Electric vehicles (EVs) are super popular right now. They seem great because they don’t pollute and help the environment. But while EVs have some awesome benefits, they also have some tough problems that many people don’t know about.
Before you go dropping hard-earned cash on an EV, you’ll definitely want to brace yourself for the surprising downsides and compromises of battery-powered motoring. I’m talking about issues with charging times, rigorous maintenance needs, and maybe even some environmental trade-offs too.
I agree we need to do more for the environment and wean ourselves off fossil fuels in the longer term. That said, while I’m a fan overall, here are 9 harsh truths about electric cars many don’t talk about.
1. They’re Still Expensive
Even with federal tax credits and state incentives, electric vehicles still cost significantly more money upfront than comparable gasoline-powered cars and SUVs. The high cost of manufacturing large battery packs is the primary reason EVs aren’t affordable transportation for many budgets yet.
2. Charging Takes Forever
One of the biggest downsides and hassles of EV ownership is the painfully slow charging speeds, especially when relying on home charging outlets.
Using a standard 110V household outlet, it can take over 24 hours to fully replenish a depleted battery from close to 0%. Even with a Level 2 240V home charging station, you’re still looking at a 4-8 hour wait for a full charge.
3. Real-World Range Is Disappointing
Automakers love advertising their EVs with maximum range estimates over 200 miles on a single charge. But in the real world, actually achieving that full rated range is extremely unlikely and disappointing for most owners.
Extreme hot or cold temperatures, using heating/air conditioning, and other accessories can slash an EV’s usable range by 30% or more.
4. Infrastructure Is Still Lacking
While public charging infrastructure for EVs is slowly growing, it pales in comparison to the vast network of gas stations for conventional vehicles. In many rural areas and even suburban locations, finding a reliable public charger on road trips can be extremely difficult and stressful.
5. Battery Replacements Are Expensive
Like a gasoline vehicle’s engine, the large lithium-ion battery packs that power an EV will inevitably degrade over time and need to be replaced, typically after 5-10 years of use.
However, pricing for these replacement battery packs is exorbitantly expensive, often costing anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 or more depending on the vehicle.
6. Supply Chain Issues Persist
The critical metals and minerals required to manufacture EV batteries like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper are in extremely high global demand.
Widespread shortages of these finite resources mean electric vehicle production will continue to be bottlenecked and supply constrained for years to come.
7. They’re Heavy and Inefficient
Because of the thousands of pounds of large battery packs required for decent range, electric vehicles are substantially heavier overall than comparable gasoline-powered models.
This extra weight drastically increases the amount of energy consumed and reduces overall efficiency for most average stop-and-go daily driving conditions that EVs encounter in city/suburban areas.
8. Maintenance Costs Are a Mystery
While electric vehicles eliminate common maintenance items like oil changes and transmission service, they introduce many new potential repair needs that are still largely unpredictable and uncertain in terms of costs.
Expenses surrounding replacing items like battery coolant systems, high-voltage wiring, and motor components could bring about surprising maintenance bills that owners don’t anticipate.
9. There’s an Environmental Impact
Manufacturing EV batteries requires extensive mining and resources. The disposal and recycling of depleted batteries also remains an environmental challenge that has yet to be fully solved.
Conclusion
Understanding these 9 harsh truths about electric vehicles is important before you decide to buy one. Electric cars are good for the environment because they don’t release pollution like gas cars do. But they can also be expensive to buy and might not go as far on one charge as you expect.
Save Big On Energy Bills By Unplugging These 12 Household Items
Save Big On Energy Bills By Unplugging These 12 Household Items
