Electric vehicles recently topped 2 million sales recently, and both the use and demand of these vehicles is continuously on the rise. If you are going to purchase and own an electric car, it’s important that you understand the pros and cons that come with the territory.

We’re happy to explain the potential hazards that these vehicles might bring about.

Here are some things you should know about electric cars and what types of risks are apparent.

Electric Cars Have a Potential Fire Risk

When you own an electric car, there’s always a fire risk that you’re dealing with.

Not only do electric vehicles have a battery risk, but the work to put these fires out is also more substantial. For instance, a Tesla fire might require 40 times more water than a regular vehicle.

These batteries operate at high temperatures that quickly rise when the vehicle is in operation. They run on lithium-ion batteries, which are more prone to fires and explosions.

Before purchasing an electric vehicle or a hybrid, make sure that you understand the exact battery that the make and model uses. This way, you can find out whether the vehicle has had any battery recalls or other problems over the years.

The Batteries Can Take a Long Time to Charge

You need to find out all about electric car charging whenever you’re looking to make a purchase. One of the biggest irritants of these vehicles is the fact that the batteries might take a while to charge.

In fact, some electric vehicles might take about 8 hours to fully charge. You will need to make sure that you have access to charging stations in your local area, in addition to a home setup.

If you are going to charge your car at home, consider the potential increase in utility bills that you might experience. Since charging these batteries comes with the territory, it’s a variable that you need to keep in mind over the next several years.

They Still Might Be Responsible for a Decent Amount of Pollution

Even the best electric cars might be responsible for some pollution. You purchase electric cars to minimize emissions and pollution risks, but you should understand the true effect that might be apparent.

For instance, while electric vehicles don’t emit exhaust, lithium-ion batteries might let out roughly 74% more CO2 than traditional vehicles.

If you are environmentally conscious, you need to be mindful of these potential ramifications so that you can decide if it’s the best decision when you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint.

There’s a Short Circuit Risk

Anytime you’re dealing with electric vehicles, there’s always a risk of electrical problems. These vehicles have more of a short circuit risk, which can eventually leave you stranded on the side of the road.

You will need to be mindful of these issues and turn to an auto shop that is accustomed to dealing with these sorts of risks.

Electric Vehicles Might Cause Electrocution

Likewise, electric vehicles might also come with an electric shock risk. This can put you in danger if you happen to do extensive work on the vehicle, but you’re not experienced or don’t know what safety measures to take.

There’s much less of a risk of electrocution when you’re dealing with a traditional vehicle, so this is a factor that must be kept in mind for as long as you own an electric car.

These hazards might also pose a risk to emergency responders that show up at the scene of an accident. Vehicle manufacturers are still trying to update safety protocols for emergency responders to follow so that they’re able to help motorists without also putting themselves in harm’s way.

It’s Possible to Miscalculate and Get Stranded

When you are stranded or get into a car accident, you might put your immediate safety at risk while waiting to get the vehicle out of harm’s way. This is actually one of the biggest aspects of electric vehicle ownership to keep in mind.

A simple miscalculation of how much of a charge your battery has can leave you on the side of the road before you know it. You might get off work one day with a low battery and forget to charge up prior to leaving out the next day.

An electric car can also put a stop to your road trip if you’re on a long stretch of travel without encountering a charging station. This can become a huge inconvenience to you, particularly since these cars still take a long time to charge.

The Battery Runs the Risk of Damage and Breakdown Due to Overheating

Because lithium-ion batteries heat up quickly, they always run a risk of overheating. When you are dealing with a battery that overheats, it’s more likely to break down and leave the vehicle useless.

It’s important that you stay on top of your battery maintenance each year so that it doesn’t encounter extensive damage without recourse.

Get to Know the Ins and Outs of Electric Vehicles

The points in this article are useful when you’d like to learn more about electric cars and how to get the most from them. This is all still new technology, and both consumers and manufacturers continue to learn a lot as the industry advances.

We’re happy to help you if you happen to have a personal injury case on your hands. Reach out to us on the web for a free consultation, or call us up at (225) 434-4295