With the popularity of new energy vehicles, more and more friends are joining the “green card army”! But how to avoid being “tricked” by sales when buying a new energy vehicle for the first time? How to install the charging pile? How to maintain the battery life? Don’t panic! As an institution that has been deeply involved in the field of new energy vehicle training for many years, Zhongjiao Shengjie has carefully compiled a [10 Tips to Avoid Pitfalls for Buying New Energy Vehicles for the First Time] for you. Read it before placing an order, saving worry and money!
1. Car selection stage: These parameters are more important than “appearance”
1. Endurance is not “paper talk”
Have you ever had such an experience? Looking at the endurance mileage on the promotional page, I was very excited, but the actual driving was greatly discounted. This is because the “NEDC endurance” marked by many car companies is tested under ideal conditions, which is far from the actual driving situation. Therefore, we should give priority to CLTC/WLTC endurance, which are closer to the actual driving scene. Especially for friends in the north, the temperature is low in winter and the battery activity decreases. It is recommended to choose a car with a nominal range of 20% off. For example, a car owner in Northeast China bought a car with a nominal range of 500 kilometers, but the actual winter range may be only about 400 kilometers.
Tips: Open the car forum and search for “winter range test”. The real owner’s data is the most reliable! Just like in the cold Harbin, car owners will share their car’s range performance at minus 20℃, so that you can understand the real performance of the vehicle in advance.
2. Battery type determines life
Different battery types, like partners with different personalities, have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Lithium iron phosphate battery (BYD blade battery): high safety and long life (2000 cycles), but obvious attenuation in winter. Imagine that in the cold winter, it is like a child who is afraid of the cold, and the performance will be reduced. However, it is very popular in the south because there is no need to worry about the impact of low temperature on the battery.
Ternary lithium battery (Tesla/NIO): high energy density and good low temperature performance, but high cost. It is like a warrior who is not afraid of the cold, and can maintain good performance in the winter in the north, but the price is relatively high, which is suitable for consumers who have high requirements for battery life and performance.
3. Don’t ignore the charging speed. In this fast-paced era, the charging speed directly affects our user experience. Look at the fast charging power (such as 800V high-voltage platform charging faster), and it is qualified to charge to 80% in 30 minutes! For example, when you are in a hurry to go out to do things, but find that your car is low on power, a fast charging function can solve your urgent needs. Now many new models are constantly improving charging technology to make charging more efficient and convenient.
2. Avoid pitfalls when buying a car: 4 secrets that sales will never tell you
1. “Free charging pile” may have pitfalls
Are you tempted to hear “free charging pile”? But there may be a mystery in it. Be sure to ask whether the installation service is included (extra money will be charged if the wire exceeds 30 meters), and the power of the pile (7kW/11kW). There was once a car owner who happily thought that the free charging pile could be installed and used directly. As a result, he was told during the installation that the length of the wire exceeded the standard and he needed to pay an additional considerable fee. Avoid pitfalls: Confirm the power capacity with the property in advance in old communities to avoid buying a pile but not being able to install it! Some old communities have outdated power facilities and cannot meet the power demand of charging piles. Advance communication can avoid unnecessary trouble.
2. Financial plan minefields
Low-interest loans may seem attractive, but they may be bundled with high handling fees. Full payment or installment? Use this formula to calculate: Total cost = down payment + monthly payment × number of installments + handling fee + interest. For example, a car has a total price of 200,000 yuan, a down payment of 50,000 yuan, a loan of 150,000 yuan, 36 installments, a monthly payment of 4,500 yuan, a handling fee of 5,000 yuan, and an interest of 10,000 yuan. The total cost is 50,000 + 4,500 × 36 + 5,000 + 10,000 = 227,000 yuan. By calculating, you can clearly know which payment method is more cost-effective.
3. Lifetime warranty ≠ free of charge
Many people think that everything is fine when they see “lifetime warranty”, but this is not the case. Read the terms carefully! The battery is only warranted when it decays by more than 30%, and it must be maintained at the 4S store throughout the process. Some car owners have encountered this. When they went to the 4S store for maintenance due to battery problems, they were told that they did not meet the warranty conditions because they had not been maintained at the 4S store. Therefore, it is important to understand the specific details of the warranty to avoid disputes later.
4. Test drive cars may be “magically modified”
Some 4S stores will make test drive cars more powerful/longer in battery life by flashing programs, which is like putting a “beautification filter” on the vehicle. Suggestions:
✅ Request a test drive of commercial vehicles (not dedicated test drive cars)
✅ Turn off the air conditioner/audio during the test drive and observe the actual battery life. Only in this way can you experience the most realistic performance of the vehicle and avoid being confused by “false appearances”.
III. Car use tips: 3 major issues that novices are most concerned about
1. Charging like a mobile phone, charging whenever you use it? Wrong!
Many people think that charging new energy vehicles is like charging mobile phones, and charging whenever you use it is fine. In fact, this is a misunderstanding. It is recommended to fully charge the lithium iron phosphate battery once a week to calibrate the power, and it is best to keep the ternary lithium at 20%-80% power. It’s like making a reasonable “diet plan” for the battery, so as to extend the battery life. If you overcharge or discharge frequently, it will cause irreversible damage to the battery.
2. The first maintenance must be 3,000 kilometers?
The first maintenance of new energy vehicles is actually a free inspection (without changing the oil). Just follow the manual requirements. Don’t be fooled by 4S stores to pay in advance! Some 4S stores will recommend car owners to do maintenance in advance in order to make profits. In fact, this is completely unnecessary. As long as the maintenance is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the vehicle manual, the normal operation of the vehicle can be guaranteed.
3. Power-saving tips
High-speed cruise control saves 15% of electricity compared to manual accelerator pedal; air conditioning internal circulation + seat heating is more energy-efficient than turning on the heater alone. These tips may seem simple, but they can save you a lot of electricity in daily use. For example, when driving long distances, turning on cruise control can not only reduce driving fatigue, but also reduce energy consumption.
Buying a new energy vehicle is a happy thing, but don’t pay the “IQ tax”! Forward [10 big pit avoidance guides for buying new energy vehicles for the first time] This article to friends around you who want to buy a car, you will definitely be praised for being “professional”, and you can also help them avoid various pitfalls on the road to buying a car, and enjoy the convenience and fun brought by new energy vehicles together!
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