A guide to buying an electric vehicle that fits your lifestyle.

Electric Vehicle (EV) market in Sri Lanka is now growing day by day. While there is high demand for electric vehicles worldwide, Sri Lankans have also increased interest in this. That’s why we will consider what to consider when buying an EV in this article.

🔹 1. Cash Grants & Discounts (Budget & Upfront Cost)
Base Price (Upfront Cost): Buying an electric vehicle may usually increase the base cost than a fuel vehicle. However, this amount may vary depending on vehicle type, battery capacity, and technical features.
🔹 2. Your travel needs and lifestyle.
Determine the driving range of an EV depending on the distance you travel daily, weekly or monthly. Although an average 200km range can be sufficient for daily commute, a vehicle with a >300km range is best for frequent outstation.
⚡ Charging Facilities): Do you have the ability to charge at home? Is the plug-point system in your home suitable for EV charging? If not, check the nearest public charging stations.
💡 Summary: Choosing an EV with range and charging features that fit your lifestyle, travel frequency, and infrastructure makes daily use a lot easier. (🔸75%-85% Safe Zone)
🛣️ Long Distance Travel): If you want long travels frequently, get an EV with a fast charging system. If there is no such charging system, it is compulsory to plan properly before the journey using a charging stations availability map.
🔹 3. Selection of EV types (Types of EVs)
BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle): An electric vehicle that runs completely based on battery. There is no fuel.
PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle): Battery and fuel engine in one. Electric power for short distances, fuel is used for long distances.
HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle): Electricity and fuel together. Simultaneously operating vehicle, electric power – used during city emergency vehicle traffic, during low-speed driving situations. Fuel engine – long distances, higher speeds are operated in times of need.
🔹 4. Charging facilities (Charging Considerations)
Home Charging: Owning a private parking space makes it easy for you.
Public Charging Station: Check the availability of EV charging stations in your area. EV chargers are currently installed in CEB/Fuel stations/public malls/Hotels and EV charging stations network is expanding across the country.
Charging speed: Charging time vary according to the battery capacity of the vehicle and the charger output (kW).
🔹 5. Resale Value (Resale Value)
PHEV,HEV vehicles in Sri Lanka usually have better resale value compared to traditional fuel vehicles and it seems that the future resale value of BEV vehicles have been built in one way. With methodically matured battery technology, as well as charging infrastructure, as well as increasing awareness about electric vehicles, the higher resale value of electric vehicles can be expected to increase, but the reason why there is no specific range of external factors decide on a large amount of external factors. Maintaining good maintenance, having battery warranty and documentation can help improve the resale value.
🔹 6. Maintenance & Running Costs (Maintenance & Running Cost)
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) alias full electric vehicles, mechanical parts like engine oil, gearbox oil, spark plugs, air filters, fuel filters, timing belts are not required, so the maintenance costs are reduced. 📉 Especially, costs fall as a BEV does not require services like lubrication service, oil changes etc.
🔹 7. Battery Lifespan & Warranty (Battery Lifespan & Warranty)
The “basic heart” of a BEV is its battery pack. So when buying a vehicle watch carefully the warranty provided for the battery.
📆 Most BEVs provide 5-8 years warranty cover for battery.
There should be a basic understanding of 📉 Battery degradation (reduction in capacity) as well as 🔧 Battery replacement cost. The rapid change and expansion of battery technology can be an exciting fact. See the BEV’s battery capacity (e.g. 30kWh, 50kWh) and motor power (e.g. 80kW, 150kW). These are important standards that affect the acceleration, range and overall performance of the vehicle.
🔹 8.After-Sales Support
It’s important to check if there’s an authorized dealership network and after-sales support (repairs, spare parts, software updates) for a secure after-sales vehicle experience. Currently there are several companies in Sri Lanka that deliver and import BEVs and can see brand new cars coming to the market. Most of these brands are Chinese companies, which could show Chinese companies a sparkling growth in the EV automotive sector worldwide.

Our opinion that buying an EV vehicle is appropriate to decide based on your lifestyle, use, cost handling. Buying a vehicle thoroughly analyzed according to one’s personal requirement leads to long-term clear use. We are looking forward to bringing detailed details on this new vehicle.