For families that already have one electric vehicle in the driveway, the next big question may not be which EV to buy next but whether keeping a backup gas vehicle still makes financial sense.
That was the dilemma raised by a family with a Ford Mustang Mach-E and a Ford Explorer who said they are considering adding a Cadillac Lyriq and wondering if it is finally time to part ways with the gas-powered road trip car.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit thread posted to the site's r/ElectricVehicles community, the original poster said the household currently has a 2022 Mach-E and a 2018 Explorer.
If the family adds a 2024 Lyriq as its main vehicle, the Mach-E would go to the couple's daughter, who drives a lot for school and sports, because "it makes sense for gas savings."
The OP said the family only takes "2-3 road trips per year (500-ish miles one way)," and after checking ABRP, estimated that the Lyriq "should only add 30-45 minutes of travel time with charging." Even so, the Explorer has remained the road-trip vehicle because of range anxiety, despite the Lyriq's 314-mile rated range.
OP then asked the subreddit, "Time to sell ICE SUV? ... Does it even make sense to keep the Explorer for the road trips? … I might need help convincing my husband."
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Based on the described travel patterns, several commenters said the gas SUV was probably no longer worth keeping. The top comment said, "There's no good reason to keep an ICE vehicle around just for road trips."
Other users also said the real-world inconvenience of charging on road trips may be smaller than many first-time EV shoppers expect. One commenter said, "Every two hours we stop for a 20 min. break to stretch a bit, go pee, get coffee, and then move on again."
Another added, "The technology and infrastructure has gotten so much better. … Road trips used to be painful, but now we stop because we have to pee, not to charge."
Not everyone agreed that the time needed to charge during a road trip would be limited to 30 to 45 minutes. At least one commenter said a 1,000-mile round trip could add closer to 1 to 1.5 hours overall, depending on charging speed, destination charging, and driving conditions.
The other main argument that users brought up was cost. As one commenter wrote, "How much is insurance, maintenance, and registration for the year for it vs. just getting a rental for the few times you have range anxiety lol?"
However, once one electric car proves itself practical for daily use, the second gas vehicle can quickly start to look harder to justify.
That is especially true when the gas car spends most of its time parked except for occasional long trips. Even without a monthly car payment, the cost of insurance, registration, maintenance, and fuel can add up quickly.
For a family taking only a few longer drives each year, commenters argued that renting a vehicle, or simply taking the EV and planning charging stops, could end up costing less than maintaining an extra car.
Where can I learn more?
If you're deciding whether to keep a gas vehicle for the occasional road trip, these stories offer a closer look at EV ownership costs and range tradeoffs.
• Analysts say EVs save drivers money once fuel and upkeep are counted.
• Drivers with 10 years of experience with EVs still point to shocking cost differences in routine maintenance.
• Over time, many households can save nearly $8,000 by moving from gas to EVs.
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