subject: The Advantages of RC Electric Cars for Beginners [print this page] The Advantages of RC Electric Cars for Beginners
There are many different types of RC vehicles, there are RC electric cars, trucks, as well as a variety of different other vehicles like tanks, boats and airplanes. There are also gas and Nitro vehicles as well. You can find them in Ready-To-Run models, which can be used right out of the box, as well as in kits that you have to put together yourself. If you are just starting out in the RC hobby, it may be a good idea to get yourself a good electric car first.
RC electric cars have many advantages over other RC vehicles. Most of these are RTR, and after charging the battery pack they can be put to use right away. Electric cars are also much easier to deal with, and more reliable than gas models. You don't have to worry about trying to put gas into the small tanks, getting the fuel all over yourself, as well as dealing with the exhaust emissions. Gas powered models go much faster, but because they use fuel instead of electricity, they run out within a few minutes. An electric model can go for a half an hour or more, depending on the size of the battery pack. Most people that have electric cars carry a charged up spare battery pack to extend their play time.
While RC electric cars are slower than gas model RC vehicles, this is a good thing, especially for the novice. Driving an RC car is much different than driving a regular car, and you need to get used to the RC controller. Having a slower vehicle can prevent you from driving off the road, and damaging your car. While they may be somewhat cheaper than a gas model, this doesn't mean they are any less rugged. They are far less expensive to replace than a gas model, so you can practice driving and if something does happen, you aren't out hundreds of dollars.
While RC electric cars have more advantages that gas powered RC vehicles, there are some disadvantages that you have to be aware of. One of them is that is takes time for the battery packs to recharge, sometimes up to six hours. Battery packs are not all the same, for the best power and reliability, you should choose a Lithium battery. These last longer, charge faster and run longer than other batteries.
There are many different RC electric cars to choose from. It is a good idea to avoid those toy RC vehicles that you would find at mass marketing retailers, because these are cheaply made and won't last very long. If you want a car that is going to take the abuse that a beginner may dish out, a hobby grade model is what you want. They may be a little more expensive, but you will find they last much longer than cheap imitation RC cars and vehicles.
When choosing the right RC electric cars, it is important that you decide what you are going to be using it for. If you are going to run RC vehicles just on the street, you can choose from a number of low profile racing cars. If you are planning to drive around on rougher terrain, then choosing a dune buggy or something with a higher clearance level is a must.
