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Am I a bad person for buying electric cars?
I see electric cars on the road more and more these days, and even some of my friends and family have bought an electric car. But an electric car just doesn’t fit my needs. Am I a bad person for not buying electric cars?
Bellina Gaskey · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re not alone in not buying electric cars. This doesn’t make you a bad person–it just means electric cars haven’t yet reached the point where it’s an easy choice for all types of buyers.
Many drivers are
opting out of the electric vehicle
(EV) switch and prefer to stick with a gas-powered vehicle. While everyone can agree that electric cars are better for the environment, they are not yet the easiest or most practical choice of vehicle for everyone
. The top reasons why consumers are opting out of buying an electric vehicle are:
*There are not enough charging stations in their area
*Electric vehicles have lower range than gas-powered cars
*Electric vehicles cost more
*EVs don’t have many large vehicle options
Fast-charging stations for EVs are not yet commonplace, even in bigger metropolitan areas. While drivers can charge up at home, it’s obviously a plus to be able to refuel on the go. But if you don’t live in a city with plenty of EV fast-charging stations, it doesn’t make sense.
Since most EVs have a lower range than gas cars, it’s not practical to take your electric car on a long road trip. If you put in a lot of driving hours in your day-to-day life, an electric car is not a viable option.
EVs might be cheaper to drive and maintain in the long run, with lower fueling and maintenance costs, but they tend to cost more upfront. For someone who already needs to budget to afford a good mode of transportation, buying an electric vehicle will not be a first choice.
Charging costs can also be more expensive than gas, and more of a hassle when you’re searching for a charging station near you. The cost to charge an EV varies more than gas prices, and if your options to charge up are limited to a few stations near you, you won’t be able to shop around for a better price. Not to mention, you have to consider any fuel taxes in your country
Lastly, EVs don’t have a lot of choices in size and style yet. And if you do want to purchase an electric truck or SUV, you’ll be paying a premium price to companies like
Tesla
, while you wait for other large size EVs to be developed.For more answers to questions about electric cars and the realities of owning one, sign up for the
Jerry
app. Jerry keeps up to date on the latest developments in the EV industry, and can provide you the best advice on your car buying needs.MORE: [EV-friendly California might not be the best place to own an electric car] (
https://getjerry.com/insights/california-most-electric-cars-not-best-place-to-own
)View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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