Category: Uncategorized

Business Break: February

Gas Vehicles or Electric Vehicles?

I get asked questions like this all the time. To answer these questions, first, you need to consider your driving routes. In town driving is not a problem, the out-of-town or commuting to work could become an issue. As of today, there is a gas station on every corner, but there is not a charging station on every corner. So, if you commute or decide to go on vacation, you need to plan your route accordingly. Also, it can take at least 30 minutes or more to charge your vehicle. So, you could be at a charging station for over an hour because you may have to wait for someone else to finish charging.

The second thing to consider is if you want to own an electric vehicle, reducing your carbon footprint is not easy to do. The batteries in electric vehicles have lithium as a main ingredient. Mining lithium out of the ground causes so much pollution that most states have outlawed the mining of lithium. Also, 60% of electricity generated in the United States is produced by fossil fuels. So, factor in how much of a carbon footprint is made every time. They mine lithium and the electricity you use to charge the car is produced by coal and natural gas. How low is your carbon footprint? It is estimated that you will need to drive an electric vehicle about 140,000 to 150,00 miles to equal the carbon footprint of a gas vehicle.

Currently, we do not produce enough electricity to charge all the vehicles if we go electric. We need to find a better way to produce enough electricity and we need to develop better batteries. So, are they worth it? That is a personal preference…both gas and electricity get the job done. I think a hybrid vehicle is a better choice. You have the best of both worlds. You can travel without having to stop and recharge for at least 30 minutes and you can also travel to town without all the wasted fuel idling and low-speed driving. When we solve the electricity problem, fix the batteries, and make charging stations more available, then I may change my mind about electric vehicles.

If you have any questions, please call us at White’s Automotive Center in Columbus, Georgia, or visit our website at https://whitesautomotive.com.

Business Break: January

Finding a Used Car

Some people would rather pull their teeth than deal with a used car salesman. I admit that some salesmen can be difficult, but finding a good used car may not be as bad if you know what to look for. Don’t buy a car if someone tells you, “It only needs this and it’s a cheap repair.” If it was a cheap repair, why didn’t they repair the vehicle and sell the car for a higher price? It doesn’t make sense! Don’t buy a car that has a warning light on or lights that don’t work. All warning lights come on when you start the car for a bulb test to let you know that the system is working. Also, make sure the fenders and door lines are straight and equal. Open the hood and look at the grill, headlights, and fender bolt to see if they have been replaced. Look under the car for leaks, oil, or coolant.

Another thing you can do is get a repair vehicle report from one of the internet sites, like CARFAX. These sites can be a powerful tool for buying a used car. If the report shows that the car was wrecked, then great. If the report doesn’t show a wreck, then don’t trust it completely. These sites only get information if other companies send them the information. For example, if someone hit a curb and bent some front-end parts and doesn’t want to involve the insurance, they could have the vehicle repaired and paid so insurance was never involved. If the insurance isn’t involved, then there will be no information to be sent in.

The best thing to do is test drive the vehicle to your trusted mechanic and have them look over it and get an online report. Make sure the interior isn’t worn out and the vehicle does not have a severe number of scratches and small dents. If the vehicle’s interior and exterior look bad, then the previous owner did not take care of the vehicle. All you are doing is trying to make sure a person takes care of the vehicle. If they did, then it will likely be a good vehicle for you. Come see us at White’s Automotive Center if you have any questions – we’re here to help!

Business Break: December