Can You Spare a Tire, Friend?

Source: @Nick.Singleton10/Instagram Savage Auto Group has announced that it will be sponsoring Penn State star running back and Reading native, Nick Singleton. Singleton, who attended nearby Governor Mifflin High School, is one of the nation’s top college football players and a future NFL star. Savage Auto Group will be working with Nick throughout his time at Penn State and during his journey to the NFL. This sponsorship is made possible thanks to recent changes to NCAA player name, image and likeness (NIL) rules. With these changes, businesses and communities throughout the United States are now able to provide invaluable support for their local athletes in chasing their dreams. For up-and-coming athletes like Nick Singleton, the support of local businesses and the community is crucial to ensuring success. That is why Savage Auto Group is proud to sponsor Nick and wishes him all the best on his road to the NFL.

Driving an EV on a sunny summer dayPlanning a fun road trip in your EV this summer? Then you’re going to want to read this! As an electric vehicle owner, you’re most likely calculating your battery’s range and planning the trip accordingly, so we put together some tips to help you out. While battery technology in EVs has made substantial progress in recent years, they aren’t without their shortcomings. One of the most glaring weaknesses is the reduced driving range electric vehicle owners experience in extreme temperatures. Although the hot summer weather may work to reduce your battery’s range, we’ve put together a list of tips that can help you get the most out of your battery. Before you head out on your summer journey, give this list of tips for summer EV driving a quick read — it’s sure to help! Driving Range While driving an electric vehicle in the summer, one of the most important things to remember is the difference in driving range. According to AAA, the driving range of an EV battery can be reduced by up to 17% in temperatures above 95º, which is a significant reduction in range. Due to this reduction in range, you should be paying close attention to your EV’s charge level during the summers to avoid any problems. If you’re looking for a way to keep your range where it needs to be during the summer, a good way to do so is to use less air conditioning. Opting to drive with the windows down can reduce the load on your EV’s batteries which will help you get the range you're accustomed to. It may seem crazy to opt out of using A/C in the summer, but when you’re spending less time at the charging station it all begins to make sense. Find Some Shade Keeping the interior of your car is always important in the summers, but when you own an EV its even more important. When you keep your EV cool, the batteries are able to function at peak capacity, providing the best range your car has to offer. However, if you’re parked in the middle of an open field on a sweltering hot day, chances are you’re directly reducing the amount of range your car’s batteries have. This is why we recommend always parking in shaded areas when possible. When you can’t park in a shaded area, the best thing you could do is use a windshield shade to keep the interior of your EV nice and cool. Whichever way you decide to keep your car cool, doing so is the best way to get the full range from your EV battery. Try Not to Fast Charge One of the most convenient ways to charge your electric vehicle is via rapid charging, however, this is also a great way to reduce the lifespan of its batteries. That is why we recommend skipping the fast charging station on hot summer days. While your EV is made and rated to handle fast charging, doing so as your sole means of charging is not the best way to elongate the life of your EV batteries. When you do opt to fast charge, try to do it sparingly, and preferably in a climate-controlled space. If you own a house with a garage, charging your EV in that enclosed space is a great way to get a full charge in a reasonable amount of time. Since your battery won’t have to fight against the elements, charging your battery in a garage or climate-controlled space reduced charging time rapidly. Precondition Your Cabin As we mentioned before, keeping your EV cool is one of the best ways to ensure you get the most range out of its battery. A great way to do it is by preconditioning your interior, which on most EVs is done by remote starting your vehicle. With preconditioning, you can run the air conditioning before you ever set foot in the vehicle, which not only makes it comfortable for you but also increases battery range. Most electric vehicles these days have a preconditioning or remote start feature, which makes life far easier during the summer. If you don’t have a preconditioning or remote start mode on your EV, you may be able to have an aftermarket remote starter installed which can function similarly to a built-in preconditioning mode. Travel Light A piece of advice that can be used year-round, traveling light is a fantastic way to get the most out of your EV battery. The more weight you have in your car, the harder its batteries have to work to get you going — effectively reducing the overall range. If you’re planning to hit the roads for a long trip this summer, make sure you’re traveling light in order to get the most out of your battery’s range. In the event that you can’t travel with minimal gear, we recommend having a pre-planned charging strategy so you’re never stranded. Visit Savage KIA Today Now that you’re an expert on driving an EV during the summer, it's time for you to get out there and enjoy it! If you don’t have an EV to enjoy your summer in, that’s okay! At Savage KIA we have a huge selection of new and used electric vehicles for you to choose from. If you’re not ready to make the jump to an EV, we have plenty of traditional cars, trucks and SUVs to choose from here at Savage KIA. Don’t want to overpay for your next electric vehicle, then you need to visit us at 2725 Centre Avenue today! Whether you’re looking for a great deal or great service, at Savage KIA you’re sure to find it.

As fuel prices soar and climate change becomes a larger public concern, the need for electric vehicles becomes clearer and clearer. Despite the growing need for electric vehicles, there is no shortage of negative rumors surrounding the vehicles. You’ll hear about “range anxiety” or how rare materials are used to build batteries for EVs. The thing is, you could say many of the same things about gas-powered vehicles — without all the benefits of an EV. Whether you’re considering an electric vehicle or flat out refuse to adapt, this blog will show you just how practical electric vehicles are. By the time you finish this blog, you’ll be convinced that electric vehicles are the future of automobiles — and that future is now. Once you’re done reading, make sure to pay a visit to Savage KIA located in Reading to test drive an electric vehicle today. They Require Less Maintenance One of the biggest reasons electric vehicles are more practical than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is that they require less maintenance. With a gas-powered vehicle, you have to perform routine maintenance, such as oil changes and tune-ups — all of which are costly. Unlike gas-powered cars, electric vehicles require little to no routine maintenance and will only see a mechanic when it needs major repairs or servicing. While electric vehicles will still need new tires, brakes and wiper blades throughout the year, you will still be performing less routine maintenance on them compared to a gas-powered vehicle. This means you’ll be able to save tons of money on oil changes, tune-ups, fluid changes and other routine maintenance that is associated with a gas-powered vehicle. With the money you save on both fuel and maintenance costs, owning an electric vehicle practically pays for itself! Save on Fuel Costs An obvious benefit to electric cars is the amount of money you will save by not purchasing fuel. If you own a fully-electric vehicle you won’t be hitting the local gas station to fuel up once a week. Instead, you’ll be able to “fuel” up at home as you can have a level 2 or 3 charger installed inside of your garage with relative ease. This means not only will you save money on fuel, but you’ll also save yourself some time as you won’t have to travel to the gas station. Now, if you live in an apartment complex, charging your EV might be a bit more complicated if your complex doesn’t have on-site charging stations. In this case, you’ll have to figure out where the nearest charging station is and spend a bit of time charging up there. While the time spent charging may be a drawback, if you can combine it with other activities it is quite practical. Whether you have the ability to charge at home will decide just how practical owning an EV is for you. However, as time goes on and EVs grow in popularity, more public charging options will become available and make owning an EV more practical than ever before. Even if you don’t have the ability to charge an EV at home, the amount of money you’ll save on fuel and maintenance is enough reason to make the switch. Self-Driving Mode A feature straight out of a sci-fi movie, self-driving technology is yet another reason owning an electric vehicle is more practical than you may think. We all know that driving is dangerous and combining human error with it only heightens the amount of risk — yet we all get behind the wheel each morning without a second thought. With self-driving electric vehicles, that inherent risk of human error is eliminated, making the roads a safer place for everyone. Self-driving car technology allows you to commute completely hands-free as artificial intelligence makes driving decisions for you. You will have to remain alert at all times while using the self-driving mode just in case you need to take control of the vehicle at any time. Not only do self-driving cars keep people and the roads safer, but they also make your daily commute easier than ever before. Test Drive an EV Today at Savage KIA Now that you know just how practical owning an electric vehicle can be, it’s time for you to test drive one at Savage KIA. At Savage KIA, we offer the best deals on new and used KIA vehicles — including the electrifying EV6. If you don’t want to overpay for your next car, you need to visit Savage KIA today!