Electric Vehicles – Ewing VinFast of Plano

January 5, 2025January 14, 2025

Should I Always Charge My EV at Night?

There are many questions new electric vehicle owners have. It’s kind of like having your first baby—although it’s nothing like having a baby, except in the sense that you wonder if you’re doing anything wrong, given you’re in an unfamiliar position. A question experts get asked all the time is when is it best to charge your VinFast EV? While it seems like a no-brainer to say at night, that answer is changing slightly in the current charging landscape. Thanks to new studies and information from companies like Recurrent Auto, we have more information than ever about charging and EV battery health.

To Charge Overnight or to Not Charge Overnight…

Charging your VinFast at night is, in most cases, a logical answer to when you should charge your car. Fewer items in your home are bogging down the grid. While you may be running your dishwasher at night, it’s rare that you’re also running your washing machine and the dryer, all while charging your car while you are sleeping. This means that energy costs and usages are typically much lower, as even your AC or heating system isn’t running as often or as hard, in most cases. However, it should be noted that energy companies could, at some point, start pricing their energy higher due to more demand at supposed off-peak hours around or after midnight.

Check If Your State Uses Solar Energy for the Grid

With that being said, there are states, like California, that utilize and take advantage of solar energy during the daytime when the sun is out and about up in the sky. This window is between 10 am and 4 pm. These would be optimal times to charge a car, as the grid is emitting less carbon dioxide (CO2) and various greenhouse gases. Instead, it’s being charged more naturally by the carbon-neutral sun. According to Recurrent, though, in California only about 25% of all EV charging occurs during 10 am to 4 pm.

Can the Grid Have Too Many EVs Charging?

Now what happens if there are multiple EVs in your neighborhood that are all plugged in overnight? Well, believe it or not, the meter attached to your house is pretty intelligent. Most meters attached to houses are now called AMRs, or Automated Meter Readers, which send all your power and energy usage digitally to the energy provider. With the switch to digital, that means the meters and the grid as a whole can monitor things more closely. For instance, if you have a dozen cars on one street that are all plugged in to charge overnight, the meters and overall grid communicate with one another. They know the energy/charging needs of each car and can appropriately choose which vehicles to charge first. The systems also know when you typically plug your car in to charge and when you unplug your car. So, it will attempt to charge your car to 100% before the usual time that you unplug your car to leave.

What to Do?

What is the answer? Well, home EV chargers can be set to charge to full by a certain time manually via the actual charger or by the app on your smartphone. If you leave for work at 7 am, then you’ll want to make sure your charger knows this and to tell it that you don’t care when your car gets charged, so long as it’s topped up to 100% by 7 am. Some utility companies offer users the ability to tell them when to charge your car, and some companies are working together to develop even smarter home charging systems that can learn when charging is cheapest, as well as automatically charge from renewable energy sources, whether from your house or the grid.

Things Are Changing Quickly for the Better

The EV industry is changing rapidly, bringing new questions and added solutions. For now, it’s best to plug your car in nightly at home and to tell the charger when you need your VinFast to be fully charged.

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.

August 2, 2024August 27, 2024

VF8 vs Rivian R1S

2024 Vinfast VF8 in orange featuring the frunk storage compartment opened easily by a person

The VinFast VF8 may be new to the market, but it’s quickly making a name for itself as a true potential contender against other EV SUVs and crossovers that have been on the market for longer. Buying or leasing a new car should always come down to personal preference. The VF8 offers a lot of bang for the buck compared to everything else on the road.

Trim Levels and Battery Pack

There are two trim levels for the VF8, the base Eco and the Plus trim, and both models feature an 87.7 kWh dual-motor battery pack with standard all-wheel drive, which are two things that are typically optional in most EVs. In our last comparison article, we looked at how the VF8 stacks up against the Volkswagen ID.4, and you can say with confidence that the VinFast had the upper hand. This time, we are looking at the Rivian R1S, a capable EV SUV.

Meet The Rivian R1S

The Rivian comes in 5 different trim levels: The Adventure Dual Standard, Adventure Dual LaMax, and Ascend Quad Max. There is a range of horsepower and torque numbers, from 533 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque for the base model, 850 horsepower and 1,103 lb-ft of torque, to 1,025 horses and 1,198 torque. The base model Dual Standard has a dual motor with all-wheel drive with a 92.5 kWh battery.

How Much Do Both EVs Cost?

Price is always a talking point, and with the VinFast VF8, the Eco starts from $46,000, while the Plus has a base price of just $51,800. The base Rivian Adventure Dual Standard has a base price of $75,900. For that price, you would hope that your EV will have a ton of range, but the R1S can go 258 miles on a full charge or 270 miles with special 22-inch wheels that are a $2,000 option. The VF8, on the other hand, can drive 264 miles in Eco trim and 243 miles with the Plus trim.

Just Speedy Enough

No one will confuse the VF8 for being a speed demon. With 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque in the Eco, you can get from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. Stepping up to the Plus trim gives buyers 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque and will reach 60 mph in less than 5.5 seconds. The Rivian is faster. The Adventure Dual Standard can go from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. However, looking at the numbers, it seems odd that the Rivian has 131 more horsepower and 153 more torque than the VF8 Plus and is just a second quicker to 60. You would expect it to be much faster. Where is all of that power going?

Excellent Tech

Both VF8 models feature a 15.6-inch touchscreen that controls everything in the vehicle, allowing drivers and passengers to have everything they want or need at their fingertips. A beautiful and bright head-up display is also standard on all models, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both Eco and Pro models feature two USB-A ports up front, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port for rear passengers to keep all devices charged.

The Rivian Doesn’t Have What Now?!

None of the Rivian R1S models have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, nor does it have a heads-up display. For nearly $80,000, you don’t get a key piece of safety technology to keep your eyes on the road.

Sony RIDEVU

Another key feature that the Rivian lacks is RIDEVU, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s all-new in-car entertainment service, which is free for all VinFast owners with the VF Connect Package. All passengers can stream the same or different content to their iPhone or Android device while in the car. If the vehicle is parked, the content can be streamed on the central display for all to see.

Some of The Best Safety Tech

No matter the trim level you choose, the VF8 has everything you need regarding safety. Standard features on both models include 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.

We look forward to serving you.

June 15, 2024June 26, 2024

The VinFast VF8 Against The Rest

Red Vinfast VF8 driving outside Vinfast dealership.

Even though the 2024 VinFast VF8 is new to the market, it has plenty of tricks up its sleeve and a lot of great standard features that put it right up against some of the best electric vehicles out today. With good power, features, and technology for a good price, the VF8 may be new, but it’s mature.

Features Like No Other

Buying a new EV can be daunting for newcomers to the electric car world. There are lots of options from many automakers. The VinFast VF8 has a base price of $47,325, with fully loaded models hitting $55,000, which is the price of some base EVs in this segment. There are a host of brilliant safety and technology features, including being the only vehicle in its class with Sony RIDEVU, a revolutionary way to watch over 2,000 Sony movies on your car’s infotainment screen or your smartphone.

Standard AWD and Dual Motors

Each VF8 model, whether you buy the Eco or Plus trim, comes with standard all-wheel drive and an 87.7 kWh dual-motor battery system. All-wheel drive and a dual-motor battery pack are optional on the new Honda Prologue, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 6, Kona, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, and the Chevrolet Blazer EV. Once you option all-wheel drive and two motors, all of those cars also have a higher base price than the VF8.

A Superior Price and Features Than The Volkswagen ID.4

The VinFast VF8 has a good amount of range for buyers, with the base model having an EPA-estimated 264 miles, which is quite a bit more than the standard Volkswagen ID.4 with just 209 miles and rear-wheel drive. If you want all-wheel drive, ID.4 buyers have to spend roughly an extra $10,000, and the range only jumps to 263. The ID.4 with all-wheel drive has a base MSRP of $50,180 before any options are added, which is about $3,000 more than a well-optioned VF8. Unlike the Volkswagen, which can only tow up to 2,700 lbs in higher trim levels, all VF8 models can tow up to 4,000 lbs when properly equipped.

Faster Than Most For Less

The VinFast is not meant to be a speed demon like some EVs out there. However, it still will get up and go, with a 0-60 mph time of just 5.0 seconds, which is not only faster than the previously mentioned Volkswagen ID.4’s 7.3 seconds, but also quicker than the Hyundai IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kona EV, as well as the Chevrolet Blazer EV RS’s 6.0 seconds. Amazingly, the VinFast is less expensive than the Chevy’s base price of over $50,000 before adding any options. The VF8 comes standard with a head-up display. However, that is a $2,620 option for the Blazer EV.

Premium Without The Price

The new 2024 Acura ZDX has 278 miles of EV range, which is a little more than the VinFast VF8’s 264 miles. However, the base model’s $64,500 starting price is $18,000 premium, so is that really worth 14 extra miles?

A Warranty That’s Second To None

All of the EV models on the market have a pretty good warranty. The best you will see from most EVs from Chevrolet, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Honda, Audi, Jaguar, and the like is about 4-5 years up to about 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and ten years or up to 155,000 miles of warranty for the battery system. Every VinFast model comes with a 10-year, 125,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year, unlimited-mile battery warranty. That is the pièce de résistance that absolutely no one can compete with.

We look forward to serving you.

May 10, 2024May 29, 2024

VinFast VF8 Frequently Asked Questions

The VinFast VF8 is a great new all-electric vehicle that allows buyers to enjoy a gas-free lifestyle with ultimate luxury, style, and comfort. However, with a brand-new EV, there are always questions that need to be answered.

How long does it take to charge the battery in the 2024 VinFast VF8?

When connected to a Level 1 standard 120-volt wall outlet, the VinFast VF8 offers a range of 3-4 miles for every hour of charging. When using a Level 2 240V charger, you will see about 25 miles of range per hour of charging.

A Level 3 DC Fast charger can charge the battery from 10% to 70% in just 31 minutes.

What is the full driving range of the VF8?

The 2024 VF8 has two trim levels: Eco and Plus. The base Eco trim has an estimated driving range of 264 miles, while the top-line Plus trim is estimated to have a range of up to 243 miles.

What kind of tech features does the VinFast have?

The VF8 comes standard with a 15.6-inch touchscreen that controls everything in the vehicle, allowing drivers and passengers to have everything they want or need at their fingertips. A beautiful and bright head-up display is also standard on all models. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are also standard across the board.

Both Eco and Pro models feature two USB-A ports up front, two USB-A ports and one USB-C port for rear passengers to keep all devices charged.

What are the safety features of the VF8?

The VF8 is very advanced when it comes to safety. It has the latest and greatest safety technology including 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 models also have 11 total airbags.

What is the performance like in the VF8?

The VinFast VF8 Eco model has 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque and can get from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. Stepping up to the Plus trim gives buyers 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque and will reach 60 mph in less than 5.5 seconds.

How much cargo capacity does the VF8 have?

Customers will love the usability of the VinFast vehicles, especially the VF8. The rear cargo area behind the rear seats has 48 cu.ft. of space, with an extra 2.7 cu.ft. in the front trunk or frunk.

Can the VF8 tow?

Absolutely! The 2024 VinFast VF8 is able to tow up to 4,000 lbs when properly equipped.

How good is the warranty?

All models have a 10-year, 125,000-mile warranty with a 10-year, unlimited-mile battery warranty. VinFast believes in ensuring that customers feel comfortable knowing that our vehicles are reliable, and we happily stand by them with top-notch warranties.

At Ewing VinFast of Plano, we have the best prices on dozens of new VinFast EVs, as well as used cars. Our well-educated sales staff and finance department will happily assist you with any of your EV questions and needs. Our amazing service department will make sure that your vehicle stays in the best condition.

We look forward to serving you.

May 1, 2024May 30, 2024

What to look for when test-driving an EV

When buying an electric vehicle, there may be some hesitation or nervousness if you aren’t used to driving an EV and understand that it drives a little differently than a car with an internal combustion engine. While a car is a car, there are some subtle and not-so-subtle differences between the different engine types.

One Pedal Driving

One thing that may seem odd initially with an EV is one-pedal driving. This does not mean that there is only a single pedal. One-pedal driving means that when driving normally, once you take your foot off the gas pedal, the car will immediately start to slow down and come to an eventual stop. Obviously, you can still use the brake pedal to come to a stop more quickly, and taking your foot off the throttle will immediately engage the brake lights. Any time you let off the accelerator or use the brakes, the motor utilizes the kinetic energy of braking to provide battery regeneration power to the motor. You can actually increase your driving range over time by being in stop-and-go traffic.

100% Power All The Time

Speaking of one-pedal driving, people who aren’t used to driving EVs always love the instant torque that the battery motor supplies. There is no waiting for the engine to spool up, and the car just keeps on going without shifting any gears—just pure power from any speed.

Pure Silence

As you are driving, notice how quiet the car is while going down the road and on the highway. While in a gas-powered car, you get used to hearing the engine, exhaust, and related noises; an electric vehicle does not have those sounds. Instead, you don’t have to turn the radio up as loudly to try and drown out other car sounds.

Infotainment Display

Most EVs have one central-mounted infotainment touchscreen display. The VinFast VF8 features a 15.6-inch display that allows the driver and front passenger to control everything in the vehicle within seconds. Any setting you can think of is at your fingertips. The large head-up display also gives relevant information to the driver, including turn-by-turn navigation, speed, range, and the like.

We look forward to serving you.