Harsh Truths: 12 Truths About Electric Vehicles No One Wants To Hear

Woman waiting for her electric car to charge

It’s impossible to ignore the big push for electric vehicles that currently exists. When the government starts offering tax credits, you know they mean business. Like it or not, electric cars will be our future.

If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), knowing what you’re getting yourself into is essential. With big promises of greener transportation and lower costs, it’s easy to walk in blind. So here are 12 things EV owners need to talk about that we all should know. 

High Maintenance and Repair Costs

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EVs may require less maintenance than gas-powered cars, but when they need a repair, you can bank on paying a lot more than a standard car’s repair. That’s because EV parts are more expensive and harder to find, and there are very few mechanics that know how to work on EVs. 

Public Charging Infrastructure Has a Ways To Go

Electic Vehicles charging
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The Secretary of Energy recently went on a road trip in an EV across the U.S. to show the white house’s support of EVs. She found that not only are charging stations far and few between, but the charging ports at the few existing stations are faulty or broken. The Biden administration approved $100 million in funding to fix public charging ports, so we hope to see some improvement in the future. 

EVs Cost More Than Gas-Powered Cars

new car dealership car lot
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The average new car costs $48,000 in 2023, while the average EV costs $60,000. That extra $12,000 over 60 months of financing is an additional $200, not considering the increase in interest or insurance costs. Yes, there are tax credit options, but also higher maintenance costs, insurance costs, and more. 

There’s Just Not That Many EV Options Yet

Row of EV electric cars vehicles charging, electric car charging station
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As of March 2023, there were only 40 EV models available on the market in the U.S. Considering there are 232,759,000 licensed drivers in the U.S., it’s safe to say that there are not nearly enough EV options for people to choose from. Automakers are announcing new cars every day, but I suspect that it will be several years before we have a variety of EVs to choose from. 

Home Charging Installation Is Expensive

home charger electric vehicle
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Yes, owning an EV is more convenient if you have a home charger in your garage. But have you ever stopped to think about how much hassle it would be to actually have someone install one in your home? According to Fixr, getting a home charger installed can set you back anywhere from $1,000-2,500. That’s definitely more than I thought. That would take me several months to ever spend that much on gas. 

EV Resale Value Sucks

Young couple talking with saleswoman at car dealership
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Everyone knows that new cars lose value as soon as they roll off the lot. But what people may not realize is that EVs lose way more value when they drive off. In fact, EVs lose 52% of their worth after three years, while others lose only 39%. This means that if you ever want to resell your EV, you may not get very much for it. 

EVs Don’t Like Finicky Weather

Driving in falling snow on gravel road in Iceland. Focus on the outside snowy landscape and flakes, dashboard defocused
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If you live in a piping hot state like Texas, an EV may not be for you. When EVs sit in extremely high or low temperatures, they’re not happy about it. Too hot or too cold can reduce battery range by up to 31%. That means your car’s 300-mile range is now 200 miles. 

You’ll Be Hard-Pressed To Find a Used EV

Man putting sale sign on used car vehicle
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As I mentioned earlier, the resale value of EVs is not that great if you’re the seller. If you’re the buyer, it doesn’t look much better for you. Since EVs are so new, very few are on the second-hand market. This makes it hard to get a bargain on an EV. If you need a cash car, assume you’ll get a gas-powered vehicle. 

Range Anxiety Is Real

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Your average gas-powered car can drive 300-720 miles on one full gas tank. Your average EV range is significantly lower than this. Combining the low range of an EV with the fact that charging infrastructure is considerably lacking, it’s reasonable to worry. Imagine having half a gas tank, only two gas stations within a several-mile radius, and then crossing your fingers that the gas pumps work. I’d be panicking, too. 

Charging Time Is So Long

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I have two kids, and they panic when I stop to fill up with gas, and that only takes around 8 minutes, max. I can’t imagine having to take 30 minutes to recharge an EV every time I need a charge. Who has 30 minutes to dedicate to that in the middle of their day? Not me, that’s for sure. 

EV Batteries Are Very Costly and Complicated To Replace

Close-up of EV Battery Pack with Orange Connectors Isolated on Black Background.
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My husband has had to replace several batteries in his Dodge Dart over the years, and the replacement process includes stopping by Auto Zone and picking up a new one for around $75. It’s not fun, but it’s not a big dent in our pockets. If your EV battery degrades, replacement can be challenging. You can expect to pay anywhere from $4,000-20,000 to replace an EV battery. And for us, that would be more than just a quick stop at the auto parts store. 

EVs Aren’t All That Environmentally Friendly

Pack of battery cells module being installed repaired. Electric vehicle battery being installed repair into EV by mechanic 2394399043
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One of the most significant advantages of an EV is that they are safer for the environment. But is this true? If you look at the facts, EVs are not zero-emission. They may have zero tailpipe emissions, but they are certainly not pollution-free. 

EV batteries require mining materials like lithium and cobalt, which harm the environment. EV batteries are also complicated to recycle and dispose of, and new studies show that EV tires produce 20% more pollution than gas-car tires. None of this screams “save the environment” to me. 

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