Some Things To Pay Attention To Before Buying And Using Electric Cars

Electric cars are very dependent on the availability of electricity. (photo: twitter @tesla)

JAKARTA – The trend of electric cars (EV) in the world today is one that is very interesting and is growing rapidly. Some of the factors that influence this trend include global attention to environmental issues, the continued development of technology, and increased accessibility to buy electric cars.

Governments in various countries provide significant support for the development of the EV car industry. For example, some countries provide fiscal incentives, such as taxes and subsidies, to motivate people to buy electric cars. The government is also providing support to build charging infrastructure for electric cars, so as to make it easier for people to recharge their batteries.

Electric cars or EV cars do have many advantages such as lower emissions, lower operational costs and good performance. However, like any other technology, EV cars also have some downsides and dangers. For example, the battery charging infrastructure is still limited and requires a long time to fully charge the battery.

EV cars also still have a higher price than gasoline or diesel cars, even though there are government plans to provide subsidies, including in Indonesia and even in the United States.

Another drawback is the dependence on electricity. This is because EV cars depend on electricity to operate, which means that if there is a problem with the power supply, the car will not function.

Keep in mind, many factors affect the amount of electric power needed to charge the battery in an electric car, including battery capacity, type of charger, and desired power level. However, on average, the electric power needed to charge the battery in an electric car ranges from 3 kilowatts to 22 kilowatts.

To speed up the charging process, electric cars often use DC fast charging chargers, which can charge the battery up to 80% in about 30 minutes.

However, for charging at home or at a charging station that does not provide a DC fast charging charger, charging using a regular AC charger can take up to several hours, depending on the battery capacity and power level selected.

We recommend that you always read the manual and follow the instructions from the car manufacturer to find out the charger specifications and the power required to charge the battery in a particular electric car.

The Danger of Electric Cars

On the other hand there is also a danger that in certain situations such as a collision or short circuit in an electric car battery, the battery can overcharge and form a very strong current, which makes the car's security system active and blocks access to the battery. This is done to prevent the risk of fire or explosion. In these cases, opening an electric car door can be difficult or even impossible, and often requires professional intervention.

However, this is very rare and usually only occurs in extreme situations. Electric cars have robust safety systems and are designed to deal with situations like this, and problems like this are rare.

While in a burning condition, EV cars need extra careful handling. Basically, water is not effective in extinguishing fire in electric car batteries because of the very high temperature. Batteries in electric cars are chemically very reactive and can form toxic gases and vapors when they burn, so it is important to handle these situations with extreme caution and professional assistance.

In a situation like this, the proper treatment is to move the electric car to a safe place and turn off the electrical system. Then, a team of trained firefighters should be deployed to extinguish the fire and ensure that the battery poses no further danger.

It is best not to try to extinguish a fire in an electric car battery with water or another fire extinguisher as this could make the situation worse and endanger those around it.

Also, the range of EV car batteries is still limited, which means that car owners must consider the distance they will be traveling and ensure that they have access to a charging station.

One thing that might make potential buyers doubt is the availability of spare parts. EV cars are new and rarely produced, so the availability of spare parts is still limited.

Despite some disadvantages and dangers, governments in several countries have provided support and incentives to accelerate the development and deployment of EV cars. These include lower taxes, purchase incentives, and building a battery charging infrastructure.

Overall, the current trend for EV cars is showing positive signs and the government is playing an important role in driving the development of this industry. However, there are still a number of things that must be considered to ensure that this trend continues in a sustainable and equitable manner for the entire community, such as ensuring accessibility and affordability.