit? 

To qualify for this EV tax credit, you need to buy your new electric car after December 31st, 2009. It also must meet the following criteria as well:

• Draws propulsion using a traction battery that has at least 5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of capacity
• Uses an external source of energy to recharge the battery
• Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 14,000 pounds
• Meets specified emission standards 
• Has to be mostly driven in the United States

Keep in mind, the EV tax credits are very time-sensitive. Once a qualifying manufacturer sells more than 200,000 EVs, the credit will chase out. As a result, several EV manufacturers have hit their peak. Among the most prominent are Tesla and General Motors (GM) electric vehicles, which won’t qualify anymore.

Test Drive a New Electric Vehicle in Merriam With Aristocrat Motors!

If you’re considering an electric car in Kansas City, turn to Aristocrat Motors. We are geared to live up to the first half of our namesake and treat every customer with the best level of attention and information. Call us to test drive an EV and also look at our service specials and parts center for anything that might benefit you. Find out more about electric vehicles with Aristocrat Motors. See you soon!