In response to drivers' concerns about failure of the traction battery, which is the most expensive part in an electric car, manufacturers provide very long warranties. The standard warranty is 8 years or 100,000 km driven, sometimes more. Complaints are usually accepted when the SoH (State of Health or current state) drops below 70%.

The charging speed depends on the power output of the charging station. For example, IONITY chargers can charge with input power of up to 350 kW. High charging power requires a sophisticated cooling system that keeps the battery temperature in the optimal range during charging. Charging power decreases during charging to protect the battery.

The distance a car can travel with a fully charged battery before it needs to be charged again mostly depends on the aerodynamics of the car and the capacity of the traction battery. The range is determined according to a harmonised test procedure (WLTP). The actual range depends on weather conditions (significantly lower in winter), driving speed, the route's profile and battery condition.

Battery capacity is defined in kilowatt-hours (kW), and sometimes in ampere-hours (Ah). Part of the capacity always remains unused to protect the battery, which is why we distinguish between nominal and usable capacity. The maximum usable capacity of the battery decreases over time due to chemical and thermal stress. Its current state - State of Health (SoH, e.g. 90%) - can usually only be determined by special diagnostics. However, some models of electric cars can also display the SoH directly in the on-board system.

Charging an electric vehicle at home is considered one of the most comfortable, and often the cheapest way to keep an electric vehicle in operation, even if you do not have solar panels and are drawing electricity from the distribution network. If you use your electric vehicle mainly for shorter routes, you can make do with a standard domestic socket (230 V), which is able to just about charge the battery overnight. To allow for faster charging, it is more suitable to use a three-phase socket, or to install a wallbox that offers higher power and smart functions.

A broad network of public charging stations offers several options for charging: stations marked with AC offer slow charging, while stations marked with DC offer fast charging. The power of fast-charging stations is 50 kW and above, and they are usually equipped with CCS or ChaDeMo connectors. Ultra-fast stations can offer power of more than 100 kW, which you will especially appreciate on longer routes, or when you are in a hurry. Most electric vehicles are equipped with navigation systems with a route planner and charging station search based on your current location, the availability of the station, and the type of connector for your car. The speed of charging, as well as the price, can differ with the given provider and location.

Apart from integrated navigation systems, there are a number of web-based and mobile applications, such as PlugShare, Chargemap, and A Better Route Planner, which offer advanced functions for route planning with regard to the availability of charging stations based on the parameters of your car. Usually, these applications provide up-to-date information including availability, price, payment options, and charging speed.

Payment methods differ depending on the charging station and operator. It is possible to pay through an application, a pre-paid card, a chip, or with a credit/debit card. Alternatively, you can also use special pre-paid cards or chips which enable easy identification and payment at compatible stations. The option of payment with a standard credit/debit card at the charging station is rather an exception at the moment.