Electric Vehicles – Page 9 – Ewing VinFast of Plano

October 1, 2024October 31, 2024

Top 5 tips for road-tripping in your VinFast EV

Some people may think that taking a road trip in an electric vehicle is a very risky or scary task. However, just like with a gas-powered car, if you plan accordingly and understand where and how long you will have to stop to charge along the way, it really isn’t much different than driving a non-EV.

1: Plan Your Trip Using the Car’s Navigation System

Luckily, the VinFast VF8 also makes it easy to plan a road trip by simply inputting your destination into the in-car navigation system that will take into account charging stations and intervals to ensure you don’t have to get range anxiety along the way. And don’t worry, charging from 10% battery up to 70% takes just 31 minutes. Timing your charging stops with bathroom and eating breaks will help pass the time more quickly.

2: Make Sure Your Maintenance Is Taken Care of

While an EV doesn’t need most traditional services, such as an oil change, it is still crucial to check that your tires are in good shape, or if they need to be rotated, you should do that before your trip. Tires are not only important for ride quality or traction in poor weather conditions, but also to braking and driving range. Tires that are over or underinflated can have quite an impact on driving range and stopping distances, as well as overall ride quality.

3: Have The VinFast Mobile App Downloaded with Payment Attached

The VinFast mobile app allows users to basically go up to any EV charging station and get started without having to first download that charging company’s app. However, you should make sure that the app is updated and that you have a good form of payment attached to the app so that you can easily pay for your charging. Most other car companies don’t have any of the charging stations’ apps featured in their app. However, the VinFast app does. This way, you only need one app to charge your car versus having half a dozen with your credit card information attached to all of them.

4: Use Your Cruise Control as Much as Possible

One of the best ways to maximize your range and driving efficiency is to utilize your cruise control system. Thanks to the cruise control, it can handle acceleration and braking for you as well as steering to keep you in your respective lane. Using these systems helps the vehicle maintain one speed that won’t fluctuate as often. The more you are on and off of the accelerator, the more energy you are using. If you are in traffic, the regenerative braking system will help to return some of the energy lost and convert it to range.

5: Chill With the AC Usage

Too much use of the air conditioning system can have negative impacts on range. For instance, a 2019 study by AAA said that running the air conditioning at the highest speed for long periods has as much as a 17% impact on your range. Before driving off, you should properly cool your interior while charging for about 5-10 minutes before driving off. From there, you can leave the system in eco or auto modes to help maintain a proper temperature and fan speed that won’t reduce your driving range.

At Ewing VinFast of Plano, we have the best prices on dozens of new VinFast EVs and used cars. Our well-educated sales staff and finance department will happily assist you with your EV questions and needs. Our fantastic service department will ensure your vehicle stays in the best condition.

We look forward to serving you.

September 30, 2024

VinFast VF8 vs BMW iX

Once again, another electric SUV/crossover enters the ring against the reigning affordable EV champ, the 2024 VinFast VF8. The VinFast has already proven itself against the Volkswagen ID.4, Rivian R1S, and the Mercedes-Benz EQB. So, who is the challenger this time? The 2024 BMW iX….a luxury all-electric SUV that, like the VinFast, was created from the ground up to be a pure EV.

The BMW iX

BMW’s iX is available either as the iX xDrive50i or the iX M60, which is the performance-oriented version of the iX. Both models feature an 111.5 kWh battery pack that gives the xDrive50i 516 horsepower and 564 lb-ft of torque, as well as 610 horsepower and 749 lb-ft of torque in the M60. BMW says the base xDrive50i gets to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, with the M60 doing the same in just 3.6 seconds. That’s a good bit quicker than the VF8.

IX Price and Range

With a starting price of $88,425, the iX is more than $40,000 more expensive than the VF8 Eco. Like the VinFast, the BMW features dual motors and all-wheel drive as standard and has an EPA estimated range of up to 309 miles in 50i form and 285 miles in M60 trim.

VF8 Price and Power

Now, it’s time to see how the VinFast compares to the BMW. The VF8 Eco has a base price of $47,325, and the Plus trim starts from $51,800. Like the BMW, both VF8 trims have an 87.7 kWh battery that gives Eco models 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque and 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque for the Plus trim.

VinFast Range and Performance

The EPA says drivers can expect 264 miles in Eco models and 243 miles for Plus models between charges. While the BMW is clearly more performance-oriented, the VF8 isn’t exactly slow. It will get to 60 mph in just 5.9 or 5.5 seconds for the Eco and Plus.

Differences in Lease Prices

Taking a significant leap over the BMW iX xDrive50i is the fact that you can lease the VF8 Eco for just $199 per month for 36 months with $0 down and 10,000 miles per year. For only $249 per month, you can get the top-of-the-line Plus trim. Oh, and VinFast offers a 10-year, 125,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty with a 10-year, unlimited-mile battery warranty. You can still lease the BMW, of course, but it will cost you $699 per month for 36 months, with $6,419 due before you get to drive off in your new Bimmer. Worse yet, BMW only offers a 4-year, 50,000-mile standard warranty with an extra 8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty.

There’s No Way the BMW Is Worth THAT Much More

Including the down payment, the BMW iX xDrive50i will cost you $31,583 over three years of the lease, and that’s not including any taxes or other fees. The VinFast VF8 Eco will cost just $7,164 over 36 months. There is no way the BMW is worth nearly five times what the VF8 will cost.

We look forward to serving you.

September 15, 2024September 27, 2024

Dollars and Sense – VF9 vs. Grand Highlander Hybrid vs. XC90 PHEV

The VinFast VF9 will be arriving at dealers soon, and like the VF8, there are plenty of reasons why you should lease or buy one. Starting with a base MSRP of $69,800 for the Eco trim and $73,800 for the Plus, up to 330 miles of range, a 10-year, unlimited-mile battery warranty that is the best in the industry, standard Head-Up Display, standard all-wheel drive, and a lease special of $529 per month for 24 months with just $2,000 down.

Standard Features on the VF9

While there is still some information to come, the VinFast VF9 has two trim levels, Eco and Plus, and three rows with the capacity to handle up to seven passengers. The second-row passengers can adjust their seats up to four different ways, and there are up to 8 USB-A ports with a single 90-watt USB-C charging port for rear passengers.

Safety Is Most Important

Both VF9 trim levels come standard with Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Highway Driving Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Centering Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Automatic Emergency Braking, Intelligent Speed Recognition, Traffic Sign Recognition, Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Detection, Door Opening Warning, Front Automatic Emergency Braking, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Front Parking Assist, Rear Parking Assist, backup camera, Automatic High Beam, and a 360-degree Surround View Camera system. All VinFast VF9 models feature 11 airbags as standard safety equipment.

Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

Toyota’s Grand Highlander Hybrid is the company’s largest SUV to date and starts from $46,415 for the base XLE front-wheel drive model. However, the Hybrid Max Platinum is more suited to compare against the VF9 with its loaded price of $64,264. While you may be thinking, “Why are you comparing a hybrid Toyota SUV to an electric VinFast?” There is an easy answer. You see, Toyota currently doesn’t have any purchase or lease specials for the Grand Highlander Hybrid, which means that people are paying full price. For a vehicle that is nearly $65,000, putting $5,000 down, whether in cash or as a trade, equals out to be about $1,200 per month for five years.

Volvo XC90 Recharge

The Volvo XC90 Recharge PHEV starts at $73,195 for the Core T8 AWD plug-in, which can drive up to 32 miles at a full charge. The Recharge has a 14.7 kWh battery pack that offers 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque. Sadly, like the Grand Highlander, Volvo does not have great specials when it comes to buying or leasing the XC90. Buyers can lease the Core T8 AWD from $799 per month for 36 months, with $5,245 due at signing.

Why The VinFast VF9 Reigns Supreme

While the Toyota and Volvo are both nice options as three-row SUVs, the VinFast VF9 is the vehicle that brings more standard equipment for its base price and gives potential customers an easy entry into owning their first electric vehicle, especially one that is so well-suited for families with multiple children and even pets.

We look forward to serving you.

September 10, 2024September 27, 2024

Home Charging vs. Public Charging Costs

Imagine being able to fill your car’s gas tank up at home. Think about just pulling into your driveway after a long day and not having to worry about waking up earlier the next day to stop for gas because you can top up in your garage or driveway for next to nothing. That’s basically what it’s like to be able to charge your VinFast at home.

Cost To Charge at Home

According to MarketWatch, Plano, Texas, has some decently low electricity costs per kWh, with an average cost of 13.9 cents per kWh. That means charging the 87.7 kWh battery in the VF8 from 0 miles of range to full would cost around $12. However, if you only need to charge about 50% of your battery every day when you get home, you will likely spend about $5-$6 per charge. If you do that 30 times per month, you will see less than $200 added to your monthly electric bill. Don’t forget, the grid is smart enough to charge some EVs off-peak hours when electricity is cheapest.

Cost To Fill Up a Car with Gasoline

Comparing that to a gas-powered car, where the average gas price is about $3 per gallon in Plano, car owners would spend about $225 at the pump if they filled up a 15-gallon fuel tank five times in a month. However, most of the best-selling vehicles in Texas are pickup trucks, meaning that just three fill-ups of a 26-gallon fuel tank puts you over $230.

The Cost to Use A Paid Public Charger

If you must charge your EV on the go, the average cost per kWh at a public charger is about 50 cents in Texas. According to Axios, it costs about $26 to charge a VinFast from 10-70%. If you had to charge from 0-100%, which is not likely, you would spend about $45.

Check To Find Free Local Chargers

Charging at home can save you lots of time and money compared to charging on the go. Obviously, if you are taking long road trips, you will have to charge at Level 2 and 3 public stations. It should be noted that some grocery stores, movie theaters, malls, colleges, etc., have free public charging stations. In total, there are 139 free public charging stations in Plano, which accounts for 52% of all chargers in the area, according to ChargeHub.com.

We look forward to serving you.

September 5, 2024September 27, 2024

Leasing A VinFast VF8 vs Other Cars

As we have discussed before in the blogs about the VinFast VF8, and it is pretty common knowledge among experts and car buyers alike that it is best to lease an electric vehicle over purchasing one new. The reason for this is because battery technology is advancing at such a fast rate that within three to five years it is highly likely the battery pack in your EV is old tech compared to what is available on a brand new car.

Loads of Standard Features for A Good Price

The 2024 VinFast VF8 has two trim levels available: the Eco, which starts from $46,000, and the Plus, which starts from $51,800. As we have written about before, the VF8 comes standard with pretty much everything a car buyer would want, including a Head-Up Display (HUD), a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and the best EV warranty of all production cars, which covers the battery system of the VF8 for ten years and unlimited miles, a dual-motor battery pack, and all-wheel drive.

Current VinFast Lease Offers

The current leasing specials for the 2024 VF8 have qualified customers able to pay just $199 per month with $0 down for 36 months for the base Eco trim or $249 per month for the Plus trim level. The lease allows for 10,000 miles per year. There is no car company, especially no other manufacturer of electric cars, that will over this.

Nissan Ariya vs. VF8

Nissan’s EV, the Ariya, has a base MSRP of $40,980 for the Engage FWD trim level, which is a bit less expensive than the VF8. Granted, the Ariya only has a range of 216 miles compared to 264 miles for the VF8 Eco. Nissan is offering their EV, which has a slightly lower base MSRP, for $289 per month for 24 months, with $4,119 due at signing. There is less range and fewer standard options, but higher monthly lease payments and more due before buyers can drive away.

The Germans vs. VinFast

Many luxury brands have nice EVs. However, they are all costly, especially for what you get. The BMW iX xDrive50 is a new SUV-like electric vehicle from the German brand. With $6,419 due at signing, owners can drive off paying $699 per month. It’s a similar situation when you look at leasing a 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+, which will cost you $7,093 at signing, only to still pay $599 per month over 36 months.

Ford and Chevy vs. VinFast

Let’s say you want something more American. If you want a Ford Mach-E Premium AWD 4P, you can have one for $307 a month for 36 months… after you put down $5,516. Or, you can go for one of the new Chevrolet EVs, the Blazer or Equinox EV. For a 2024 Equinox EV 2LT FWD, buyers can pay $299 per month for 24 months with $3,169 down or $369 per month for 24 months with $3,139 due at signing for a Blazer EV LT eAWD.

What Are You Really Paying For?

All of these lease “specials” beg the question: what are you really paying for? While each one of the previously mentioned EVs are nice vehicles, can you truly say you are getting more vehicle for your money? It doesn’t seem like it.

We look forward to serving you.