Electric Car experience

[HuskyHawk]

So I'm planning on getting a new or new to me vehicle now that I'm back driving to work every day. I have a hip/sciatica issue that means that a whole range of vehicles either cause me pain (including my current BMW X5 to some degree) or are at risk of it. Mostly this involves pedal placement too far to the left due to a large/wide tunnel area combined with the seat comfort. I've now tested well over 20 cars. I'm not really an EV guy, and there are a couple of ICE models that I like and which probably won't cause pain. Genesis GV-70 (gorgeous but highest risk due to price and pedal), Lexus NX-350 (fairly safe, fairly nice) and VW Tiguan (slow, low features, new one comes out soon) were best.

While testing an Audi Q5 (which flunked) I also tested a 2022 Audi e-tron, because it's a great looking car and I'd never driven an EV. Not only was it incredibly comfortable, but I'm 100% sure it would be pain free. Seat is awesome, pedal well to the right and with regenerative braking you don't even reach over to the brakes as often. Massive depreciation in EVs has made it fairly cheap. However, it's a lower range model (220 miles) and that was new and not in winter. I have looked into chargers and installing one is no problem. But I am concerned about real world range in winter, with the heat on, being dramatically lower. Also probably summer with A/C. My wife is concerned that in 5 years when the battery warranty is done residual value would be close to zero. But that's not really different than leasing. My drive to work is only 17-18 miles, so I know that will be fine, but can I take it to Falmouth (70 miles) and back?

Any EV drivers out there who can provide useful information to help on the decision?

 

[husky429]

My dad has an F-150 electric and loves it.

 

[RuffRuff]

Love mine - best of both worlds.

a hybrid is a better alternative

 

[uconnfan68]

The only way I can fix it is by changing the car I drive.

I’ve had both issues, and a chiropractor then an epidural fixed the sciatica, and a hip replacement fixed that. I also had to choose a car based on how I could get in and out. Came down to a minivan or a Rav4, and we already had a minivan. I really do empathize with your problems, but fix yourself first, you won’t regret it.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Lots of EV options coming out, I am thinking of buying a fleet of small trucks for my company when a reasonal priced one comes out.

How Did Slate Build an Electric Truck That Only Costs $27,000?

It might not seem pretty, but everything that goes into the Slate is all pretty effective.

www.motortrend.com

Lucky for you that's coming

 

[Jaker]

How Did Slate Build an Electric Truck That Only Costs $27,000?

It might not seem pretty, but everything that goes into the Slate is all pretty effective.

www.motortrend.com

Lucky for you that's coming

I know, I saw the reviews, but hoping they make a dual motor AW drive version, the Telo AWD looks interesting too. I live in Tahoe so have to have AWD.

 

[SubbaBub]

It's going to be a rough few years for EVs. Money for charging infrastructure is going to dry up. Tesla isn't going to make it as a car company and Detroit is going to be pressured either economically or politically in paring back alt fuel vehicles.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I have a hybrid Nautilus. Love it. $10-15k cheaper than the equivalent Genesis, probably $25k cheaper than the equivalent Lexus or BMW. Getting about 33 mpg, great self-driving technology.

Yeah my wife wanted me to get one. I did drive one. Huge deals right now with employee pricing for all, well below invoice. But I didn’t love it. She will probably get one for her next car.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I wouldn't buy a used EV. Seems like too much risk with sustainment costs.

This is the counterpoint. Many depreciate over 50% in two years. Some great deals on lightly used ones.
The depreciation is staggering. EVs Are Losing Up to 50 Percent of Their Value in One Year

Ultimately my wife disliked the idea of having to do every single medium distance trip in her car. She’s about to hit 70k miles and it would mean the EV gets used much less frequently. So it looks like I’m sticking with gas.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Fair enough. When I think sustainment costs with EV's it is for the battery and associated parts.

Much easier for commercial or government fleet to rotate their vehicles in/out of service and pay for it that an individual.

Personally, I think Toyota has it right with the hybrids.

My wife drives a Camry hybrid, gets an incredible 60 or so mph. My car’s a Tiguan, love it.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Out of curiosity who has owned the same EV longer than 6 years or 100k miles?

 

[Kathy]

Have had my Hyundai Ionic 5 since the end of January. Bought the long range version. Severe cold with heat had to stop once each way on my trip to Northern Jersey from Southern DE - about 240 miles. 20 minute stop - bathroom, let the dog walk around a little and right back on the road. Once temps got above freezing range increased alot. Have a charger in my garage, with solar panels maybe $1 to charge it. Great pickup, love the degenerative breaking. Had driven hybrids for the last 10 years, glad I switched

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Out of curiosity who has owned the same EV longer than 6 years or 100k miles?

Other thing about EV’s is that they are incredibly heavy. The little tiny Tesla 3 weighs 3842 lbs, and Tesla X weighs almost 6000 lbs. Also any EV vehicle cannot be towed when they break down. They must be removed with a flat bed.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Have had my Hyundai Ionic 5 since the end of January. Bought the long range version. Severe cold with heat had to stop once each way on my trip to Northern Jersey from Southern DE - about 240 miles. 20 minute stop - bathroom, let the dog walk around a little and right back on the road. Once temps got above freezing range increased alot. Have a charger in my garage, with solar panels maybe $1 to charge it. Great pickup, love the degenerative breaking. Had driven hybrids for the last 10 years, glad I switched

One dollar to charge it is great, but read my post on EV vehicles, you do realize that your Ionic 5 weighs 4900lbs.

 

[Kathy]

Other thing about EV’s is that they are incredibly heavy. The little tiny Tesla 3 weighs 3842 lbs, and Tesla X weighs almost 6000 lbs. Also any EV vehicle cannot be towed when they break down. They must be removed with a flat bed.

So about the same as the Sienna with a wheelchair lift I drove for 5 years or all the large pickup trucks all over the place.

 

[husky429]

One dollar to charge it is great, but read my post on EV vehicles, you do realize that your Ionic 5 weighs 4900lbs.

Same as an F150. Interesting

 

[CONN78SEJ]

So about the same as the Sienna with a wheelchair lift I drove for 5 years or all the large pickup trucks all over the place.

Your Sienna can be towed, that’s a huge difference. Any EV cannot be towed, and the Ford 150 Lightning is almost 7000lbs vs a Ford F-150 gas version at 4800lbs. Good luck finding a flatbed for a Ford Lightning if it does break down. The batteries in any all electric vehicle add a tremendous amount of weight, not to mention the beefed up suspension to support them.

 

[Kathy]

Your Sienna can be towed, that’s a huge difference. Any EV cannot be towed, and the Ford 150 Lightning is almost 7000lbs vs a Ford F-150 gas version at 4800lbs. Good luck finding a flatbed for a Ford Lightning if it does break down.

All the front wheel drive vehicles I owned starting with my Datsun F-10 in 1978 had to be flat bedded. Most AWD also should be flatbedded. Your argument doesn't hold water.
If you don't like EV's fine don't buy one.

 

[Get a Job]

Out of curiosity who has owned the same EV longer than 6 years or 100k miles?

I have a 2018 Chevy Bolt with about 95k. I haven't noticed any difference in battery life or performance.

 

[jake14mw]

This is the counterpoint. Many depreciate over 50% in two years. Some great deals on lightly used ones.
The depreciation is staggering. EVs Are Losing Up to 50 Percent of Their Value in One Year

Ultimately my wife disliked the idea of having to do every single medium distance trip in her car. She’s about to hit 70k miles and it would mean the EV gets used much less frequently. So it looks like I’m sticking with gas.

EV depreciation has definitely been high, but I think some of the articles overstate things because of two reasons, 1) EV prices in late 2020 and 2021 rose sharply during COVID, Tesla jacked up their prices a crazy amount and for many other brands people were paying way over sticker at that time, and 2) some articles don't take into account the $7500 tax credit that people got, substantially lowering the true original price paid.

Regarding your medium range trips, the Etron was a lower range EV. I think it was the 2024 model that increased the range on it. There are definitely other EVs that would cover your medium range trips easily.

Is it the back and forth between the accelerator and brake that causes you the pain? If so, consider a hybrid that has strong brake regeneration that lessens the need to use the brake pedal as much.

 

[jake14mw]

Other thing about EV’s is that they are incredibly heavy. The little tiny Tesla 3 weighs 3842 lbs, and Tesla X weighs almost 6000 lbs. Also any EV vehicle cannot be towed when they break down. They must be removed with a flat bed.

Yes, the batteries in EVs do make them very heavy. What is the issue with that for the average driver? Flat bed tow trucks are very common these days.

 

[HuskyHawk]

One dollar to charge it is great, but read my post on EV vehicles, you do realize that your Ionic 5 weighs 4900lbs.

Yeah, the Audi e-tron I was interested in weighs 1000 pounds more than my BMW X5. You feel the weight driving them. I feared it would mean brake wear, but regenerative braking means there is less brake wear. It must be brutal on suspension components though. But that Audi had the best damping I can remember. Just absorbed bad roads with no harshness, it's what I imagine a classic Citroen must have been like.

I did look into charging. The top charger on the market is only $500 + installation. National Grid and Eversource in MA both run a discount program if you charge at off peak hours.

I will stick with gas for now. But I think I learned quite a bit. My neighbor has 3 EVs so talked to him. His view was essentially that you have to manage it. You have to plan more, know what your range is, where you can stop etc. You can't just blindly get in and drive. I'm not there yet really but I feel like I've learned a lot.

 

[jake14mw]

It's going to be a rough few years for EVs. Money for charging infrastructure is going to dry up. Tesla isn't going to make it as a car company and Detroit is going to be pressured either economically or politically in paring back alt fuel vehicles.

Yeah, political demonization of EVs has put the US behind most other countries in EV adoption. The killing of the NEVI program for charging infrastructure is unfortunate, but there are two companies, Ionna and Walmart that have just this year pledged fast charging expansion plans that dwarf the money lost from that program though. Musk has definitely badly damaged Tesla and set them back greatly, but I think they'll recover. You're also right about the political and economic pressure on Detroit regarding EVs. If that doesn't stop, it will put the US Auto industry behind the rest of the world. China is going full steam ahead and will take over the foreign markets if Detroit doesn't keep up.

 

[uconnfan68]

Have had my Hyundai Ionic 5 since the end of January. Bought the long range version. Severe cold with heat had to stop once each way on my trip to Northern Jersey from Southern DE - about 240 miles. 20 minute stop - bathroom, let the dog walk around a little and right back on the road. Once temps got above freezing range increased alot. Have a charger in my garage, with solar panels maybe $1 to charge it. Great pickup, love the degenerative breaking. Had driven hybrids for the last 10 years, glad I switched

What was your dislike of hybrids about? Curious, as that may be my next move in 2028.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Same as an F150. Interesting

All those batteries in any all electric vehicle are not made of styrofoam. They weigh a ton or more.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Few thoughts. I agree you should fix your anatomical issues first because the fix may change your decision. For example after hip replacement surgery getting in and out of my Mercedes E350 was very difficult for her so I sold it. I only consider SUVs these days as I also have trouble with my knees and getting in and out of low slung cars. I had a Lexus NX Hybrid and loved it but it was a lease. I live between Florida and Mass and now have two Lexus which we bought outright (thank goodness before TRumps Tariffs). Most comfortable and reliable cars I've ever owned. I also just bought a used Toyota RAV which I am driving in Mass but plan on giving to my Grandaughter this fall when she gets her license. It too is comfortable, reliable and safe