I Quit My Electric Vehicle (EV) - Why I Switched Back to a Gas (ICE) Vehicle.

[TheVirtualTim]

Wait … you drove a VW? My “guess” as to why you had a “bad” experience is that you got Volkswagens “free charging” for 2 years deal. I’ve run into a lot of VW & Porsche owners who did this. So instead of installing a home charger (super convenient and cheap) … they ONLY ever charged at the free Electrify America sites … which is both inconvenient and time consuming — hence your experience. I’ve stopped to charge at Electrify America and talked to people who live within a mile … and own a home. But they refuse to install a charger at home because “Electrify America is free”.

Since it doesn’t sound like you had a “normal” EV ownership experience … let me share what that’s like (I have two EV’s and no longer have an ICE vehicle).

1) I had to get a home charger installed … it was a bit confusing as I hadn’t done it before (big learning experience) but I managed.

2) I signed up for an EV charging rate plan with my electric utility that lets me buy energy for EV charging during off-peak hours (during the night) where I pay 11¢/kWh (normal rate is 16¢/kWh).

3) When I arrive home, I pull into the garage, plug-in, and walk away. The car takes care of itself and will be fully ready to go the next time I need it. I plug in EVERY TIME I arrive home (not just once or twice a week).

What I DO NOT DO … is spend ANY time “waiting” for my car to charge. I plug in and walk away … and get on with my life. I spend substantially less time waiting for my EV to charge than people with ICE cars spend filling up with gas. Because filling with gas requires a “special stop” and for most people that’s at least once per week if not more. A typical EV owners almost never has to go out of their way to recharge.

It would be “as if” you owned your own gas pump at home and every time you arrived home, someone filled up your tank so that every morning you come out to the car and find it has a full tank of gas. In this scenario … would you really care where the gas stations are located? You’d NEVER need to stop at one because you’d never be able to go through an entire tank in a day of normal use. THAT is what it is like to own an EV with home charging.

You also pay less … a LOT less. I don’t have a fantastic electric rate. I know a lot of people who pay less than me. But even at my 11¢/kWh rate … it’s the equivalent of paying about $1/gallon for gas. The car needs about 9 kWh to drive 25 miles (about the same distance the average car gets on one gallon of gas).

If you don’t live in a location where you can charge at home … then I’d re-think EV ownership because the experience is completely different (and not as cheap and not nearly as convenient). But if you CAN charge at home … it’s vastly better than owning an ICE car. It is pretty much THE reason why most EV owners say they’ll never go back to gas.

[robertmunroe]

Homie simply needed to install a 240 volt level 2 charger at his house. He mentions that “home charging” takes 40 hrs, that’s because he’s using the 110 volt “granny charger” !! I dunno, maybe he lives in an apartment that doesn’t allow him to install the correct charger. My EV experience has been amazing; I pay about $30 a month in electricity to make the thing go wherever. Yes, I installed a level 2 charger; super simple wiring, easy DIY.

[skay]

Why cant you just charge at home. I have had an EV for 8 years and never charged outside home. Makes a perfect commute car. I have an ICE for long distances, if and when I need it. Most people take only 4-5 long drives a year - you can even rent a car for those days.

[brickhawaii]

I have a 2019 tesla model 3 performance awd long range and sold it for a toyota rav4 hybrid im so happy

[RK-deyo]

I respect your logic and decision. I think the wise thing to do would be to still have your old ICE vehicle as a backup. For long trips that require charging, you could use the ICE car. That way you would get rid of the frustrations with public charging.

[Katanacc]

Fair enough ~
EV isn't for everyone.

But what do you think of the NIO's concept of battery swapping technology?
Do you think it would solve issues relating to:
- long road trip, and
- value of second hand EVs?

[jeromedavis]

Tell the feds to LEAVE my ICE alone!!!!

[kawaiisenshi]

I would love even more practical ideas to do this! Ty!

[FawziBreidi]

Not to mention that EV charging is often double the price of gas these days. You also need a dedicated app to install and upload funds to use any EV charger. It is getting better but the US is not ready. Local commutes it is fine and that's it.

[Aerostealth]

The fossil fuel trolls sure are desperate. P.S. ForgerTax is pretty much wrong on everything he says in his post below mine.

[georgewang]

P.lug-in is the way to go currently if you love EVs

[DonaldMains]

Its not like ICE don't depreciate a lot in the first three years. Confused how much you are driving. For most commuters EVs have plenty of range. Between the 80 and 20 % charging range a Tesla will get 200 miles.

[nasiralpharia]

Good for you to try. I guess it depends on what area you live in. We have a Tesla Model 3 and a Model Y, and we normally home charge for a really cheap rate. For trips on the East Coast of the US, there are Superchargers everywhere. The only place that was a bit of a struggle was NYC because I had to go out of my way for the few days I was up there. I can't see myself going back to gas, although I still own an F150.

[zahf]

Yea I'd hate EV's too if I got an ID4. I went with Tesla and never going back to gas.

[Rexbilly]

Watch the price of homes without somewhere to charge a car plumet in value and become undesirable in the next few years. You would be a fool to buy a property without off-street parking now. It will cost thousands more to run a car if you had to rely on the public charging network and very inconvenient. You will lose thousands in the value of your property too.

[foppo]

This is the US 9 hr flight from Europe.Europe is different over 400 million people and a totally different infrastructure.

[Trashed]

Did my homework, bought an Ioniq 5 (3rd year) so it's a proven platform. VW hasn't got it right yet, so I avoided that model. Like most EV drivers I am ecstatic, and can't imagine going back to burning stuff. This guy has a good reason to complain, but don't take his experience as average, because it isn't. Charging at home is fantastic! The savings in gas and maintenance too, but do your research! I know of Ford F-150 drivers who swear they will never convert, yet they seem okay with their company putting them behind the wheel of a lightning, which saves that company the a fore mentioned costs. They have come down to a price right near the ICE version, so it would be stupid not to consider them as a fleet buyer.

[SarahStuff-pu]

EV are just golf carts, expensive golf carts to buy as well as maintain.

[eliorchervin]

החלטה חכמה ואמיצה נגד האליטות והממסד שלא מפסיק לפמפם לנו במוח.

[surferau]

Ok. Sooner or later we all get cheap/ free daytime solar at home plus free charging at work. Until then, enjoy the gas station 😉