Why I don’t buy an electric car

My line of work often asks me if I have an electric vehicle. People are often surprised, and I suspect, disappointed, when I answer no. These are my reasons for not taking the plunge into the future of driving, although they may not be perfect.

Poor timing

This is the biggest one: The record-breaking transaction prices and low selection on dealer lots make it an extremely difficult time to purchase any car. I don’t like being at the back of a long queue to pay top dollar any commodity. Farnoosh Torabi seems to have my back. Major consultancies think we are on the verge of a major shift when EVs will be equal to or even better than conventional cars in terms of total cost and purchase price without any incentives.

Cars for sale

Although I prefer to purchase late-model cars, they are also expensive and scarce. This is compounded by the lack of desirable used EVs. I don’t have the budget for a first-gen frog eyed Leaf. This will improve over time, and I don’t worry about a used EV losing some range. See my article from not too far back about putting yourself in the position of determining how much range you actually need. It’s less than what you think.

Beyond Tesla

Although there is more to this story than Tesla, that brand is the US EV market at the moment and has all the attention. History has shown me that there will be at least two or three other major manufacturers, new or existing, with the same or greater success. I’d like to see how they do it before I buy.

Don’t wait for monotony

I have covered many tech revolutions. They all follow a similar path. It starts with ingenious products, then it becomes a monotony of excellent offerings trying make big news from small improvements. This is how smartphones, TVs and laptops compare today. Each product does about the same as the others and almost as well. EVs are on the horizon, and that is why I prefer to purchase anything that depreciates.

Charging will be easier

My home is a single-family residence so charging would be simple. However, I am also aware of the growing trend towards daytime charging away home as advocated in a Stanford study. This new Stanford study shows that such charging behavior can pay major dividends in terms grid stability and cleanliness. Although charging should be as easy as parking, it’s not a reality.

Spending more, polluting more

Although you might buy an electric vehicle to save money and the planet, you will likely pollute the environment and spend more in the first year. This is because your car and battery were built at huge costs and you paid a lot of money for a car that was not necessary. You can make up for both of these deficiencies by timing your purchase carefully. Better market conditions and better technology can help to shorten the time between them.

Solid-state batteries

These could be available in large quantities by 2025. They can charge EV batteries in less than 30 minutes, have a shorter cycle time, and provide better long-term value. Although solid-state batteries are still in the midst of a revolution, I don’t think it is likely to happen. However, I don’t want my laptop to run on nickel metal hydroides.

Tax incentives for Byzantine taxpayers

Recently, the US federal tax incentives to buy a plug-in vehicle were changed. This resulted in a complex eye of a needle with 70% of all new EVs not qualifying fully or partially in the following years. New rules require that the car’s origin, price and assembly be verified. While carmakers are currently reorganizing their processes to ensure that the new boxes are checked, many highly-rated electric cars will cost thousands more than they may later. This one is not high on my priority list because I love used cars. However, it may be No. 1.

Another car with a plug

Since long, I believe that plug-hybrid electric cars are the undiscovered heroes of green driving. At least for the time being. The latest PHEVs are capable of handling most, if not all, your daily driving without combustion. They can also easily transition into long trips using gasoline — no more anxiety about range. They are not as elegant and have two powertrains. This is a problem, but Akio Toyoda knows a lot about hybrids and continues to support them at large scale. You might be surprised to learn that a ranking from transport analysis consultancy TNMT slots PHEVs with a lower carbon footprint than a pure-electric car.

There are fewer miles to go

Since COVID, I have driven less and that is something I consider permanent. My commute, shopping habits and interest in eating out have all changed. It is now possible to go days without driving, something that was impossible a few years ago. This means that any EV I might purchase would have a lot fewer miles I need to use, which is a good thing considering the cost and emissions earnback issues I discussed above.

A weak link

Single points of infrastructure failure are not something I like, and electric cars help to create one. While I will still have many cars, most of which are combustion-powered, you should think twice before making an electric vehicle your sole vehicle. Or at the very least, shop for an EV that can provide power and not just consume it.

Although I may have angered Tesla-ratis, tree huggers, and coal rollers alike at this point, my work has taught to me that I am a conscious consumer and not an early adopter. I would like more model choices, greater inventory, better purchasing leverage, federal incentives, and more technological maturity than what is currently available. I will be able to see the future with better tech and more information if I wait.