It’s true. I’m not going to pretend that electric cars are for everyone. Maybe driving one is right for you. Maybe it’s really not.
If you ask an EV owner why they drive an electric car, you will probably get one of three answers. Let’s break these typical responses down a bit to see how true they really are, and how much is subject to opinion. Then I will go into the Pros and Cons of EV ownership, and ultimately why they are right for my family.
Claim 1: EVs are better for the environment.
Sure, EVs do not emit gasses driving down the street. They don’t even have exhaust pipes. They don’t emit fumes, and that’s a plus for air quality. But realistically, they are not an environmental win across the board. Perhaps I would digress if I attempted to make the case against anthropogenic climate change and point out the corrupt motives and economic and political drivers behind the regulation of CO2. But sure, I will give it to the folks that say it’s always best to “leave no trace” and minimize pollutants. But just because fumes don’t come out of a car exhaust, that doesn’t mean they are eliminated all together.
If you were driving an EV to reduce your CO2 output, to be truly genuine in that effort, you would need to consider where your electric comes from. Different cities will have different methods of producing electricity. And most cities are connected to “the grid,” meaning the electric they produce feeds a grid that feeds the whole country. So the electric fueling your EV was likely produced by some mix of all of the production methods used across the country, weighted by the power sources closest to you. To truly calculate your CO2 output, you would have to consider how much CO2 was produced from the natural gas, nuclear, coal, (etc.) power plants across the country and somehow scale that figure to your actual use of electric. Is that net figure better or worse than a gasoline-powered car? I don’t know. But the EV advantage here is in the increasing use of “green” energy feeding into the grid. The pros and cons of the grid going “green” is a whole separate argument. But if CO2 is going the be the metric we use to measure “environmental-friendliness,” increased electric production by windmill, solar, and hydroelectric plants does tend to make the net CO2 figure for EVs more favorable.
Juneau is not connected to “the grid” down south. By lower-48 standards, we are a remote community. Our electric is produced by a hydroelectric dam. So when you drive an EV in Juneau, your electric is truly green. Unless we are in a drought–then the electric power source switches to petroleum (diesel), which is far worse.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the batteries themselves. The manufacturing of these cars has a long way to go if EVs are ever going to be truly environmentally friendly. I have a lot to learn in this area, but there are a few materials that go into making an EV battery that must be mined out of the earth, including lithium, cobalt, and nickle. Mining is a dirty and dangerous job, and certainly leaves its mark on the planet (not to mention the miners). How big is that mark in comparison to the alternatives, and what can be done to improve current conditions?
For cobalt mining, the mark is enormous, as it is often associated with human rights concerns in the Congo. Lithium and nickle are also very resource intensive, and associated with heavy pollution. In 2020, Elon Musk announced Tesla would be switching over to using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, eliminating the use of cobalt and nickle. Will other EV makers follow suit? Will this lessen the environmental impacts of battery production? I hope so.
As battery demand rises, so does scrutiny over the “dirty” side of production. Hopefully this will result in 1) the production of alternative technologies (like the LFP battery), 2) better and “cleaner” mining conditions, and ultimately, 3) better methods of refurbishing and recycling the materials in old batteries. Some EV manufactures already have battery refurbishing/recycling methods. When I had warranty work done on my 2014 Tesla and found it needed a whole new battery, they took the damaged one off and replaced it with a “new” refurbished battery. So I know first hand, contrary to the critic’s belief, that EV manufactures aren’t just dumping broken batteries into the landfill en masse. But I hope this is common practice among all manufactures, not just Tesla.
Claim 2: EVs are cheaper to maintain.
An EV typically does not require as much maintenance as a gas powered car. They do not need oil changes or fuel filters, and in fact lack the entire combustible engine and all of its parts that need regular replacing. EVs will still need brake maintenance, air filters, and of course tires and windshield wiper fluid. However, this lower maintenance trend varies with car make. My 2013 Nissan Leaf has been a workhorse, needing only a new 12V battery and a new set of tires since we purchased it in 2019. My 2013 and 2014 Teslas, on the other hand, have needed so many specialized repairs I have lost count. So much so that we were driven to sell our 2014. Between the two, we have dropped $7,000 -$9,000 in car repairs since we bought them last summer. Door handles, water leaks, screen repairs, worn out motors for wipers and trunks, etc. I attribute this difference in car “neediness” to the fact that Tesla didn’t start making cars until 2012. Our cars were made in the company’s first 3 years of production, and the 2013 is now 9 years old. Tesla is comparatively a very young company selling a product with features never before seen in the auto industry, still learning what it takes to meet long-term durability expectations. I do not believe their newer model years are this needy off the bat. Nissan has had decades of car manufacturing under its belt, and while the EV battery technology might be newer to them, they had door handles and trunk seals figured out a long time ago. The trade off is their batteries suck in comparison. And honestly, they are only in the EV market to begin with to stay relevant, not because they want to blast EV sales.
Most people like to bring up the cost of replacing a broken EV battery here. Yes, the typical EV battery (the one that powers the drive-train, not the 12V) can run upwards of $7,000, depending on the car. However, most batteries come with a 7-10 year warranty. This might impact resale value if you’re approaching the end of your warranty and have not had your battery replaced, and it is certainly something to ask questions about when on the market for a used EV. But remember, the EV battery essentially replaces the entire engine of a gas powered car. How much would a new engine cost you? It might last longer, maybe, but it will probably cost more to replace. At this point, when most people hear “it needs a new engine,” it means they need a new car. Same with EVs, unless you want to pay to put a new battery in your 10 year old car.
Claim 3: EVs are fun to drive.
This is true. EVs have very peppy acceleration, and have a very low center of gravity thanks to the battery placement on the bottom of the car, which translates to great handling and off-the-line speed. The regenerative breaking may take some getting used to, but it’s part of the fun once you become familiar with it. Teslas take the cake in this category, hands down, with 0-60s of roughly 5 seconds or less. Something to note though, unless you specifically drive one with dual motor/all wheel drive: Teslas come standard with rear wheel drive. If you’re not familiar, rear wheel drive vehicles handle differently–especially in slick or snowy conditions.
On the other hand, if you are the type of driver that gets your kicks from the loud roar of an engine, the vibrations, and the smell of gas when you hit the pedal to the metal, you will miss those things in an EV. In my humble opinion, the performance and handling of a Tesla makes up for it. (I mean, you could try hot rodding in a Leaf, but if we’re being honest here, you will look ridiculous.)
Pros and Cons of EV ownership
Pro: You don’t have to worry about rising gas prices.
That’s a huge pro these days. Electricity is a fraction of the cost.
Con: They are expensive compared to ICE cars of the same style.
In most cases, no, the gas savings will not entirely offset the increased cost of the car. You have to ask yourself if you really want an EV. Hopefully with cheaper battery development (LFP batteries), the EV sticker price will be able to come down a bit. Used cars are also where it’s at, but just do your research on what you’re buying. Not many (next to zero) dealers know what they are talking about when it comes to EVs.
Pro: You will discover a new lifestyle and meet new people.
It does tend to feel like joining a club. You will meet other EV owners at charging stations who may also be just hanging out with their cars. Most folks are really friendly and just happy to see other like-minded drivers. The necessity of plugging in at public chargers for long-ish periods of time also encourages you to get out and explore more. I have done more walking around while charging my cars than I have around my own neighborhood.
Pro: The self-reliance possibility of generating your own fuel exists.
Have solar panels? A wind turbine? If not, do you want a reason to justify getting one? I know we do. Being 100% self-sufficient is a life goal of ours. The idea that we could theoretically generate our own fuel for our car is super exciting to us.
Con: Refueling stops take longer and happen more often.
Depending on how quickly your EV is capable of recharging and the type of charging system available, it may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours to fully recharge. The range of your car will also dictate how often these stops need to happen. I do NOT suggest getting a car without the DC Quick Charge capability unless you know you only commute very short distances every day and are able to reliably plug in overnight, every night.
Con: Planning, flexibility and adaptation are required.
Planning your charging stops out on road trips is extremely important. Trust me, I speak from experience. Do not let yourself get stuck in rural Indiana running an extension cord through your hotel room window so you can wake up in the morning with (at best) 20 miles of charge to get to the next town over with a faster public charger. When you fail to plan, plan to be flexible… to the extreme. There is no jerry jug for an EV. It’s called a tow truck.
Con: Living in a cutoff community presents huge challenges if your EV requires a mechanic.
Unless it’s just cosmetic damage, most auto mechanics won’t touch electric cars unless they specialize in that kind of repair. In most cases, if something goes wrong with your EV, you have to take it back to a dealership service center. Which is a pain in the rear (and thousands of dollars in ferry/barge shipping) for those of us in cutoff communities. Thankfully, both Tesla and Nissan have traveling service techs that are able to come to Juneau to do minor/moderate repairs. It just takes a really long time to get repairs actually completed (heaven forbid the tech discovers they need a part or tool they didn’t bring).
So, are EVs better?
It depends. Sorry! There’s no right answer to this question. EVs are not inherently more environmentally friendly, though they do carry that possibility. EVs are not necessarily cheaper to maintain, but they can be. Whether or not they are more fun is subject to your own preferences.
For my family, they just make sense. Juneau is powered by hydropower and isn’t very big, so electric is “green” and I don’t have to worry too much about range anxiety. EV charging is free in Juneau (for now), and I got great deals on the used EVs I do own. I don’t put much value on having a super “fun” or sporty car (before our first EV, I drove a Chevy Spark–LOL). But I do very much enjoy driving our Model S. Tesla maintenance has been the surprise factor, costing more than we would ever have expected the past year. But our Nissan Leaf has been ol’ reliable. And in the end, we love the idea of being independent from gas prices and foreign oil. I love that we can power our vehicles at home, and that someday, we will be able to create that power ourselves (even if we don’t have the infrastructure set up right now).
So no, electric cars are not THE solution for the environment/your pocket book/world peace. Anyone who says they are is trying to sell you something. (Well, so am I, but I’m trying to be honest here.) Is an EV right for you? That’s up to you. Tell me in the comments below. Hopefully this has helped in your decision making process!
If you’re seriously considering purchasing an EV, try renting one for a couple days on Turo and see if you like it. If you’re in Juneau, come test drive one of ours! (That’s the sales pitch.)