The encounter between a Rivian driver and uninformed Tesla owner highlights 'a need for better education and communication within the EV community,' the Rivian driver says.
a big selling feature for me was that I could save about $1.5k a year in gas with my commute distance.
Yeah but how much did you have to pay to get that saving in gasoline, after you were done sold you previous car and buying the new one?
I too could save a bunch of money running an electric car, and even more so because my company has free chargers on the parking lot and I drive so little that I would essentially never have to pay to charge up. But any savings I could get with an EV would be totally negated for many, many years just because of the cost of buying a new car.
Financially, it makes more sense to keep my old car. It costs more to run, but it’s paid for. Ultimately, if I ever get an EV, it’ll probably a gift I’ll give to myself because it won’t make much sense, financially or ecologically.
Given your little driving, sticking with the old one is a sound decision. But it’s worth looking into getting a used electric car if you do need to upgrade. Especially since you say you don’t use the car too much, an older one which has had some battery decay might still be fully operable, and closer to a price range where it’s not a large monetary loss.
Actually I was looking into getting one of the early models - perhaps even a plug-in hybrid - that wasn’t yet equipped with all the surveillance gear and internet connectivity I dread, and having it refurbished. Even if the original range was, say, 120 miles and it only gets half of that because the battery is worn out, and half of that again because I live in a cold climate, I still get 30 miles in the winter and that’s enough for me because the most I would drive is 20 miles between charges - basically for commuting.
Yeah but how much did you have to pay to get that saving in gasoline, after you were done sold you previous car and buying the new one?
I too could save a bunch of money running an electric car, and even more so because my company has free chargers on the parking lot and I drive so little that I would essentially never have to pay to charge up. But any savings I could get with an EV would be totally negated for many, many years just because of the cost of buying a new car.
Financially, it makes more sense to keep my old car. It costs more to run, but it’s paid for. Ultimately, if I ever get an EV, it’ll probably a gift I’ll give to myself because it won’t make much sense, financially or ecologically.
$13k. My old car fell apart, so keeping using it wasn’t an option.
Ah yes, I guess in your case, it was a simple choice of saving $1.5K a year or not saving $1.5K a year 🙂
Given your little driving, sticking with the old one is a sound decision. But it’s worth looking into getting a used electric car if you do need to upgrade. Especially since you say you don’t use the car too much, an older one which has had some battery decay might still be fully operable, and closer to a price range where it’s not a large monetary loss.
You’re right.
Actually I was looking into getting one of the early models - perhaps even a plug-in hybrid - that wasn’t yet equipped with all the surveillance gear and internet connectivity I dread, and having it refurbished. Even if the original range was, say, 120 miles and it only gets half of that because the battery is worn out, and half of that again because I live in a cold climate, I still get 30 miles in the winter and that’s enough for me because the most I would drive is 20 miles between charges - basically for commuting.