Illinois retirees drive so little that their first EV charge came after 2 months and cost $13

For a retired couple with their first electric car, two months passed before the vehicle needed its first charge. When the time came, $13 covered a charge back to 80%, and the whole process took less than half an hour. Thrilled with the EV ownership experience, they took to Reddit to share their thoughts. 

Here's what to know

In a post on Reddit's r/ElectricVehicles community, the new EV owners explained that they had moved from a car-dependent rural/suburban area to a highly walkable, urban neighborhood. As part of the transition, they wanted driving to play as small a role as possible in their retirement.

The couple decided to purchase a Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV, which the original poster said provided plenty of range for visits to friends in the country, shopping, and trips around the greater Chicagoland area. In addition to saving money on fuel, the OP noted that the EV had other advantages as well, including more powerful acceleration and smoother operation.

What commenters said

Fellow EV drivers took to the comments to share their experiences. One Redditor described how a similar mix of public transit and occasional driving worked for their household.

"We also live in a dense, walkable/bikeable neighborhood with (moderately) good transit, which allows us to have only one car," they wrote.

Others pointed out that, on top of not needing to buy gas, EVs also require very little maintenance compared to internal combustion vehicles. While acknowledging that EVs still need minor maintenance items like brake fluid service, tire rotations, and cabin filter replacement, one user noted that "there is no engine oil change to be done."

Despite the EV optimism, some commenters cautioned that, for someone who rarely drives, an inexpensive older vehicle could cost less overall than an electric car. Insurance, financing, and depreciation were all important considerations when estimating the total cost of ownership. 

However, for the OP, reducing their dependence on oil was a significant goal of going electric, so money was not the only consideration behind the decision. 

"First impression, we love the car and could never imagine going back to gasoline," the OP wrote after two months of EV ownership. 

Where can I learn more?

The couple's $13 charging stop offered a glimpse of what it can cost to run an electric car. These stories examine other cost-related aspects of EV ownership. 

• A Midwest driver considering a Kia EV heard owners say home charging costs pennies.

• A Chevy Bolt EUV owner credited charging and tax savings for three profitable years.

• An F-150 Lightning owner spent about one monthly gas bill on 9,000 miles of home charging.

• An EV9 driver expected annual savings of $7,000 after gas prices prompted a switch.

• A Puget Sound Energy customer reported saving about $320 annually despite higher winter peak rates.

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