Are you ready for your first electric vehicle?

To reach our climate targets, we must phase out fossil fuels – electric vehicles are currently the best alternative to internal combustion engines when it comes to mobility. One in six newly registered cars in Switzerland is now a battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV). When including figures for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) as well, one in four vehicles now has some sort of battery on board, as statistics published by Auto Schweiz in April 2022 demonstrate. It is hardly surprising: the number of battery-powered cars is increasing more and more, and brands are constantly expanding their ranges. 

Are you ready to embrace more environmentally friendly mobility? The following checklist will cover the key questions that need to be answered in advance – from suitability for everyday use to choosing a particular model and discussing electricity.

1. Learning about electromobility

First of all, it is worth reading up on the subject of electromobility. In addition to this checklist, the large A-Z of electromobility will help you understand the key terms. To prepare yourself for the switch, it is worthwhile becoming familiar with the vocabulary, including technology, range and charging procedures.

2. Overcoming misconceptions about electromobility

As a newcomer, you may still be feeling a little unsure about one or two things when it comes to electromobility. Are there enough charging stations, will the car offer me sufficient range? And what about the safety of BEVs? These and many other misconceptions can all be debunked, as this fact check demonstrates. As a result, you can look forward to switching to an electric car without any worries!

3. Choosing the right drive type

Do you want to switch straight to a BEV, or would you rather ease yourself in gently with a plug-in hybrid? These cars feature both a petrol engine and an electric motor that allows you to charge electricity to cover a certain range. As a rule, this range is between 30 and 100 kilometres, which is why plug-in hybrids are particularly suitable for urban and metropolitan traffic, or for short-distance commuting journeys. If you drive longer distances or would like to make the switch properly, a battery-powered vehicle is the right choice for you. 

4. Testing an electric vehicle in everyday life

To find out which electric vehicle is best for you, it is helpful to check how suitable it is for everyday use. This means that the vehicle’s range should match the demands of daily life as closely as possible. Will the vehicle be used by the whole family or just one person? Will it primarily be used for commuting or will it be used for leisure and excursions? Do a mileage test: record the distances covered every day for a week, then calculate the daily average at the end of the seven days. Your car’s range should be about a third higher than this average.

5. Which electric vehicle should you choose?

The days when you could only choose from a handful of models are long gone. The range is constantly being expanded at AMAG; for example, in 2022, VW is now launching its third (VW ID.5 – an elegant mix between an SUV and coupé) and fourth models (the camper revival ID.Buzz). 

So choosing the right car already requires a little direction. Alongside compact cars such as the VW ID.3, there are now also sports cars such as the Audi e-tron GT and family-friendly SUVs such as the Škoda Enyaq iV, the VW ID.4 and the Audi e-tron, which are all battery-powered. When choosing your new car, it goes without saying that personal preference also plays a role, not just the suitability for everyday use outlined above. If you’re feeling unsure, this quiz might help you decide.

6. Sorting the finances

Here, we can debunk another misconception surrounding electric vehicles – that BEVs are expensive. Firstly, prices are falling all the time. And secondly, when looking at the overall costs, you can see that an electric vehicle becomes cheaper after a short period of time, as illustrated by this cost comparison between a VW Golf and an electric VW ID.3. 

The reasons for this include the lower fuel price, lower maintenance costs and subsidies related to taxes and insurance. As far as insurance is concerned, AMAG offers tailor-made insurance solutions for all its brands. If the purchase price is still too high, we can recommend an AMAG car subscription (terms: 3, 6, 12 or 24 months) or AMAG leasing.

7. Test driving an electric vehicle

Don't be afraid to test different models. You will notice that an electric car is very intuitive to drive, sits safely on the road and simply glides over the tarmac. Initially, you’ll have to get used to quiet driving, as well as particular features such as recuperation that allow energy to be recovered. Test drives are worth their weight in gold, so why not click here to book an appointment? 

These test drives are also helpful in that you can get first-hand charging experience. The actual charging process is beautifully simple – the day-to-day challenge lies more in finding somewhere you can charge your vehicle close to home. At least, that’s the case if you don’t have a wall box at home (see next point).

8. Where is the next charging station?

Being able to clarify how to charge is the most crucial question before purchasing an electric vehicle. What does the situation look like near you? If you are lucky enough to be a homeowner, installing a wall box takes care of the issue – you can conveniently charge your electric vehicle overnight, all while saving money too. You can find out which options AMAG has available here. 

Tenants in newer apartment complexes, which often already have wall boxes installed, can also answer this question easily. If there are no charging points in your building, you could ask your landlord to install one. However, there is no obligation for them to agree to a wall box being installed – even if you bear the costs. What’s more, a technical dossier with detailed information on installation, capacity and connections with existing infrastructure must be submitted, proving that the electricity consumption is billed individually (more information is available in this article). AMAG’s sales advisers would be happy to help you further. 

9. Where can I charge in public?

If it is not possible to install a wall box at home, charging at your employer’s would be the next option: you could simply plug your car in during office hours. If this option is also out of the question, it is important to check the neighbourhood to locate your nearest charging stations. 

The good news is that the Swiss network is being continuously expanded, and there are now numerous charging points even in smaller towns – for example, there are eleven charging points in Langenthal (Bern), eight in Bülach (Zurich) and nine in Altdorf (Uri). The best thing to do is to enquire about the charging networks associated with AMAG brands and register with your supplier.