Photo courtesy: @andreasdress (Unsplash)
Last week I attended Fully Charged Live in Austin, TX with a lot of folks who already know, love and enjoy Electric Vehicles (EVs). Now, I know that I write about cars and the auto industry but when I polled readers, friends, and showgoers at the event who didn’t own an EV the same three questions, fears, and myths came up over and over again.
TOP 3 EV FEARS & MYTHS
- EVs are too expensive. How can I afford one?
- Charging takes too long and I don’t want to run out of power. Where are charging stations in my area? What are the costs and time restraints?
- An EV is too expensive to fix.
I’m going to answer these questions and quell your fears as well as bust some EV myths here.
Question one came up often. When people think of EVs they often think of one brand, Tesla. They know that they are priced “prohibitively” as one reader stated. The average new car price in the U.S. right now is $36,718. That number may surprise you. A new Nissan Leaf starts at $29,900. A Kia Niro EV starts at $39,495. In between those is the Chevy Bolt EV and Volkswagen Golf. If you think beyond Tesla (a Model 3 starts at $35,000) then you can find an affordable EV.
Another option for you might be a used EV. This is something I never considered but dealerships are offering them more and more. You can often an EV that is right for you around $15-20K. Current Automotive, based out of Chicago, is competing with Carvana by offering used EVs that can be delivered right to your door.
Photo courtesy: @jan_kaluza (Unsplash).
CHARGE IT UP
The answer to the second question is that most charging occurs at home in the EV owner’s garage or driveway. Charging often occurs at night when power rates are lower. Cities like New York and San Diego now offer free charging stations throughout the city. Austin Energy put charging stations in affordable housing communities to help those who don’t have access to a home garage. I live out in the suburbs of Northern Virginia and driving is a way of life. In the last five years, I have seen charging stations, including fast-charge stations, pop up at my local mall, Walgreens, and a movie theater. Those are the ones I see in plain sight. It does not count for the charging stations in front of office buildings. You can find a charging station near you via many apps or looking at Plugshare.
BUT HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
All EVs come with a 120 Volt charger. It can be plugged into a standard household outlet. Use 240 Volt charger is faster. A level 1 EV (120 Volt)- 5 miles of range per hour. A level 2 EV (240 Volt)- 10-27 miles of range per hour. DC fast Charging or Tesla superchargers can give you an 80% charge in under 30 minutes.
The average American commutes about 16 miles a day. EVs drive range is between 70 to 370 miles depending on the battery size in the car. Even if your commute is longer than 16 miles you are probably safe to drive an EV.
Photo courtesy: @jan_kaluza (Unsplash).
What About Maintenance?
The answer to this one surprised me. Maintenance costs to EVs are low compared to gas vehicles. Why? Because there are fewer moving parts on an EV. You don’t need to change the oil on an EV or spark plugs, belts, filters, or do smog checks. You will spend money on washer fluid, tires, wipers, and brake pads.
On the Fence About an EV?
If you are still questioning whether or not an EV is for you consider these three things.
- What is the geography and climate of your home? Colder weather means more power sucked from the EV battery. Hills can also affect the battery range.
- How far do you drive on average each day?
- Will you charge at home or at a public place?
You can always find an EV buddy to help guide you if this a direction you want to move in with your next vehicle purchase.
*Disclosure: TMC was not paid for this post. Energy Media paid for travel expenses for me to attend the Fully Charged Live event. Opinions are 100% my own.
