We wrote a list of the reasons to buy an EV here. For the pessimistic, what about the reasons to avoid buying one?
Electric cars are still in their infancy and ther are risks involved with owning one. Let’s take a look at the top 10 reasons not to buy an EV.
10. Range Anxiety
The limited range of EVs especially in the infancy of electric car technology had created range anxiety which is the fear of running out of battery before getting where you need too.
While technology is improving as the years go on, anxiety can get worse the longer you’ve got to travel, so planning a charge at multiple spots is important.
9. Charging Network
Charging networks are still in their infancy around the world which doesn’t help range anxiety and it isn’t uncommon to find a charging station out of order leaving you feeling powerless.
Obnoxious non-EV drivers have also been known to take up electric car charging bays and those in Australia can be charged up to $3200.
8. Charging Time
How good is it to fuel up in minutes instead of hours? Charging times can take days plugged into a normal powerpoint, or overnight using a wallbox charger.
A 150kW fast charging station could achieve the same charge in around 30 minutes. It would be great if someone wasn’t parked in there so I could actually charge my car!
7. Expensive Upfront Cost
Although the gap is closing, one of the biggest reasons not to buy an EV for many is the initial high purchase price especially compared to the equivalent gas powered cars.
EVs have potential long-term savings, and different government incentives have helped to increase ownership across the world but many are choosing to wait until electric car technology matures first.
6. Poor Resale Value
If you thought the upfront cost of an EV was bad the resale value is even worse with electric cars losing up to 10 times more value than gas powered cars.
It’s a vicious loop as EV resale values continue to drop on the uncertainty around resale value, and buyers who do want an electric car will often go brand new with the latest technology.
5. Battery Cost
If you have an enemy and they happen to have an electric car, then hope that they have to replace their battery because the cost is absolutely ridiculous.
Tesla Battery cells used to have an eight year warranty on batteries which has now halved. Expect a bill of between $15-$20k if you ever have to replace it.
4. Battery Weight
Battery packs weigh down EVs considerably. Using the 6,500 lbs (2,938 kg) Ford F-150 Ford Lightning as an example, it’s 35% heavier than the gas powered equivalent.
Heavier vehicles are inevitably going to take a toll on deteriorating roads faster, and weight-bearing structures like parking garages are going to have troubles handling future weight loads.
3. Electric Grid Dependency
EVs are supposed to be the path to a greener environment but just how true is that? Well, it depends how the electricity used to charge the car is generated.
More than half the world’s electricity still comes from coal and natural gas which are both non-renewable resources. And what do we do when theres a power outage?
2. Weather Impacts
Weather plays a role in the sort of mileage you can get out of each car. The more extreme the more energy you’re going to lose because of battery inefficiencies as well as the power it takes to use climate control.
Temperatures of 95°F (35°C) can impact range by a reduction of more than 15%. Colder temperatures can wreak havoc with below freezing decreasing range by up to 40%
1. Model Updates
It’s a fact of life that new car ownership will eventually see current models replaced with new ones. The problem with electric cars is that technological advancements are happening much faster.
That means that if you buy brand new, it’ll probably take a day or two before an OTA (Over the Air) update will increase your power, or a new model will significantly improve range.
