Going from horses to cars was a big change,
but these days, nobody's talking about the cost of hay.
Fuel costs and charging are important for EV buyers,
but today, we're covering five other differences
between electric and gas cars.
Hey, everybody.
I'm Desola from Edmunds, where we're
known as the car-testing pros.
We've teamed up with the experts over at CarMax
to help you find the right car for your needs.
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So let's start at the front.
Now, without a big engine under the hood,
there's a little extra space that
can be turned into extra storage space,
and that's called a frunk--
a front trunk.
You get it?
And it's actually a really nice bonus for EV owners.
I mean, come on, who doesn't love extra storage space?
But one thing you should know is that all frunks are not
created equal.
This F-150 has a frunk that's almost as big
as the trunk on a Honda Civic.
But the F-150 is large, and electric cars still
need a space for things like power inverters, battery
cooling, the AC compressor, and heating, all of which
still go under the hood.
So if you're going with a smaller EV,
you'll end up with a smaller frunk.
But I mean, look at this.
This is ridiculous.
So on smaller EVs, you get smaller frunks.
The Ioniq 5 gets just two cubic feet under the hood,
and if you opt for one with all-wheel drive like this one,
it's not just less than half the space--
it's this shape.
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Gas cars like this one use more mechanical parts
than electric cars, like big, bulky transmissions
and long drive shafts.
You know, EVs are just mechanically simpler,
so they're able to skip all these big and bulky parts.
A lot of EVs are built in a way that kind
of looks like the body is attached
to a big, flat skateboard.
That means big, flat floors like these.
And honestly, it is so cool.
Now, were you the kid that always got
stuck in the middle seat?
Thanks to electric cars, other kids
won't have to suffer the way you did.
It does mean that if you drop your water bottle,
it can roll all the way away.
But EV architecture can open up extra foot room or storage
space.
Over-the-air, or OTA, updates are software updates
that are delivered to your car through wireless data
connection, the same way your cell phone gets
updated with new features.
And they're actually becoming pretty common now.
Even gas-powered cars get over-the-air updates.
Whether a feature is part of a free or paid update
is up to the manufacturer.
Now, the upside is that you may be
able to get access to features introduced after your car was
built, like a new voice assistant or improved driver's
aids.
The downside is that you may wind up
paying a bit extra to use some features that traditionally
would have been covered by the vehicle's original purchase
price.
Free or paid, not all updates are created equal.
In most gas cars, over-the-air updates
are limited to things like infotainment.
Now, some electric cars can update just about everything.
Without all the oily mechanical bits
limiting what software alone can do,
software updates can change how an EV drives,
like the feel of braking and acceleration,
or how the steering responds.
And those changes add up, to the point
where they can even affect your car's estimated range.
So the idea is that with so much freedom to adjust things,
manufacturers can keep your car feeling fresh longer,
and they can even address issues without you
having to leave your house.
Don't panic.
When we talk about one-pedal driving,
we're not talking about a car with one pedal.
Electric cars still have an accelerator and a brake,
just like you're used to.
One-pedal driving may sound a little strange.
Instead of coasting like you would in a gasoline car,
you brake without even touching the brake pedal.
In practice, it turns your gas pedal into more of a speed
selector than an accelerator.
See, electric cars can recapture energy while slowing down,
using the motors as generators.
In a lot of electric cars, this regenerative braking
can be surprisingly strong, and can even
slow your car all the way down to a stop
without ever needing the physical brakes.
There's usually an option to switch between regular driving
and one-pedal driving.
When one-pedal driving is on, the car
uses regenerative braking to slow down
as soon as you take your foot off the gas pedal.
And yes, the brake lights do turn on.
You can still use your brakes for extra stopping power.
And in most electric cars, if you turn off one-pedal driving,
you'll still use regenerative braking first
when you apply the brakes.
But one-pedal driving can help you
drive more smoothly and economically,
and it lets you know you're recapturing
the maximum possible amount of energy.
One thing electric cars have a lot more of is quiet.
I mean, the only thing you can hear right now is the AC.
Gas engines make a lot of noise, and the thing about it
is you don't really realize it until, well, there isn't any.
And with that said, you also won't really
have a reference of how fast you're going.
So when you're driving, just make
sure to pay attention to your speedometer.
It also means that you're going to notice a lot of other noises
in an EV.
For example, electric cars are required by law
to emit an artificial sound at low speeds
to warn pedestrians that you're nearby,
and different brands have gone for different sounds.
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There are lots of other noises that
can be more noticeable without the sound of a gas engine
to cover them up.
So while EVs are generally quieter than gas cars,
you'll be getting used to a slightly different soundtrack.
There's a lot to think about when considering an EV,
and we've covered it.
What are the maintenance costs?
Do I need to worry about range?
And how much does it cost to charge?
There are also other differences and perks to EVs,
but none quite as good as not having to shovel hay every day.
If you have any other questions about EVs,
make sure to comment down below.
As cars continue to evolve, we'll be right here
to keep you informed.
Make sure to like and subscribe.
And of course, click the link in the bio
for an in-depth article.
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