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I really want my next car to be an EV, but I am finding incredibly difficult to justify spending 35k on a car that has ~480 km range (effectively 400km as charg

I really want my next car to be an EV, but I am finding incredibly difficult to justify spending 35k on a car that has ~480 km range (effectively 400km as charging to 100% takes way too long). I do understand the arguments about 90% of the driving is done within 200kms, but the obly reason for me to own a car is the long distance trips. Most of the Europeans are in the similar situation.

dzhiurgis 2y ago
Charging stations: exist.
Panzer04 2y ago
If your sole reason for a car is long distance, and there's no scope for convenient half-hour or so supercharging, I think you're better off with gas.
- timbit42 2y ago
  Better off with gas/electric HEV or PHEV.
ryzvonusef 2y ago
How about a PHEV? EV for the daily, ICE for the monthly trips.
- csunbird 2y ago
  These are what I have my eyes on - a small battery to do 10-20km trips within the day (and easier parking as there are designated charging points for charging EVs in my city). Any personal recommendations for a a crossover type car?
  - ryzvonusef 2y ago
    Apologies, none I could personally recommend, but I've heard very good things about the Toyota's PHEV offerings. Problem is, they are so good that they have a massive dealer markup on them, even if available. Iirc, americans have great difficulty getting a RAV4 PHEV in any state.
  - adamkl 2y ago
    The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is very good (and is available without a wait). It differs from some of the other PHEVs in that it is really an EV (with 2 electric motors) and uses the gas engine primarily as a generator. This means it drives like an EV (no transmission, no power bands, just smooth acceleration at all times). A downside is that when running on gas, it's not as efficient because of the losses of going from mechanical energy to electrical energy back to mechanical, but I regularly get 70-80km on a charge, so the engine only kicks in on long weekend trips.
t0mas88 2y ago
Same for me, daily driving is to and from the office, which is 35km each way. And activities for the kids, often that's 15-20km. I don't need a 400km range EV with all the weight and cost, I can do this with a 75km hybrid so I can make it to the office and back. The other part of my driving is holidays and long distance family visits, a 400km range EV does not cover that. Especially things like going skiing where the charging infrastructure isn't very good and you end up in traffic jams waiting to charge.
lm28469 2y ago
> but the obly reason for me to own a car is the long distance trips. Most of the Europeans are in the similar situation. Unless you drive very often you can rent something like a brand new VW Polo for 30 euros a day (40 with extra insurance), realistically in Europe you should have about 5 weeks of vacation per year so you'd have a car for your long distance need for <1500 euros per year, no maintenance, no long term parking issues, &c.
- 39896880 2y ago
  I’m an EV fanboy and I find this argument very unconvincing. I don’t want to learn the workings of a new car when I’m on vacation. I don’t want to add two trips to the rental place. I want to go on vacation!
  - yunohn 2y ago
    But is that sentiment worth paying 35k upfront and all the other ongoing assle/fees associated with owning a car in the EU, vs the 1.5k for a vacation rental for you?

dzhiurgis 2y ago

Charging stations: exist.

Panzer04 2y ago

If your sole reason for a car is long distance, and there's no scope for convenient half-hour or so supercharging, I think you're better off with gas.

timbit42 2y ago
Better off with gas/electric HEV or PHEV.

ryzvonusef 2y ago

How about a PHEV? EV for the daily, ICE for the monthly trips.

csunbird 2y ago
These are what I have my eyes on - a small battery to do 10-20km trips within the day (and easier parking as there are designated charging points for charging EVs in my city). Any personal recommendations for a a crossover type car?
- ryzvonusef 2y ago
  Apologies, none I could personally recommend, but I've heard very good things about the Toyota's PHEV offerings. Problem is, they are so good that they have a massive dealer markup on them, even if available. Iirc, americans have great difficulty getting a RAV4 PHEV in any state.
- adamkl 2y ago
  The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is very good (and is available without a wait). It differs from some of the other PHEVs in that it is really an EV (with 2 electric motors) and uses the gas engine primarily as a generator. This means it drives like an EV (no transmission, no power bands, just smooth acceleration at all times). A downside is that when running on gas, it's not as efficient because of the losses of going from mechanical energy to electrical energy back to mechanical, but I regularly get 70-80km on a charge, so the engine only kicks in on long weekend trips.

t0mas88 2y ago

Same for me, daily driving is to and from the office, which is 35km each way. And activities for the kids, often that's 15-20km. I don't need a 400km range EV with all the weight and cost, I can do this with a 75km hybrid so I can make it to the office and back. The other part of my driving is holidays and long distance family visits, a 400km range EV does not cover that. Especially things like going skiing where the charging infrastructure isn't very good and you end up in traffic jams waiting to charge.

lm28469 2y ago

> but the obly reason for me to own a car is the long distance trips. Most of the Europeans are in the similar situation. Unless you drive very often you can rent something like a brand new VW Polo for 30 euros a day (40 with extra insurance), realistically in Europe you should have about 5 weeks of vacation per year so you'd have a car for your long distance need for <1500 euros per year, no maintenance, no long term parking issues, &c.

39896880 2y ago
I’m an EV fanboy and I find this argument very unconvincing. I don’t want to learn the workings of a new car when I’m on vacation. I don’t want to add two trips to the rental place. I want to go on vacation!
- yunohn 2y ago
  But is that sentiment worth paying 35k upfront and all the other ongoing assle/fees associated with owning a car in the EU, vs the 1.5k for a vacation rental for you?