It appears that many internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle owners have reservations about buying an electric car—despite the fact that a future world full of EVs seems inevitable. “Range anxiety” tops the list of concerns, but consumers are also worried about the cost of the vehicle itself, as well as the cost of repairing a fancy computer on wheels—and of course, the existing infrastructure (or lack thereof) for EVs in the United States. Here’s what you need to know before you buy that electric vehicle, according to the true experts: current EV owners themselves. However, the numbers indicate that 96 percent of all EV owners are so satisfied with their vehicles that they will only buy another EV, according to an AAA study. According to that same study, once people buy an EV, 43 percent of them drive more than they did when they had an ICE vehicle. Despite 78 percent of EV owners also having ICE vehicles at home, they tend to favor their EV; over 85 percent say they do the majority of their driving using their EV. You’ll have to wait for a spot to open up at the public charging station. You may not be in an area where you feel comfortable leaving your car for extended periods or overnight while it is charging (or you may not be allowed to). It’s also more expensive to charge your vehicle in a public station, rather than at an at-home charging station. If you need your car for day-to-day transportation, this may not be the right option for you. With regards to what maintenance these vehicles do need, think about tires, tire rotations, tire pressure check, cabin filter, wiper blades, washer fluid, wheel alignment, brakes, air desiccant, coolant. You’ll still be going to the mechanic every six months, but your cost for service will be negligible when compared to ICE vehicle visits, seeing as you’ll pay an average of $330 less per year. The most expensive part of the vehicle, the electric battery, has a minimum warranty of eight years thanks to federal regulations. That said, when taking into consideration the significantly lower cost of maintaining an electric car, and the number of lower-cost models entering the market, owning an electric car is just slightly more expensive than an ICE vehicle. Just $300 a year more. The concerns that ICE vehicle owners have about owning an EV seem to disappear when they actually buy the electric vehicle, which points to the idea that EVs are actually a solid option for many consumers as long as you do your homework first. Be sure to consider the range of the vehicle, your driving habits, the warranty on the vehicle, extreme cold or heat in your environment—and you’ll find that investing in an EV is a lot simpler, and often less intimidating, than you might think.
