EVs are AWESOME

Are EVs AWESOME? Heck yes they are.

If you watch any kind of news, you have probably seen stories about federal and state governments in the US and Europe pushing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). And unless you live under a rock you have surely heard of Tesla, and it's mega-billionaire CEO, Elon Musk. But there is so much more to the EV revolution.

Obviously, EVs are better for the environment than gas powered cars. There are no emissions from an EV to pollute the air. Some will claim the energy used to produce batteries and to create electricity to charge EVs pollutes the air. That is true, but the carbon emissions from those things is far and away less than the lifetime emissions from a gas powered car. Plus, as more clean energy sources come online, that will decrease to carbon-zero within 15-20 years. So, by around 2040 EVs will be completely carbon neutral. Who can argue that is awesome?

Beyond the environmental advantage, EVs offer a far better, and far more fun, driving experience. Due to the almost instant torque from an electric motor, EVs are often much quicker off the line, and passing on the highway. Nothing makes me happier than being next to some punk in a Civic R at a stop light, and leaving them in the dust when the light turns green. Toodles!

EVs are practically silent, offering a more pleasant in-cabin experience while driving. You can easily hear your passengers’ conversation or your favorite podcast. And there is no vibration from an engine, so the ride is as smooth as glass. No vibrating bum after a long road trip.

EVs also tend to come packed with awesome technology. An EV is almost like an iPhone you can drive. And honestly, if you can use an iPhone you can understand the way an EV works. EVs usually have the latest driving safety features, and lots of fun stuff in the info-tainment system. Many EVs come with apps like YouTube or Netflix to help pass time at charging stops. Some internal combustion engine (ICE) cars have these features as well, but when would you use them? Are you going to sit in a parking lot idling to watch YouTube while spewing carbon? How dare you.

One of my favorite things about my EV is that on a cold day I can precondition the cabin to my preferred temperature, and can do so while my car is safely inside my garage. No fumes, baby. Can’t beat that.

How about maintenance and fuel costs? There are almost no maintenance costs with an EV. No oil to change, no belts, hoses, etc. And no leaking fluid in your driveway. And because almost all EVs use regenerative braking (using the electric motor to slow the car), wear and tear on the physical brakes is very low.

And you never have to put gas in an EV. You can roll right by those gas stations with $4.00, $5.00, or higher per gallon prices. Most EVs can be “filled up” for less than half the cost of an equivalent ICE car, and often even less if you charge at home. Charging at home is fantastic. Plug in when you get home at night, and the next morning your battery is charged. You can’t do that with an ICE car.

There have been many horror stories in the media regarding EVs that are almost always written by someone who has no idea what they are talking about, or understanding of how EVs work. It’s almost like they have an agenda… ahem! EVs are not that different from ICE cars, but they are a bit different. Mainly in how they are “fueled.” Charging is not quite the same as filling up at the pump, but is just as easy when you understand the process, which is quite simple.

Read this article by Kelcee Griffis of Tech Brew detailing her first, and unexpected, experience with a rental EV, and how she easily adapted. https://www.emergingtechbrew.com/stories/2023/10/11/your-rental-car-is-electric-what-now?mbcid=33021477.172980&mblid=923430fd1a05&mid=faa08e49536b20594aef16028986edae&utm_campaign=etb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew

Over the next few years awesome EVs will get even better. This is due to the rapid advances being made in battery technology. A Lucid Air EV can travel almost 500 miles on a single charge. Of course, as of this writing a Lucid Air costs roughly $130,000 which is unaffordable for most of us. However, as with most things, the technology in expensive EVs will trickle down to lower cost EVs in just a few years. It is likely that by 2030 it will be common for a standard EV to have a range of 500-600 miles. Theoretically, it will be possible at some point to have ranges as high as 2,000 miles, but why? If the batteries can be smaller with a range of roughly 500 miles that will likely become the standard.

Another awesome improvement is the standardization of charging ports in North America to the Tesla port, or North American Charging Standard (NACS). Currently in North America we have NACS for Tesla EVs, Combined Charging System (CCS1) for most non-Tesla EVs, and Charge for Moving (CHAdeMO) for a small number of EVs like the Nissan Leaf. Beginning with the 2025 model year most EV manufacturers will adopt the NACS port. This will allow non-Tesla EVs to use many of Tesla’s Supercharger network, which is the most widely available and reliable charging network in the world. Other public charging networks will be adding the NACS plug to their chargers as well.

This creates one port, one plug for all EVs. This makes sense because gas pump nozzles are all the same spec regardless of vehicle or gas station. Have you ever rolled up to a gas pump and the nozzle didn’t fit? Nope. This should be the same for EVs. EV road trips are already pretty easy in 2023, and the adoption of the NACS standard combined with ever increasing fast charging locations (especially Tesla’s) will make road trip charging downright uneventful.

Ready or not, EVs are rapidly taking over American roads. So, if you like cool tech, safety, lower cost of ownership, and driving fast (the driving fast part is my favorite), open your mind to making your next vehicle an EV.

*To be clear, you shouldn’t drive too fast (I’m an idiot), and should always drive safely and sober.

EVs rule, ICE cars drool.

Remember, It’s OK to be AWESOME!