One family's electric vehicle became so popular that they rarely used their gas-powered SUV. But when the owner said they were considering replacing the SUV with another EV, commenters questioned whether they needed a new vehicle at all.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit discussion on r/electricvehicles, the original poster explained that their first EV had logged a few thousand miles over several months. They added in a comment that they bought it for their commute and estimated it met over 95% of the household's regular driving needs.
"My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of another full EV," the OP said. "Most she would go is some type of hybrid. She doesn't fully trust or in on EVs."
In the comment they said, "She actually likes the EV, and it's become the go-to car when we go out or run errands."
The OP suspected that finding chargers and avoiding a depleted battery on road trips were behind their reluctance.
Interest in Silverado EVs was another reason the OP wanted to replace the SUV.
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More background
Commenters shifted the conversation away from electric versus gas, focusing instead on the cost of replacing a vehicle that was barely being used.
For one person, a paid-off gas car with inexpensive insurance provided backup. They questioned whether the poster's household needed two cars.
Another commenter went beyond cars, suggesting other lifestyle choices that can make a difference. "How about you go solar next? Heat pump in the house. Electric hot water heater. Battery backup," they said. "Plenty of electric things to do. There is something magical about running your life on free sunlight during an oil crisis."
What can be done?
Users suggested the couple put EV road-tripping to the test to address the worries about charging.
The OP welcomed the idea and proposed a route with a 20-25% battery reserve to make the experience less stressful.
One commenter suggested renting a gas vehicle for occasional road trips rather than maintaining one year-round. For people taking only a couple of trips annually, they argued, renting could be more cost-effective.
Another user noted that depreciation could work in a buyer's favor with a used EV; they recommended holding off until the existing gas car needed replacing.
"Why do you feel like you need to go all EV?" someone else asked. "You currently have the benefits of an EV with the flexibility of going gas if you need to."
Where can I learn more?
These stories share instances of other EV owners who have also wrestled with whether to keep a gas car.
• Chevy Bolt owners suggested renting a gas car to address a shopper's concerns about long trips.
• A dual-EV household said gas prices hit different when filling up a rental car.
• Silverado EV owners tracked a week of charging and compared costs with gas and solar.
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