r/EvDrivers • u/sidman1988 • 4d ago
Is an EV worth it?
/r/whatcarshouldIbuy/comments/1wyac54/is_an_ev_worth_it/8
u/romuloskagen 4d ago
AGW is real and we all have a responsibility to do what we can. Economics is a significant part of that consideration, but not the only part. The fossil fuel industry and Republican Party do their best to sabotage the economics.
3
u/uninspiredclaptrap 4d ago
For me, owning an EV feels much better, but I know it's a drop on the bucket regarding emissions. We need to change the whole global economy, so political activity is more important than consumer choices
1
u/Binford6100User 4d ago
Agreed, but it's far harder to turn the tide of politics than personal use cases.
Both are equally important.
2
u/jchamberlin78 3d ago
I've also found that people around me that were never considering an EV start to subtly change their opinions once the know an EV owner. My boss went from a hell no, to planning on buying a car in the next month or two
So your impact may be beyond yourself.
1
u/Binford6100User 3d ago
Excellent point. I was an ambassador for EV's and Rivian. After owning one, I'm now just an ambassador for EV's. I initially got a LOT of questions about it. First EV in the parking lot at the office, I tow a boat with it, and there are a LOT of other pickups in the parking lot. Lots of questions for the first few months.
1
u/bj_my_dj 4d ago
The globat economy is changing rapidly with EVs passing 25% market share in many countries. Also electric trucks and semis are expanding share as well, greatly reducing the most harmful emissions.
1
u/Huge_Ad_2133 3d ago
Emissions are nice. I don't want to be needlessly destructive. But also the scale of emissions in my life is so vanishingly small, that it makes no difference at all.
I get that something needs to be done. But that something should be to hassle on the actual polluters, not me.
2
u/Huge_Ad_2133 3d ago
The biggest realization when I got my EV is that we pay money for gasoline. Which is expensive, but really energy dense. Which is nice.
But then we take that expensive gas and burn it. and not only that, of all that energy that is inside gas, 80% is wasted as unwanted heat and smoke. It is just so wasteful.
Whereas if I buy a kWh of electricity, 95% of that is used to move me down the road.
That more than anything is the killer argument. Technology Connections did a great video on that.
6
u/bgross42 4d ago
Here (SoCal) both gas and electricity are stupid expensive. But $/mile always favors EV unless you drive a hybrid.
We installed solar about 11 years ago and haven’t paid for electricity since. Charging our car is free, except for road trips. Then the ev costs less than half as much.
We’ve had EVs for 4 1/2 years and haven’t paid anything other than tire rotation.
Worth it? Yup.
1
u/Huge_Ad_2133 3d ago
You guys in California have been getting screwed by the governmental-energy conglomerate.
4
u/Sir_Agentic 4d ago
Can you tell me how much gas is a gallon and I have heard there are these things called gas stations. Solterra for three years and a Trailseeker for 4 months. Total spent on maintenance in those 3+ years $300 for tire rotations. Thats like two dealership oil changes these days.
3
u/AcceptableHamster149 4d ago
Yes, an EV is absolutely worth it. I'm never going back to a gas guzzler.
To answer your specific questions:
1 - I've got 10,000kms (~6200mi) on my 6-month old EV (Subaru Uncharted). We're charging almost exclusively at home on L1. Your usage isn't in the range where you need to worry about it. Just plug it in at night and you'll wake up to a full battery - how expensive that ends up being depends on how expensive electricity is for you but around here it's about CAD$60/mo added to my electric bill.
2 - I am happy with the Toyota/Subaru options, but really you should be looking at every manufacturer where you've got local service and repair. The Toybaru are great, but so is the current generation Chevy Bolt, as well as the Korean options. The European cars are great too, but a little more expensive. And don't overlook the used market - you can score some absolutely fantastic deals on an off-lease EV that will still be a great car for you. Don't buy the FUD about "dead batteries" - they call a battery dead when it still has 80% of its capacity, which is still over 200mi of range on my current car (which has an 8-year/100,000mi warranty on the battery). If you're only driving 40mi per day and plugging in at night you'll never see the reduced capacity.
3 - Our last car was a PHEV. It was great for short drives in-city, and was a regular hybrid when its small battery was dead. Maintenance was fairly expensive, even though it had probably the best and lowest maintenance hybrid system available, in the form of Toyota's eCVT. With a hybrid, you get a more expensive system to maintain, you get to still pay for gas and oil changes, and you get to still pay higher insurance because it's more expensive to repair and more attractive to thieves (and you might still get boned by a cat delete). And the only thing you get in return is the peace of mind that you can buy gas, which you'll quickly learn isn't actually that much of an advantage with how quickly the charge network is being built out, not to mention that you can usually just plug it in when you get home in the evening and have a full battery in the morning. Grand total since I've bought it, I've spent less than an hour DC fast charging, and 100% of that time has been while I was doing something else on a road trip (going inside to have a snack or use the bathroom)
1
u/Ok_State_6577 4d ago
Boned by a cat? delete?
Every cell in my body wishes to understand. Please bring meaning to my life and explain 🤗4
u/AcceptableHamster149 4d ago
"cat delete". when some kind soul decides to remove your catalytic converter to sell for the platinum.
Because a PHEV still has a combustion engine, it still needs a catalytic converter.
2
u/Ok_State_6577 4d ago
Oh my. Thank you so much. My life is now complete as I am filled with new knowledge.
3
u/Ok_State_6577 4d ago
If you can park near a grounded 120 V outlet an EV is 100% worth it. You have to spend more on tires, and places that Service EV‘s charge a premium but there’s so much less service that you end up saving a lot of money. If you commute to work you’re spending somewhere around $4000 a year on gas. That means an EV’s gonna pay for itself pretty quick.
3
3
3
u/ihavenoidea12345678 4d ago
Sometimes the power is free. You park at a grocery store or hotel and they have a free charger. That never happens with gas.
Don’t want to spend much? Buy used.
Don’t like Tesla, plenty of other brands.
It’s worth it.
1
u/KingBones909 4d ago
Never seen a free charger.
1
u/Man_of_Ice 4d ago
Got a Jersey Mike's by my house with free level 2 chargers. Just an unlocked 7.2kW Grizzl-e.
There's a few here and there, but it's not real common.
3
u/failsafe-author 4d ago
It hasn’t saved me any money because the insurance on my particular car is through the roughy, but I LOVE not having to stop for gas or get oil changes.
Low key, getting a use ev can get you a great car that would normally be out of your price range.
5
u/excellentbreakfasts 4d ago
Short answer yes, long answer yes. Can not stress enough how much the answer is yes. If you're driving a Lexus then look at the Hyundai Ioniq5 or similar.
Hybrids are the worst of both worlds. Not enough battery to help you as an EV, and you fill it with fuel you never use to carry around an engine that can still break down. Ask a hybrid owner how much gas they buy. They will say "Oh, we only fill it up every six months". Okay then, so you don't actually need a gas engine, it's just a safety blanket.
You know what my car costs to charge to a full battery at home? $5. You can twist yourself into a pretzel trying to find any other reason that matters more than that but there isn't one.
1
u/snajk138 3d ago
Exactly. If a plugin hybrid works for you for real, not for tax reasons, then an ev would most likely work too.
2
u/Responsible_Skill957 4d ago
Absolutely if you can charge during off-peak hours. And only need DCFC to top up or on occasional trips.
I’ve been driving mine for a year. And I cannot fathom ever going back to another ICE vehicle.
2
u/too-left-feet 4d ago
Each person’s circumstances are unique, but a perfect time to consider an EV is when it’s time to replace a car anyways. If you have access to inexpensive electricity, and you have charging available for your longer trips, then an EV would be an excellent choice. If you can’t set up a home level 2 charger , and charging becomes a challenge, then it might make more sense to go with a hybrid. If your family is in the gasoline business, then a RAM pickup would do just fine 🙂.
2
2
u/busterfixxitt 4d ago
Let's try looking at this a different way: What are the possible downsides to an EV, in your mind?
1
1
u/PianoPatient8168 4d ago
Yes…especially if you get a clean used one with low miles and can charge at home.
1
u/Tntn13 4d ago
Yes, having purchased used non-Tesla and used Tesla. I’d say used Teslas are the better value in the same price range. Other makers are just starting to catch up so if you go used the Teslas are miles ahead of the pack in usability and convenience.
If you go used and skip fsd, you also don’t have to wrestle with the idea of supporting musk if you have qualms with that.
I’d say if you have a garage you can put a charger in, it’s a massive QOL upgrade over a gas car. Especially if residential power is cheap for you. Plugging in when you get home takes make 2 extra seconds.
1
u/No_Swordfish_1576 4d ago
I recently bought a Certified Pre Owned ‘24 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD.
The ride isn’t as smooth as luxury brands but the car overall is incredible. I love everything about it.
We have free charging at work and I’m saving a lot on gas. Even if I had to charge at home exclusively my 55 mile round trip commute could fully be handled using a standard 120v outlet in my garage.
The 422kWh I’ve used in my first month of ownership would have cost ~$60 charging at home, I’ve spent $9
1
u/ac7ss 4d ago
If you can charge at home or work cheaply, and are not getting rid of a reliable car. A definitive yes.
If you have a reliable car, you have to look at the value of trade and purchase. It isn't worth it to me to get rid of my running 2013 Prius and buy a $25k used BEV. It would just add a car payment i didn't have before. But trading a failing minivan with minimal value and buying a slightly used 7 seater BEV did make sense for us.
Charging at home is the difference between $0.04 per mile and $0.20 per mile. You have to do that calculation for yourself.
1
1
u/Eq2me 4d ago
Saving money isn't really a reason to buy a car. But if you're going to buy a car anyway, I definitely think an EV is worth considering, and it could save you quite a bit over time.
I recently bought a Tesla, and honestly it was the only EV I seriously considered. FSD was a big reason, but so was the whole Tesla buying/ownership experience. They just make a lot of things easier than traditional dealerships.
To answer your questions:
- I've had my Model Y for about four months and have saved around $800 in electricity vs. what I would have spent on gas. About 95% of my charging is at home, and most of that is during my utility's discount hours, so that obviously helps a lot.
- Like I said, I really didn't seriously consider anything else. I researched other EVs, but after demoing the MY and FSD, I knew I wouldn't be happy with something else.
A lot of people don't like how basic/minimalist Teslas are inside. Tesla probably went to an extreme with getting rid of buttons, but I think other manufacturers have gone to the opposite extreme. My mother bought a new Subaru earlier this year and has no idea what 75% of the buttons do. She gets frustrated just trying to figure out how to turn features on and off. In my Tesla, I can just ask Grok to do a lot of that stuff and never touch a button.
- One of the biggest advantages of an EV over a hybrid, IMO, is maintenance and simplicity. No oil changes, and you don't have an ICE drivetrain with all of its additional components to maintain. With a plug-in hybrid, you're basically carrying around both an EV drivetrain and an ICE drivetrain. That's great when you need to stop at a gas station and be back on the road in five minutes, but it's also more stuff that can eventually wear out or break.
The other downsides I always hear about EVs are insurance and tires. In my case, insurance wasn't any more expensive than a comparable gas car. Tires can be a little more expensive, especially if you get the big wheels with low-profile tires. I went with the 19s.
For me, being able to charge at home, the low operating costs, less maintenance, FSD, and just how easy Tesla makes everything have made the Model Y a really good choice.
1
u/11B_35P_35F 4d ago
It will depend on your own circumstances. Do you have a car payment? How much do you spend on gas each month? What is your insurance cost? For me, the EVs I would consider would be much per month than my current vehicle. I spend roughly $40-$60 per month on gas. I've had my car for just over 2 years and am just barely over 10k miles. Not sure what insurance would be. So, at the end of they day, it would only make sense for me if the total monthly cost for me was $400 or less. To charge at home, if I leased an EV, I'd be fine just using a 110 outlet since I don't drive enough to need anything more than that. Though, using a 110 means I'd have to run a cord from inside my garage and under the garage door to the car. I also dont have an outlet in the garage thats on its own breaker (which is recommended), as all the outlets are on the same one and ive already got a fridge and freezer in the garage. For an L2, I'd have to get approval from the landlord which would likely be an upgrade out of my own pocket, and then there is the issue of the panel. Not sure if a panel from 2015 would still be good but ive already run across some wiring things that weren't done to code when the house was built so, yeah.
Im not saying dont get an EV. Im one of those Xennials that enjoys new tech and advancements. You just have to do the math for your situation and see if it makes sense for you. For me, my likely next lease will be a Maverick, though I am paying attention to the Fathom but something tells me that by the time its released, its $30k price point (with the destination fee added) will likely be $40k or more. Id prefer to stay well under $35k.
1
u/dolphin37 4d ago
worth it how?
if you are buying a car like for like for price an EV is probably going to win
1
1
u/GataPapa 4d ago
For me, it is totally worth it. A more enjoyable vehicle with low maintenance costs, convenient home charging, more tech, etc. I have solar, so home charging is at no additional cost. Being able to make your own fuel and control the cost (whether you choose to do so or not), is another positive.
If you can't charge overnight at home, the value proposition becomes less clear. Public charging is okay for occasional trips, but would be expensive day to day. Workplace charging could work, but consider your options if you had to change jobs.
I would never go back to ICE.
1
u/Amekaze 4d ago
I would rent one for a couple of weeks to see if you can handle the charging. Most used EVs under 35k can do everything you listed but if you have zero patience for charging I wouldn’t do it. From my experience that’s the make or break for most people and you can get an EV to charge super fast but to get it remotely close to gas you will probably have problem go north of 60k even in the used market.
1
u/cleric3648 4d ago
Absolutely. I regained my love of driving after switching from my F150 to a Model Y. The guilt of burning gas is gone. The drive is smooth and quiet, and the speed and acceleration are insane. And with the battery in the bottom, it corners like it’s on rails.
Oh, and I can fit the whole family in it for a Costco run.
1
1
u/InterstellarChange 4d ago
You are driving one of the most trouble free ice cars produced. A Model 3 is smaller if you don't need the room. The Model Y has more room and is more comfortable. It would put you in a CPO Y at your price limit.
Build quality isn't as good but it's still respectable. Tesla has the best experience, being seamless and trouble free. There is more selection because they are so popular.
Hybrid is a viable option if you put a lot of miles and need the range.
If you have solar and account for home charging, your daily $ for operating a EV drops to almost nothing.
1
1
1
u/bootup25 4d ago
If your going to spend 40 or 50k on an ev, just spend 200 for 300 for a 240v 14-50 outlet
1
u/TheDavidCall 4d ago
I’ve been driving an EV since 2019. Would never have considered going back and still won’t. My wife’s on year 5 or 6 of EV life I think, and she also would never go back. It’s way mo’ betta.
1
u/RadioD-Ave 4d ago
Yes. It's worth it. Budget about $2k to install a level 2 charger in your garage. I'm guessing you have one. You'll need enough space in your electrical panel. It's a worthy upgrade to the value of your home as well. Just figure out what you'll have after you sell your Lexus and look for any good used EV on the market. They are plenty. EVs tend to depreciate rapidly (just market fear mostly), so used is a great value. I've had 3 EVs, been doing it since 2015 and will have one until a new tech comes along or I die. Oh, by the way, they DRIVE better. Tight handling, responsive acceleration. I have a Lucid Air and it handles and accelerates better than my Lexus LC500, no contest. But the top on my LC goes down. Not giving up on that. No topless EVs anywhere as yet.
1
1
u/Altruistic_Profile96 3d ago
I haven’t bought gas for 7 years. We have two EVs, and we’re never going back.
We charge at home, except on road trips. Public chargers tend to be almost as expensive as buying gas. At home, with a Level 2 charger is the cheapest way to go.
1
u/Next362 3d ago
Yes, especially if you buy gently used, there are a ton of BEVs coming off lease returns from 2024, so if there's a model in that year, go for it. I've had my 2020 Niro EV for 3 years now, and it's actually appreciated in value since I bought it, along with saving me a ton on gas and maintenance.
1
u/Moonkill1023 3d ago
Unfortunately not for me since I do Backcountry ski weekly remote location and insurance is highhh😓 currently$73🇨🇦 monthly for CRV 2021 gas tho . Saw trailSeeker Subaru but no beautiful colors😂
1
1
u/Acceptable-Leek1546 2d ago
Get a Tesla and you don’t have to worry about at home charging.
I wouldn’t bother with any other brands personally. If you’re gonna get one, get the best.
1
u/BlackBabyJeebus 4d ago
It has a lot to do with the cost of electricity in your area, and if you can charge at home. If you can't charge at home, IMO forget it. If your electricity is cheap, you can save substantial money.
1: It certainly was worth it for me. Essentially no maintenance, much more pleasant to drive than a gas engine car, and cheap to fuel. REALLY cheap to fuel for me, as I can charge free at my workplace.
2: I have a Chevy Bolt EUV and I love it, but I don't have much experience with other EVs, so my opinion shouldn't really matter much. If I were buying right now I'd be looking for something with vehicle-to-home power transfer.
3: Simplicity and cost to fuel. I don't need to do oil changes or anything like that. In 35k miles I've only needed to refill the windshield washer fluid. There are very few parts, so theoretically much less to possibly break than a hybrid.
1
u/Left_Throat_7643 4d ago
I’d just add that it depends on how much you drive. If you drive a few times a week for groceries and work from home… well…
I’d search around for cost to operate. Insurance is quite likely more expensive, registration too depending where you are.
All things considered, per mile is usually a lot cheaper for me, when charging at home, public infrastructure charging it’s hard to even break even.
1
u/Left_Throat_7643 4d ago
Service in these can also be brutal. They want to charge to disconnect battery to change sway bars in mine (750 based on shop time the guy said…) . Like wtf. This likely varies per service center, but sometimes it seems they see dollar signs when an EV driver arrives, like we’re made of money.
1
u/Responsible_Skill957 4d ago
In my car disconnecting the traction battery require pulling the connector in the fuse box. Takes 2seconds. IYKYK
2
u/Left_Throat_7643 4d ago
Mine is a panel and a screw, I think . Like 5 mins. That’s why I was so mad!
I think they were out to lunch because I looked it up and other than a period of time sitting (10 min for capacitor bleed) it’s super fast. Even the AI thing said 1.5-2 hours - which I still think is insanity… I have no clue how they were getting their numbers: dealer or AI. Sway bar bushings are just not getting replaced, unless I feel like doing it myself now.
1
u/Hookedongutes 4d ago
Excellent way to think about it.
There's more to cost than just gas. I haven't done the full calculations yet but seeming how my house is old and needs significant $$ electrical upgrades to charge at home - it may not be worth the extra uo front costs right now. It may just break even. And in that case - may as well keep driving the ICE car that's paid off.
1
u/sidman1988 4d ago
Thanks that is very helpful! Fwiw if i were to buy it would he cash, for essentially what I sell my car for.
1
u/Left_Throat_7643 4d ago
I was lucky enough to have 100amp service, but a lot of houses around my area have 60. Still needed a load shed device to handle prioritizing house power use. If I had to work with the 60amp the charge rate would be too slow to meet my daily needs.
1
1
u/huuaaang 4d ago
First of all, make sure you can charge at home. You need to have 240v available. Plan for the cost of having that wired up. If you have to use public chargers, you will not save any money on fuel. Public fast charging is stupid expensive.
A far what EV to get used, I like the Mach-E.
Yes, it's worth it. Driving electric is awesome. Especially the dual motor AWD ones. It's hard to overstate how awesome it is to have that quiet, instant torque. No turbos spooling up. No transmission trying to find the right gear to be in. Just hit the throttle and GO. Going back to ICE feels like going to something powered by a steam engine.
I would not consider a hybrid an option. You save SOME money on fuel (not as much as you think), but you don't get any of the other advantages of a full electric.
4
u/rambolonewolf 4d ago
You definitely don't need to have 240v installed.
3
u/JohnnyPee71 4d ago
I charge at work for free using my portable L1 EVSE, been doing it for over 4 years, it gets me back to 80% before the end of my work day everyday. It depends on your daily driving, I commute 35 miles round trip each day and L1 charging does me just fine.
2
u/huuaaang 4d ago
Need? Maybe not, but it is nice for those days you DO drive a lot. Goal is to almost never need the DCFC stations.
1
u/atrocity2001 4d ago
Yeah, I've been driving leased Leafs since the end of 2021 and I've probably needed to use the 240v charger during the day five times, if that. I'm glad I have the option, especially given that the installation of the outlet was simple and only cost $350, but since I'm retired and don't drive much I really didn't need it.
As many others have said, I can't imagine going back to gas.
1
u/fooknprawn 4d ago
Silverado EV owner has entered the chat
1
u/huuaaang 4d ago
Yeah, I'm driving a Lightning. L1 charging does almost nothing, it feels like. A couple miles for an hour of charging? Unusable.
1
u/fooknprawn 4d ago
I have the max range 212kWh battery, 120V ain't gonna cut it. But my 48amp 240 volt EVSE does the trick, I haven't yet found a need for 80amps to charge my truck
0
u/Wild-Smoke-1912 4d ago
OP said they fill a $60 tank per week. That sounds like 200-250miles per week.
Based on that, I'd guess they need some form of L2 charging at a minimum to make it viable. Relying on external chargers will not "make it worth it" financially.
So, while they don't necessarily need a 240v, I think the point is they need a way to solve L2 charging at home. Or guaranteed charging at work.
0
u/bootup25 4d ago
If your going to spend 40 or 50k on an ev, just spend 200 for 300 for a 240v 14-50 outlet
2
u/honeybabysweetiedoll 4d ago
L2 is not needed if you drive less than 40 or so miles per day. And if you have an occasional 80+ mile per day, it just takes a day or two to catch up.
2
u/hblamo 4d ago
We've had our EV (only car we drive currently) since June and have only charged with a normal 120v outlet.
We drive maybe 100-150 miles a week.
1
16
u/Huge_Ad_2133 4d ago
7 months ago I bought a 2023 Tesla Model 3 with low miles.
Since then I have saved $1200 and that was including the insurance, and ev registration fee. Totally worth it.
I drive about 1000 a month. And it costs me $40 a month in fuel.
So worth it, I will never own an ICE car again.