When you consider the environmental benefits and economic advantages of electric vehicles (EVs), it should come as no surprise that they’re soaring in popularity.
2023 was the best year for EV sales, and the first quarter of 2024 saw a further 25% increase. Now, EVs are about 20% of all total car sales across the globe!
If you’re getting in on the EV trend, understanding some car value preservation tips is critical to keeping your efficient ride in great shape. Read on to learn the ins and outs of EV paint protection and how it boosts car value!
How Does EV Paint Protection Work?
Like all cars, EVs come in a wide range of colour options. Whether you want a sleek silver car or a larger blue SUV, there’s an option out there that will perfectly fit your preferences.
No matter what colour you choose, though, protecting the paint needs to be a top priority. After all, your gorgeous red ride isn’t going to look so pretty with chipped and faded paint spots.
That’s where electric vehicle paint protection comes in! It help prevents:
- Chipped paint
- Scratches
- Chemicals from acid, tree sap, and soap from car washes
- Fading from UV rays
Paint Protection Film (PPF) adheres to the surface of your car to protect the paint underneath. It’s a transparent film that acts as a physical barrier against outside elements. Mud and pebbles that would scrape your paint don’t even touch the car’s body!
You may want to choose PPF protection for areas of the vehicle that see a lot of impacts from pebbles, dirt, and dust. These areas include:
- Front Bumper and back bumpers
- Hoods
- Headlights
- Taillights
Ceramic coating is a PPF alternative that bonds with the vehicle’s paint coat. It comes in liquid polymer form. Experts apply it over your car, and it bonds quickly with the paint to become one and the same.
This means that the protecting car paint finish becomes part of your EV. It can’t peel or chip off, meaning it doesn’t require the same replacement that a PPF would periodically need.
Ceramic coating mostly protects against minor scratches and chemical-related contamination. You won’t need to worry about acidic substances or UV rays creating an issue. However, it doesn’t protect against impacts as well as PPF does, making it a better choice for:
- Roofs
- Doors
- Mirrors
Better Vehicle Aesthetics
Both PPF and EV ceramic coating protection make your car’s paint look:
- Glossy
- Smooth
- Shiny
- Deep in colour
This makes your vehicle look new and well-maintained. People will think that your car is sleek and sophisticated. You’ll be able to feel proud showcasing an elegant, cool ride.
Beyond this, though, the car also will just look cleaner. There won’t be chips and scratches marring its surface, so you’ll look more put-together.
PPF is a self-healing technology, so it will repair small scratches and swirl marks all by itself!
Plus, fewer scratches mean that your EV is less likely to rust, so paint protection goes beyond your vehicle looking nice. It’s a critical part of electric vehicle care solutions. Your car will look great for longer.
Less Maintenance and Repairs
The precise cost of paint protection will depend on several factors:
- The type of protection you choose
- How big an area you’re covering
- The size of your EV in general
- The quality of the protective coating
- The expertise of the person installing your vehicle
However, regardless of how much you pay, you save money on future repairs.
Since paint protection helps prevent your car from sustaining chipping-related damages, you won’t need to get maintenance as frequently. This applies both to routine maintenance and EV touch-ups.
Car respray costs an average of $1,500 and $3,500 in Australia, but it can sometimes cost as much as $5,000. It’s also unavoidable when your car has lots of paint problems that lead to rust from water exposure directly on the vehicle’s body.
Even minor paint correction, detailing, and touch-ups cost between $250 and $1000! You save money in the long term when you invest in EV paint protection.
Maintenance is also much easier. This is because grime doesn’t stick to protected surfaces as easily as unprotected ones. You can clean your protected EV by:
- Mixing warm water with a pH-neutral car wash soap in one bucket
- Getting a second bucket for plain warm water
- Washing the car with soapy water using a soft cloth
- Rinsing the car with a different soft cloth in plain warm water
It’s that simple, and expensive professional cleanings are unnecessary! Automatic car washes can scratch the car’s protective surface. If you use a PPF, automated wash jobs can also lift the edges of the film and ruin it.
Higher Resale Value
A better-looking car stays in great shape and retains a high resale value. Buyers don’t want a car that has a lot of flaws in its paint job. Chips and dents make your car less desirable, and you might not get as much money as you would like when it’s time to trade it in.
Since they last a long time, ceramic coatings also boost your resale value because they’re a feature of the vehicle. It’s not all protected aesthetics. The buyer will reap the advantages of ceramic coating for the vehicle’s lifetime, so they’ll be more willing to pay a higher price for this great add-on.
Get the Best EV Paint Protection in Australia
Now that you know all about EV paint protection, it’s time to keep your vehicle in great shape.
Solar Style located in Brisbane, offers the best workmanship in Australian car paint protection. They’re also committed to offering great customer service to those who need car detailing.
When you bring your EV in for paint protection services, Solar Style can also provide window tint and interior protection, so contact us to learn more about our wide range of available services.