​​Having the Best EV Ownership Experience Is as Easy as ABC​

Always Be Charging - ABC

Always Be Charging - ABC

 

There is no doubt that EV ownership involves some changes in how you interact with your personal transportation. It is also true that EV ownership works much more smoothly when you can charge at home. If you can charge at home, you should be aware of this fundamental ABC of EV ownership. ABC stands for “Always Be Charging.” This Ewing VinFast of Plano blog explains. 

 

Obviously, EV ownership means never having to go to a gas station to refuel your vehicle. But the reasoning behind Always Be Charging is that EV owners should shift from the gas-refuel mindset, which involves waiting until their vehicle is low or nearly empty before refueling. Not only is this unnecessary for anyone who charges at home, but it is also not a good idea. Ideally, you should plug in your car every time you come home. There are a few reasons for this. 

 

  VinFast Home Charging

Keeps You Ready 

 

This is the aspect of ABC that delivers the most immediate benefits.  Your vehicle is always ready, with a healthy state of charge, whenever you need it.  It is one of the many advantages of an EV over a gas-powered vehicle, so take advantage of it. 

 

Battery Health 

 

Every owner has an interest in extending battery life. Even if you plan to replace the vehicle long before the battery nears the end of its life, how much the vehicle has retained its original charging capability will be of high interest to any subsequent buyer. Thus, it isn’t wise to use Level 3 fast charging (DC-direct) on a day-to-day basis. Sure, it is fine to fast-charge during a long trip, but charging during your daily routine should be done at Level 2 or even Level 1. The sweet spot for optimal battery health is a shallow state of charge, which is in the upper half but not at 100%.  You want to avoid nearly 0-100% charge cycles whenever possible, and you also want to avoid leaving the battery at a low state of charge, such as under 20%, for extended periods. Both of these habits contribute to battery degradation over time.  

 

  80% Charge Level

 

Getting down to a 20% state of charge is expected on long trips that involve recharging at public stations. If your commute or daily routine is well within the vehicle’s full range, try to keep the vehicle charged enough to cover your daily routine with a healthy buffer, but there’s no need to charge to 100% since you don’t need to.   

 

  

Let’s say your daily drive routine is up to 80 miles, and your model has a range of 230 miles. Thus, 80 miles uses about 35% of your battery’s state of charge. If you set your EV to charge at home to 80% and plug it in every time you come home, your battery will stay between 45% and 80% at all times, which is ideal and helps keep the battery in the best state to extend its life. 

  

 

A third ABC reason is that keeping your vehicle plugged in at home lets you draw power from the grid whenever you want to pre-heat or pre-cool it before heading out. Not only does this make your vehicle very comfortable every time you leave home, but it also reduces the drain on the battery needed to get your vehicle to a proper temperature. Now all it has to do is maintain that temperature, which requires much less energy. The occasional software updates, which consume energy, will also be powered by the grid rather than the battery. 

 

  VinFast Front Dash Screen

 

Again, all it takes is setting your charge limit to 80% (which you can change back to 100% before a long trip) and getting into the habit of plugging in your vehicle every time you come home. If you don’t have many evening trips after coming home, you can still take advantage of lower charging rates at certain times by selecting the start time for your charge. 

  

Remember when you first started using your seat belts every day? At first, you had to remind yourself, but later it became a habit you don’t even think about. Consider charging your EV at home the same way. If you have any additional questions about ABC, contact the service professionals at Ewing VinFast of Plano for the best advice.  

The VinFast VF8 is Helping To Change How We Enjoy Our Cars

2025 VinFast VF8 Front End Driving in the City

2025 VinFast VF8 Front End Driving in the City

 

It wasn’t that long ago that one of the chief complaints from EV haters was that they couldn’t drive far enough on a full charge. Now, though, there are more than 40,000 Level 3 DC fast chargers and nearly 200,000 Level 2 chargers. This means that driving across the country has never been easier for owners of a VinFast VF8. Not only can you charge from 10% to 80% via a DC fast charger in about 30 minutes, but you can also stay at a hotel with Level 2 chargers in the parking lot and charge your car overnight.  

VinFast VF8 Camping

The Freedom to Drive Anywhere 

VinFast takes pride in owners taking their cars on road trips, which is why the VF8 has a healthy EPA-rated 256 miles of range for the base Eco and 235 miles in the Plus trim. That’s roughly 4-5 hours worth of driving. And at that point, you’ll want a break. It’s approximately 300 miles from Plano to San Antonio, or 239 miles from Plano to Tulsa, Oklahoma. So, with that in mind, you can go pretty far on either a full charge or stopping once to add some juice.  

2025 VinFast VF8 Sony RIDEVU Interior Dash

Sony RIDEVU Will Keep the Passengers Relaxed 

Add in the ability for passengers to enjoy Sony Pictures Entertainment’s library filled with 2,000 movies and shows via the free Sony RIDEVU service, and instead of hearing “are we there yet?” you’ll be hearing pure silence as everyone’s glued to their phone, tablet, or laptop watching the same thing or different things while using the in-car WiFi hotspot.  

Cost To Charge at Home 

When charging your car at home, you can expect to pay around 10-15 cents per kWh per 1,000 kilowatts. Because the VF8 has an 87.7 kWh battery, you will spend $13 at the highest 15 cents per kW if you are charging from 0% battery. Because most people usually only use about 50% of their battery during the day, that means you’ll spend about 6-7 dollars charging your car every night.  

2025 VinFast VF8 Tailgate and Rear View

Estimated Costs Charging on The Go 

When on the go, things can get a bit more expensive, however. For instance, a Level 3 DC fast charger in Texas costs about .362 cents per kWh according to AAA. So, charging from 10% should cost you about $25-$30. But if you are staying at a hotel or visiting friends at a shopping mall or downtown area, you’ll likely have access to Level 2 chargers, which are less expensive. Hanging out with family and friends for about 3 hours will allow you to charge from 35% to 80% battery on a Level 2 charger that’s charging at 15 kW. This means your total “fill-up” cost will run you about $10 or so. Some areas even have free public chargers.  

VinFast VF8 HUD

Range Anxiety Is a Thing of The Past 

Driving an EV long distances used to worry people. Range anxiety was a real thing for some owners. But now, that’s genuinely a thing of the past, especially since your VinFast will let you program your destination into the standard navigation system, create a route that accounts for the need to charge, and direct you to those areas on your way to your destination. Traveling with an EV couldn’t be easier.  

VinFast VF8 Cargo Space with All Seats Down

Let Ewing VinFast of Plano Help You Find the Right VinFast 

When you’re ready to experience the EV revolution and the world’s best new-car warranty, Ewing VinFast of Plano has you covered. Your new VinFast will have a standard 10-year, 125,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year, unlimited-mile battery warranty. The experience of buying a VinFast couldn’t be easier, thanks to the knowledgeable sales staff and excellent service department.  

2025 VinFast VF8 Doors Open Rear View

Why You Should Choose Ewing VinFast  

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. 

First-Time Electric Car Driver? Here’s What You Need to Know

New VinFast VF8 Driving

New VinFast VF8 DrivingSome people find it quite daunting to go from one car to another, so it’s natural that some would even be worried about moving from a gas-powered car to an electric vehicle. After all, if you’ve only been used to pulling up to a gas station, pumping gas, and then driving home, it makes sense to be a little nervous about the adjustment to buying an all-electric VinFast VF8 or VF9. However, it won’t stay that way for long as you will get used to the new norms of an EV.  

2025 VinFast VF9 Interior ViewWait A Second… Where Is the Shifter?  

A VinFast doesn’t have a shifter. Instead, the VF8 has buttons for Park, Neutral, Reverse, and Drive where the shifter would be to make the transition easier and more comfortable. In most EVs, you just get in and either press a start/stop button or just put your foot on the accelerator pedal and go on about your day. VinFast, however, is committed to making the move to EV simple.  

VinFast VF8 Plus Navigation and Apple CarPlayImmediate Torque 

Once you start driving, you’ll notice an immediate surge of power and torque. Unlike an I.C.E. (internal combustion engine) car, there is no pause between pushing the gas pedal and the movement of the vehicle. So, be careful. Push that pedal a little softer for the first few hundred miles to allow yourself time to get used to the instant performance.  

Range Anxiety 

As you drive, though, you will start seeing your range go down. Like any car, your driving range is a product of how you drive. Drive more relaxed and don’t do a bunch of 0-60 launches, and you can count on a steady driving range. Treat every traffic light as a drag strip tree, and you will see that range fall quite a bit. The common term for watching your range drop as you drive and being worried about running out of charge before getting to a charger is called “range anxiety.” While gas stations are still more prominent, there are EV chargers nearly everywhere at this point, especially when traveling on the highway. Any time you input a destination into your navigation, your VinFast will route your trip to keep you close enough to chargers every step of the way. So, while range anxiety was a really big deal 10-15 years ago, it’s much less of an issue now.  

VinFast VF8 Rear View with Doors OpenRegenerative Braking 

One of the beauties of having an electric car is using one-pedal driving, which means you rarely have to touch the brake pedal. Instead, because electricity is an on-off thing, once you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, no energy is used to move the car. The brake lights come on automatically, and the vehicle starts to slow down as if you were tapping the brakes. Whenever you take your foot off the throttle or push the brake pedal, you are using Regenerative Braking. Regenerative braking captures the energy lost while braking and sends it back to the vehicle’s battery system to recover the energy. Driving in stop-and-go traffic can actually help to increase your vehicle’s range.  

A Quiet Place 

The final point to make about what you need to get used to when owning your first EV is silence. EVs are much, much quieter than gas-powered cars because there is less noise being made within the vehicle. In fact, tire manufacturers and VinFast engineers have developed parts of the car to be less noisy so as not to disturb you in the cabin. So, you will notice less harsh road noises from the tires, less wind noise, and the like. But this could lead to you getting annoyed with how hard people breathe in the passenger seat… something you didn’t notice before you got an EV.  

Why Choose Ewing VinFast  

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.

VinFast VF9 vs Tesla Model X

2025 VinFast VF9 Family Electric SUV

When it comes to electric SUVs, Tesla is kind of the OG in this department with the Model X. It has enjoyed a number of years as the premier luxury electric SUV. However, that’s slowly but surely been changing since its debut in 2015. With vehicles like the VinFast VF9, the Model X is aging in comparison. Or is it? Let’s compare the two in this week’s versus.

Meet The Tesla Model X

Like the VinFast VF9, the Tesla Model X only has two flavors for buyers: the Model X and the Model X Plaid. Unlike the VF9, though, it is pricey. How pricey? Well, here’s where it gets weird: Tesla says the Model X has a starting price of $65,990… but then, in fine print, it mentions, Includes any applicable federal tax credits and estimated gas savings.” So, that means you can add back the $7,500 federal tax credit to better understand the base price, but what are the estimated gas savings? That’s just deceptive practices. Car and Driver says the Model X starts from $81,630, while MotorTrend says it is priced from $79,990. Tesla says the Model X Plaid retails for $88,490, but the car magazines say $94,990 and $96,630, respectively. Short of calling or going to a Tesla dealer and asking, the price is anyone’s guess.

2025 VinFast VF9 Front View in BluePowertrain Options

When choosing the base Model X, buyers will get a dual-motor and all-wheel drive with an output of 670 horsepower, according to Tesla, and 713 lb-ft of torque, according to Car and Driver (Tesla does not list torque for the standard model). However, the tri-motor Model X Plaid features a massive 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. Those are wild power numbers, which makes sense since the Plaid can reach 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, while the standard model is a bit slower at 3.3 seconds. The EPA says that the standard Model X has 329 miles of range with 20-inch wheels. However, Tesla says this number drops to 322 when optioning the 22-inch wheels. The Plaid model has 314 miles of EPA-estimated range with the standard wheels, while the optional 22s will force that range down to about 300 miles.

Meet The Honest VF9

Finally, we come to the star of the evening, the VF9, which is available in either Eco or Plus trim levels and starts from $71,000. Eco models will give buyers a healthy 330-mile driving range, and Plus models offer 291 miles, which makes the VF9 about equal to the Model X. Like the Model X, all VF9 models come standard with all-wheel drive, and both also use dual-motor setups. The 123 kWh battery pack provides 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. This gives the VinFast plenty of oomph, with a claimed 0-60 of roughly 6.5 seconds. The VF9 comes standard with a Head-Up Display (HUD), something most other vehicles can’t attest to, so drivers never have to take their eyes off the road to see navigation information, range, music, and more.

2025 VinFast VF9 InteriorSony RIDEVU Is Amazing

Something that neither Tesla nor any other EV on the market can lay claim to is Sony RIDEVU. RIDEVU allows passengers in the VF9 to watch 2,000 different Sony-owned movies and TV shows either on the main infotainment screen when the vehicle is in park or on any device that is on the in-car WiFi. The 2025 VF9 offers drivers and passengers a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen display plus six standard USB-A ports with one 90-watt USB-C port, which means two per row. Buyers who opt for captain’s chairs will find two extra USB-A ports in the center console.

Safety First

VinFast believes in giving drivers the latest and best safety features as standard. No matter whether you get a VF8 or VF9, your VinFast comes 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.

2025 VinFast VF9 Cargo SpaceA Warranty vs Kind of a Warranty

When it comes to protecting your investment, VinFast goes all out. Every VinFast model comes with a 10-year, unlimited-mile battery warranty, as well as a 10-year, 125,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. The Tesla, however, only gets a 4-year, 50,000-mile basic warranty and an 8-year, 150,000-mile battery warranty. No one’s really keeping score here, but that seems like a win for the VF9.

Which To Get…

Ultimately, which one should you choose, the Tesla Model X or the VinFast VF9? It’s your money, and you should spend it as you see fit. But, since you asked, when taking into consideration the odd pricing alone, the Tesla Model X doesn’t seem too honest. And then, once you look at the battery warranty, you notice it is 150,000 miles versus unlimited miles for the VF9. If you just want to show off at traffic lights, maybe the Tesla is the best car for your needs. However, if you want a vehicle that’s focused on quality over bragging rights, then perhaps the VinFast is the right car.

2025 VinFast VF9 Home ChargingWhy Choose Ewing VinFast

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.

How Does Fast Charging Affect Battery Health

New VinFast App for iPhone and Android Smart Phone

New VinFast VF8 ChargingA battery is a battery, whether it’s in your phone, a camera, or a car. Like every other piece of technology, batteries will slowly degrade over time. It’s perfectly normal and natural. However, there are things you can do to mitigate battery degradation in devices. While it is rare, sometimes batteries can lose some of their abilities more quickly, which is why VinFast has the best battery warranty in the business with its 10-year, unlimited-mile warranty.

Learning How to Charge

Remember back in the day when cell phones were first coming out? It was recommended to charge them to full, then let them fully discharge on their own, and then from there, you could use them as normal. Well, now, especially with lithium-ion batteries in EVs and smartphones, it is recommended that batteries always charge between 20% and 80% most of the time. This is why car manufacturers like VinFast tell you the charging speed is between 20% and 70 or 80%.

New VinFast VF8 Interior Cabin and Seat DetailShould You Be Worried About Battery Degradation?

It can be tricky to know the best practices because, simply put, you are just trying to live your life and drive your car as you need to. One thing people are starting to ask is how much your VinFast is affected by charging the car via a Level 3 DC fast charger. That charger carries the most kilowatts to charge cars more quickly. In the case of a VF8 or VF9, that’s about 25 minutes to get you up to 70%. But does it hurt your battery life? Well, yes… kind of. Should you worry about it? That depends.

Where is it Best to Charge?

No matter what, it is always easiest and cheapest to charge at home. So, say you use 50% of your battery range by driving to and from work every day. When you plug into your home charger, which hopefully is a VinFast Home charger, the car and the charger will communicate. This will get you up to 80% at a reasonable rate and then relax the charge on its way up to 100% so as not to put too much strain on the battery. It is important to note that your EV is very smart and works hard to protect the battery system in your car.

New VinFast VF8 ChargingSome Studies Show Promising Results

Luckily for EV owners, some studies show that using fast chargers can have negligible degradation effects over time. That being said, if you do lots of long-distance traveling and utilize Level 3 chargers, not only will you be spending more money to charge your car, but over time, this could contribute to your battery health dwindling from 100% of capacity down to 90 or so percent after a couple of years of doing this. That means that your maximum range will drop by 10%.

When In Doubt, Charge at Home

There is still plenty of testing to be done to determine how batteries will last over time when charged more quickly and subjected to heat and stress. This is why it’s always best to charge your VinFast at home as much as possible.

New VinFast App for iPhone and Android Smart PhoneWhy Choose Ewing VinFast

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.