Bought EV, what’s next?

Buying an EV is a whole new experience. We‘re shifting from combustion engines to electric motors and more to it, we get to know alien terms like battery life, AC/DC charging, WLPT range, and many others, but as humans we adapt to it. After buying an EV the first thing we want to do is secure an efficient charging space and that’s where Home Chargers come to the rescue.

After going through the jargon of buying an EV, the first thought in mind is how to charge it? You can use a 3 pin socket, but you shouldn’t because it can take days to charge, does 36 hours sound good? Also, if you use an extension cable to charge your EV, there is always a risk of fire (Dear God!). But not to worry, Evolve EV will provide you with the best available EV charger in the market.

We promise having a home charger will change your life. Just plug in when you’re back from work (just like your cellphone or laptop) and get it fully charged (or close to it) when you leave for work in the morning.

Evolve EV provides smart charging to you. It's a way of intelligently regulating EV charging so that the house power supply isn't overloaded or destabilized. Smart charging creates data connections between the car, power company, and charger to have efficient and optimized charging. Power Sharing, Power Boost, and Dynamic Power Sharing are the three main characteristics of smart charging. These characteristics increase the energy efficiency of EV charging while also ensuring that the local grid is not overburdened.

Like every other car, it’s a good idea to get your EV insured. Most of the comprehensive insurances for EVs in New Zealand have your batteries covered if they are damaged as a result of a sudden and accidental event, such as a fire or theft. Some insurance also covers the standard charging pack and cable which comes with the EV. There can be limited coverage under Third Party, Fire and Theft policies.

It’s always important to remember the type of charging plug your EV need. There are multiple types of EV charging plugs such as Type 1, Type 2, CHAdeMO, etc. However, the majority of new EVs coming into New Zealand use the Type 2 CCS plug.

Once you have your EV charging sorted, embrace the technology, take some time to know more about the technology in your new car, in simple terms get used to it. It is not unusual for EVs to come with a dedicated smartphone app. These applications let you schedule and monitor your EV charging (Evolve EV’s Wallbox App does it too), plan your journeys (if it’s a long one and needs to charge it halfway), also give you complete control over the air conditioning, mirrors, wipers, stereo, etc. Tell your EV what time you want to leave for work in the morning and it will defrost the windows and make it cozy 26° by the time you open your EV door.

Now you know your car, start doing regular travels. Take it for work, groceries, drop and pick your child from school. Also, very importantly, go on a long drive in your EV. The more you drive the more you will learn about your car. Range anxiety might be in your mind, but once you know your EV in and out, range anxiety will be a thing of the past.

Get used to public chargers, it isn't as easy as turning up and plugging in. Some chargers allow you to pay with a contactless credit or debit card while you're on the road, while others need you to create an account and download a specific app to your phone. There's also no guarantee that the charger will be operational when you arrive but with time you will get experienced with public chargers. Get an idea of how public charging facilities works so you can use them in an emergency without any hassle.

If you are planning for a long trip check out the charging stations on the route, previous to your journey. New Zealand has one of the fastest-growing networks of public chargers with over 500 public charging sites free and paid; every major town of New Zealand has public chargers, you will also find public chargers at campgrounds, tourist spots, beaches, shopping malls, and supermarkets. You can also download apps to find charging stations. PlugShare is a free iOS, Android app that provides useful information on charging places in New Zealand, allowing users to locate and review public charging stations as well as interact with other EV owners.

Quick Tip: Don't rely on public fast chargers all of the time – if you fast charge your EV too regularly, the battery will begin to wear out.

How about cutting the power cost to the bare minimum and go ultimate green? You can also think about having solar panels intalled for your power consumption. New Zealand is getting better at generating green energy, but if you’re committed, it’s time to start thinking about generating your own. It will cost a bit to set up, but it will save you money on power bills. You can also sell any energy you don't use back to the grid. EVs will be able to perform much the same in the not-too-distant future.

Now take out the calculator and check how much money you have saved. Isn't it good? You could save all that money from EV, but we believe you've earned a reward - perhaps an amazing bag or some house upgrades. Get those new shoes you were thinking about or a new barbeque set. Put it towards your mortgage or a weekend away with your partner into the beauty of our Aotearoa.

Finally, by all means, tell your friends, family, work colleagues, neighbors about your new EV. Take them out for a test drive. Let everyone know how you are conserving the environment, being high-tech, and saving money. Post a picture of your EV on social media with the hashtag #goelectricnz. A little bragging is fun; after all, you have shifted to an EV.

Welcome to the Cool EV Club!