I think EV cars are mature enough. A lot of colleague have EVs, Tesla 3, Bolt, Ioniq 5, Soul EV, etc. and no-one regret it.
Me I don’t need one because I WFH and do maybe 4000 miles (6000km) per year, so buying a 60k$ EV compared to a 30k$ ICE does not make sense, for money.
If your #1 priority is to save the planet and not pollute and you have the money, so of course go for it.
Your second paragraph is why I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I don’t WFH, but my commute is only about 10 miles round trip and most of my errands are done within that same area. My Toyota is 12 years old and only has ~80k miles on it, so it just doesn’t make sense to switch at this point.
That said, I’m casually looking for a new job and my commute would go up dramatically for a lot of options in my field, so I haven’t eliminated the possibility.
Oh yeah, my next car is definitely going to be an EV, regardless, but it does seem silly to spend the money when A) I drive so little and B) I still have student loans I’m trying to clear out in the next year or so. I’m also secretly hoping that in the meantime Toyota will say, “hey here’s a RAV4 that’s identical to your current one except it’s electric!” because I reaaaally love my car and haven’t found anything to take it’s blocky little place in my heart yet.
If your #1 priority is to save the planet and not pollute and you have the money, so of course go for it.
In the pollution case, it’s better to keep a viable used ICE car running than to go buy a new EV.
But that’s completely ignoring the economics of it.
Battery is cheap once purchased. And ICE has more maintenance and repair costs.
Either your drive to the office is unreasonably long, or you are driving much faster than legal. For most roads the legal speed is not that much slower than a bike can go - and you spend a lot of time sitting at stop lights. Which to say an ebike is a reasonable option for a lot of people who refuse to even consider it. Though I don’t know your personal situation and so I cannot be sure. (and often the roads you would have to drive on are not safe for bikes which is a real problem)
It’s a 18 minute drive, and it’s alllll highway. When I put it into Maps and choose bike, it’s gonna be a couple hours. I’m pretty much going straight there on highways at 60-70MPH.
I have a bike and LOVE riding, but it’s impossible for me to sub my car out for one. Plus my parents are a 30min straight shot on highways, and my partner’s parents are 25 minutes… the other direction.
For basically everything I need to go to other than the corner store, parks, or the grocery shop, we gotta drive. Actually, we even have to drive to the grocery shop that’s a few minutes’ walk away, because there’s no chance we’re going to be able to bring all of the stuff we usually get on a bike. 35lbs of cat litter, a big box and big bag of cat food, a couple packs of La Croixeses, and 5-8 bags, gotta do car.
I think EV cars are mature enough. A lot of colleague have EVs, Tesla 3, Bolt, Ioniq 5, Soul EV, etc. and no-one regret it.
Me I don’t need one because I WFH and do maybe 4000 miles (6000km) per year, so buying a 60k$ EV compared to a 30k$ ICE does not make sense, for money.
If your #1 priority is to save the planet and not pollute and you have the money, so of course go for it.
Your second paragraph is why I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I don’t WFH, but my commute is only about 10 miles round trip and most of my errands are done within that same area. My Toyota is 12 years old and only has ~80k miles on it, so it just doesn’t make sense to switch at this point.
That said, I’m casually looking for a new job and my commute would go up dramatically for a lot of options in my field, so I haven’t eliminated the possibility.
Not that buying a whole different car is always financially smart, but you have an ideal setup for getting a cheaper, often lower range EV.
Oh yeah, my next car is definitely going to be an EV, regardless, but it does seem silly to spend the money when A) I drive so little and B) I still have student loans I’m trying to clear out in the next year or so. I’m also secretly hoping that in the meantime Toyota will say, “hey here’s a RAV4 that’s identical to your current one except it’s electric!” because I reaaaally love my car and haven’t found anything to take it’s blocky little place in my heart yet.
In the pollution case, it’s better to keep a viable used ICE car running than to go buy a new EV. But that’s completely ignoring the economics of it. Battery is cheap once purchased. And ICE has more maintenance and repair costs.
Better yet get a bike (or ebike) which is much less pollution and improves your health.
Ah yes, biking two hours each way when I’m summoned into the office. Something I definitely would get up at 4AM to do.
Either your drive to the office is unreasonably long, or you are driving much faster than legal. For most roads the legal speed is not that much slower than a bike can go - and you spend a lot of time sitting at stop lights. Which to say an ebike is a reasonable option for a lot of people who refuse to even consider it. Though I don’t know your personal situation and so I cannot be sure. (and often the roads you would have to drive on are not safe for bikes which is a real problem)
It’s a 18 minute drive, and it’s alllll highway. When I put it into Maps and choose bike, it’s gonna be a couple hours. I’m pretty much going straight there on highways at 60-70MPH.
I have a bike and LOVE riding, but it’s impossible for me to sub my car out for one. Plus my parents are a 30min straight shot on highways, and my partner’s parents are 25 minutes… the other direction.
For basically everything I need to go to other than the corner store, parks, or the grocery shop, we gotta drive. Actually, we even have to drive to the grocery shop that’s a few minutes’ walk away, because there’s no chance we’re going to be able to bring all of the stuff we usually get on a bike. 35lbs of cat litter, a big box and big bag of cat food, a couple packs of La Croixeses, and 5-8 bags, gotta do car.
I would absolutely do the same as you, but I think I’ve seen pictures of ebikes with that exact load. It looks insane, but good for them!
An ebike would have no problem with 20mph and so the trip would be an hour. I agree too much but also your speeds are unusual.
You should get a wagon for grocery shopping they work well for that type of trip.
I don’t think I will. My time with my family is valuable.
i have an e-assist bike and my 1999 ICE little honda and it works out very well.
i cycle into the city when i can. faster, exercise, dont have to pay to park (which is 4 eur an hour)
I work remotely too so a new car is an unnecessary expense. Instead a purchased a different kind of EV: an electric bike!*
*This is a lie I’ve bought four of them send help
I got by brother to buy an ebike, then get a 100% remote job so he never rides it and give me the ebike he doesn’t use. Do we balance each other out?