EV Shopping Tips

• Research EVs online first.  What do you need for range?  Do you need all wheel drive?  Sedan, SUV, small or large? Look at price minus available incentives.
• Short list 2 or 3 EVs that meet your criteria.
• Here on the Olympic Peninsula, and particularly the Quimper Peninsula, it may take some driving to get to the vehicle dealership you’d like to visit.  Do your homework first, then research what dealerships have your short listed 2 or 3 EVs.
• Call the dealership and ask whether you can test drive your vehicle of choice there.  Let them know when you will be coming.
• Ask about the types of charging cables that come with each vehicle.  Ask about fast charging capability.
• If you’re not able to test drive the vehicle you’re considering at a dealership, try asking neighbors via Nextdoor.

Why Shopping for an EV is Different from Shopping for a Gas Powered Vehicle

Dealerships make more money from servicing gas vehicles than they make from selling them, and they make significantly less money from servicing electric vehicles (EVs need much less service than gas vehicles).  Electric vehicles are different in many ways from gas vehicles, so there is additional effort for car sales staff to learn about them. Car sales staff often don’t know or understand EVs.  They may need to call the one knowledgeable person at their dealership to help you. EVs may be in a side lot, not in the showroom. EVs are in such high demand that few dealerships keep them around for test drives. Be patient and ask to drive the EV you have short listed. And you might be encouraged to buy a gas vehicle instead. Car sales staff may not be knowledgeable about available tax incentives for EVs.