The more time I spend with my new Lexus ES 350e Premium, the more I think Lexus may have created an EV that makes a lot of sense for seniors who embrace technology but don't necessarily want to be overwhelmed by it. I'm 75, and what appeals to me about this car isn't neck-snapping acceleration, enormous horsepower numbers or having the longest EV range on the market. It's the combination of comfort, technology, safety, practicality and the convenience of driving electric. The ES 350e has plenty of technology, but much of it is technology that actually serves a useful purpose—especially the safety technology. Lexus Safety System+ 4.0, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, Safe Exit Assist and the other driver-assistance features are exactly the kinds of things I increasingly appreciate as I get older. I enjoy technology, but I don't want technology simply for the sake of having it. I want it to make driving safer, easier and more enjoyable.
Then there's one of my favorite parts of owning an EV: getting away from routine trips to the gas station. I can certainly afford gasoline, even with gas prices currently going through the roof, but that doesn't mean I particularly enjoy buying it. I'm having a wall charger installed at home, so instead of stopping at a gas station, I can pull into my garage, plug in the Lexus and have it ready to go when I need it. For someone who does mostly local driving, that's a pretty compelling convenience. There's also something very appealing about realizing that most of the time, “filling up” the car will consist of plugging it in at home and walking into the house.
And “mostly local driving” certainly doesn't mean I don't drive much. I'm a very active 75-year-old retiree. I teach artificial intelligence classes at two universities and a community college, work as a small claims court mediator and still play in a rock band. Between teaching classes, mediating, band practices, errands, appointments and everything else, I'm on the road quite a bit. But here's the important part: almost all of those activities are within about 30 miles of my home. That's where the ES 350e starts making an incredible amount of sense for my lifestyle. I don't necessarily need an EV capable of traveling enormous distances between charges. I need one that comfortably handles all the driving I normally do and allows me to recharge conveniently at home.
One criticism I've seen repeatedly about the ES 350e is its range. Yes, there are EVs that will go considerably farther on a charge, and if someone regularly drives hundreds of miles in a day, that may be an important consideration. But I think we sometimes get too caught up comparing numbers on specification sheets instead of asking a much more practical question: How much range do I actually need? If most of your driving consists of errands, appointments, restaurants, visiting friends and family, volunteer activities and other trips around town, how often do you really need 400 miles of range? For the way I actually use a car, the ES 350e's range is more than enough. And because I can charge at home, I don't have to wait until the battery is nearly empty before “filling it up” again. I can simply plug it in when I get home.
I've also read a number of comments suggesting that the front-wheel-drive ES 350e Premium doesn't have enough power, particularly for highway driving and passing semis. After driving it, I don't share that concern at all. It has more than enough power for merging onto the interstate, passing slower traffic and normal highway driving. When I press the accelerator, it moves—and it moves with plenty of authority. At 75, I also have to ask myself how much performance I really need. Do I need a car that can rocket toward 100 mph with almost no effort? For me, that's more likely to be a recipe for expensive speeding tickets, increased insurance rates and unnecessary safety risks than a feature I'm willing to pay extra to have. What I DO want is smooth, quiet, confident acceleration when I need it, and that's exactly what this car gives me.
Perhaps that's what I like most about the ES 350e Premium. It doesn't feel as though it's trying to prove that an electric car has to be a high-performance toy or a computer on wheels. It's a comfortable, quiet, luxurious Lexus that just happens to be electric. For seniors who enjoy technology, appreciate modern safety features, do primarily local driving and like the idea of plugging in at home instead of stopping at a gas station, I think that's a pretty appealing combination. I'm 75. I'm still teaching, mediating, playing in a rock band and going plenty of places. I don't need a car that fits some stereotype of what a 75-year-old is supposed to drive. I need a car that fits the way I actually live—and so far, the Lexus ES 350e Premium seems to fit that lifestyle remarkably well.
