Dec 22, 2022 | Financial |
You may have noticed that more and more people, both business and personal, are driving electric cars. There are a number of reasons why it is attractive to drive an electric car. One is because electricity costs less as fuel. Another reason that more and more electric cars are being bought and leased is that their range is increasing. There are also many places where electric cars can be charged.
Electric cars are considered a green option. This is also an advantage when you look at the options for leasing an electric car for business purposes. If your business is all about being environmentally friendly, then choosing an electric car is easy!
Which electric lease car do you choose?
Whether you choose a new Peugeot or an electric Hyundai, you are guaranteed to save compared to choosing a traditional petrol car.
Leasing an electric car is also a good idea because these cars cost less when you consider taxes. Electric cars are even partially reimbursed by the government because they do not pollute like petrol cars do.
If you lease an electric company car, the additional tax rate is significantly lower
If you own an electric car and use it for both work and leisure, you will pay much less tax. Even though additional taxes on electric cars have risen in recent years, they are still much lower than taxes on cars that emit pollution. Currently, an electric car costs 13% more than a regular car, and the average additional tax is 22%.
Should you also want to lease an electric car, it is important to do so soon, as various tax breaks are likely to be further phased out in the coming years. Like the subsidy on an electric (private lease) car. Online private lease offer(s) viewing is a good start to taking the plunge into electric driving soon! And to make things even better, the government has also made a new subsidy available. Read all about the SEPP grant.
Dec 18, 2022 | Various, Financial |
In some situations, you need a car or a van, and it should be clear that far from everyone has one in their driveway. Especially in big cities, the percentage of car owners is smaller and many more people use bicycles or public transport.
Fortunately, if you do need a car or van, you can rent one. In every town, there are rental companies you can turn to. Of course, you don't want to pay top dollar for this, so what should you look out for when renting a car or van?
Choose a strategic location
How much you pay for renting a car is determined, among other things, by where you will rent. Are you going to rent a Rent a car in Amsterdam And do you choose a rental company in the middle of the city? Then chances are you will pay more than if you choose a location just outside the city. Of course, this varies per company (and rental chain) but because the rent per m2 in the city centre is higher than for a building just outside the city centre, chances are you will be cheaper outside the city. It is therefore wise to look a little further than the (well-known) landlords in your neighbourhood.
If you are going to rent a car while travelling, then you should note that rental companies at airports are always a lot more expensive. This can sometimes be as much as 20% more expensive than rental companies outside the airport.
Choose the right car
Of course, what determines the price even more is which car you choose and what options you choose. The bigger or the fancier the model you choose, the higher the price to rent it. So, do you only need a car to get from A to B and no belongings need to be taken in the car? Then it is wise to choose the smallest car and look for one with as few options as possible.
You often pay a lower amount for this, allowing you to spend the rest of your pennies on something else. Sometimes you can also choose to drive a car with advertising stickers, in which case you pay even less than the regular rental prices. Another great way to save money on renting a car. You can ask about it at the car dealer.
When you need a van
Have you taken on a job on a project basis and really need to drive to the customer with tools? Then it's best to opt for a bus. A van rental in Amsterdam again, you can make it as expensive or cheap as you like.
Insurance and other complementary products
Perhaps needless to say but also look critically at the extra costs such as the additional insurances offered. In many cases, the insurances you already have cover the rental vehicle. Think of your personal car insurance or travel insurance, but sometimes this is already included in the insurance linked to your credit card. So this can also save you a lot on the extra costs when renting a car.
Do you have more tips? If so, be sure to let us know via the comment form!
Dec 15, 2022 | Safety |
LED bulbs car pros and cons? On this page, we list the pros and cons of LED lamps in the car.
Car LED bulb benefits
Let's just start with the most obvious advantages: economical, good lifespan and high light output. We think that, that is already reason enough to make the switch from traditional bulbs to the LED versions.
Here are the advantages:
- Many more burning hours, up to 30 thousand hours compared to around a thousand hours with halogen headlights.
- Less consumption, or in other words very economical. So your battery will be under less strain.
- More light output than traditional bulbs such as halogen.
- LED bulbs are a lot simpler in terms of components and have fewer parts than other bulbs so they are also less likely to break down.
- A bright white light which is more pleasant for visibility and which is also often less blinding for other road users.
Disadvantages LED bulbs car
So are there any drawbacks? Yes, unfortunately there are! But is that a bad thing? Here is a summary:
- LED bulbs tend to be more expensive but that is not really a disadvantage as they last a lot longer than traditional (Halogen) bulbs.
- Not all cars are suitable for installing LED lights and may malfunction as a result. However, this is quite easy to solve with a decoder, for example.
- LED bulbs are often larger, which means that in some cars there is not enough room for the installation and fan.
Which LED car lamps are there?
Almost all types of car lamps are now available in an LED version. All common headlight sets are also available as LED. But also fog lights, tail lights and flashing lights.
LED lights and new cars
So it is not for nothing that almost all new cars are equipped with LED lights. They have become an increasingly popular alternative to standard halogen bulbs. Unlike old-fashioned halogen lamps, LEDs have a semiconductor structure that produces light by releasing photons - tiny particles of light - thousands of times per second. Compared to standard lamps, LED lamps are much brighter, produce a much purer and sharper light and are much more efficient.
And what about Xenon lights and what is the difference? Here is a brief summary.
Xenon and LED lamps differ
The main differences between LED and Xenon are that LED bulbs are brighter, have a longer lifespan, do not fade over time, have no warm-up time and are more energy-efficient compared to Xenon. Here is a summary of the differences:
- ⭐ Brightness: LED bulbs produce up to 10,000 lumens, while Xenon bulbs produce up to 8,000 lumens.
- ? Lifespan: LED headlights can last up to 45,000 hours, while Xenon lasts up to 15,000 hours.
- ? Price: prices vary for both products, but Xenon is often cheaper.
- ? Technology: LED uses electricity (diodes) and Xenon uses xenon gas.
- ? Colours: LED comes in every colour, but Xenon lights are limited to shades of yellow, white, blue and purple.
- ✨ Fading: LEDs do not fade over time, but Xenon does.
- ? Warm-up: LEDs turn on immediately, while Xenon takes a few seconds to reach full brightness.
- ⚡ Efficiency: LEDs are more energy-efficient than Xenon
Have you also seen our complete page on car lights? That might also be interesting since we list all the species there.
Dec 14, 2022 | Mounting, Maintenance and polishing |
What are wheel hubs and wheel bearings? Both use the same physical characteristics of a bearing, in that they contain bearing balls that are lubricated to rotate and thus make the wheel turn. A major difference between the two is how they are assembled. Wheel bearings can be taken apart, lubricated and reassembled to be used again. Hub bearings are pre-packaged at the manufacturer's factory and are sold and installed as a complete unit. These cannot be taken apart for re-lubrication but must be replaced.
Wheel hub
Wheel hubs are not visible at first glance unless you remove the wheel. A wheel hub is used to connect any wheel to the vehicle, more specifically to attach the wheel to the drive axle. The wheel hubs are thus a vital part of the wheel assembly that allows the driver to drive the vehicle. It is therefore very important that they work correctly. If problems occur, the wheel may become unbalanced and difficult to control, causing steering alignment problems. Clearly, this will make driving the vehicle more difficult and can create dangerous situations.
The wheel hub also plays a crucial role in the car's anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traction control system (TCS).
The hub is driven by a shaft running from the final drive. The shaft has a flexible joint (usually a constant-speed joint) at each end to allow steering and suspension movements.
The end of the drive shaft runs through the centre of the hub carrier and engages with the rotating part of the hub. When the drive shaft rotates, the rotating part of the hub rotates with it.
Wheel bearing
Like the wheel hub, the wheel bearing is also indispensable in the car's suspension. The wheel hub and wheel bearing are connected, in many cars these are separate parts. However, it is increasingly common for the wheel bearing to be fitted directly with a wheel hub. However, this depends on the make and type of car.
If we look at a wheel bearing, it consists of 2 rings. These rings lie around each other and can move separately from each other with the help of balls or rollers. In this way, it allows the wheels to turn.
Driving with a missing or defective wheel bearing is dangerous. If your car shows any of the symptoms of a worn bearing, it is best to seek out a reliable workshop. If wheel bearings become detached from the vehicle, it can create a very dangerous situation on the road. Wheel bearings play a vital role in keeping the wheel attached to your vehicle. Without wheel bearings, the wheel is essentially unattached. This can be very dangerous, especially when driving at high speeds on the highway. Losing a wheel can lead to loss of control of the vehicle, putting yourself and other drivers at risk.
There are different types of wheel bearings a manufacturer can use. Here are some common types with their main purpose.
Ball bearings
Of all the wheel bearings out there, ball bearings are the most common and versatile wheel bearings that can be used. The purpose of a ball bearing is to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. It achieves this by using at least two rings containing balls and transmitting the loads through the balls. In most applications, one bearing ring is stationary and the other is attached to the rotating assembly (e.g. a hub or shaft). When one of the bearing rings rotates, the balls also rotate. Because the balls are rolling, they have a much lower coefficient of friction than if two flat surfaces were sliding against each other.
Precision ball bearings
The design of precision ball bearings makes them suitable for high-performance use. Precision ball bearings have the ability to minimise friction, which in turn reduces the amount of heat produced.
Roller bearings
Roller bearings are a type of wheel bearing that are commonly used. Only, roller bearings are not as versatile as ball bearings. Roller bearings are good at handling weight, but they are not the best for curves.
Tapered roller bearings
Common wheels on cars and trucks usually have tapered roller bearings. They have a cone shape that reduces friction when cornering because the pressure load is high.
Wheel bearing replacement
Is it easy to replace a wheel bearing at home? This depends on whether it has a connection to the drive shaft. Bearings without drive shafts are often easier to replace.
Replacing a wheel bearing that comes with the hub and bolts to the axle or steering knuckle is not very difficult if you have the right skills, tools and the manual. Of course, the large axle nut is very tight and can be difficult to remove and the caliper also needs to be removed. If the bearing needs to be pressed in and out, it is best to leave that to the pros.
Information source:
Dec 9, 2022 | EV |
E-mobility is becoming increasingly popular. More and more people are opting for electric driving, which is why more and more charging stations are available. One of these solutions is a fast charger, or also called a supercharger. But what exactly is this?
What is a rapid charger (DC charger)?
A quick charger, or DC charger, stands for Direct Current (DC) and is used to charge electric cars at higher voltages than AC charging points. This charging is usually done through a CCS connection, which allows power to be fed directly to the car's battery. As a result, battery capacity and driving range can be recharged to 80% in a short time. This makes it possible to continue driving within a short time.
Superchargers
These superchargers are especially well suited to EVs with high power (25 to 375 kW) and high efficiency, allowing an EV to be charged faster. Because DC chargers are more expensive than a regular AC charger (up to 22 kW), they are particularly interesting in places where the average car, van or truck is parked for a short time but needs to be charged quickly. Think, for example, of public places such as at a hotel, shop car parks or, for example, transport companies.
They are therefore called superchargers, you may also know them from Tesla who have placed Tesla Superchargers in many places in Europe especially for Tesla drivers.
Advantages of a quick charger
One of the advantages is that the charging process is many times faster than at AC charging points.
There are also other benefits, such as:
- The payload can be adjusted according to need;
- Charging stations are often located in practical public places, so you don't need to have a charging station at home;
- Less frequent charging is needed, as more energy can be supplied in a short time;
Alternatives to fast charging: AC charging
Besides DC chargers, there are other alternatives for charging electric cars. For instance, there is AC charging. This is charging with Alternating Current (AC). This charging method is mainly seen as home charging and delivers a lower voltage than a DC fast charger. A Alfen charging station is an example of a charging station that can offer this power and is suitable for any electric car.
The big difference between AC and DC charging is that the latter form of charging is much faster, hence, of course, the name fast charging. A full battery can be charged in about 8 hours with an 11 kW AC charging station at home. This time depends on the capacity and type of car you have.
AC charging is also cheaper than fast charging, but there are some drawbacks. For instance, charging takes much longer and you cannot use extra features such as heating the battery. Also, it is not possible to charge a car with AC charging when you are on the road.
Conclusion
Fast charging is a common way to charge electric cars, where power can be fed back to the battery in a short period of time. There are several advantages to fast charging, such as the fact that it requires less frequent charging and that the power can be adjusted based on need. However, as mentioned, you will mostly come across these fast chargers in public places and not so soon at home at someone's wall. This is mainly due to the high cost of purchase.
So as an alternative, there is the well-known AC charging station which is usually used in home situations. The main difference is that these charging posts charge at a lower capacity and are cheaper per kWh.
EN 
NL 
DE