Overcoming Challenges To Help Make Owning an Electric Vehicle Easier

Electric vehicles are widely considered the future of transportation. For the most part, they are a much greener option than gas or diesel-powered cars and trucks. However, several obstacles to ownership turn many people away from purchasing an EV. Understanding these obstacles and how to overcome them is the key to making EV ownership more accessible.

Know Several Charging Stations Locations

Range anxiety is a major concern among potential EV owners. Simply put, this is the fear that you will not have enough charge to complete planned trips. It may keep you from fully enjoying your EV by limiting where and when you drive. 

When electric vehicles first came on the scene, their range was incredibly limited. You might only get 150 or 200 miles out of a full charge. However, newer batteries and technological advances have extended that to, in some cases, 500 miles or more. That’s a lot of daily driving, which could put some of your range anxiety to rest. 

If you are still concerned about getting caught without enough charge in your EV batteries, the most logical solution is to know where charging stations are located. Start with a quick search for EV charging stations near me. Then, compile a list of the most convenient locations and keep it handy.

It’s a good idea to find parking garages or shopping centers that allow you to charge your car while you go about other activities. This will save time and relieve that range anxiety. Add a couple of convenient on-the-road options, too, so you know where to stop in case of an unexpected delay. 

Have a Backup Charger Cord

The fear of not being able to find a suitable charging station is a significant obstacle for many people. Luckily, most EV manufacturers make this pretty simple to overcome.

There are three main levels of electric vehicle charging stations, which are denoted as levels one, two, and three. They go from the slowest (level 1) which can take 10 hours or more to fully charge EV batteries, to the quickest rapid chargers (level 3) which can get you back on the road in under 30 minutes. Many public chargers are level 2 stations, which fall somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. 

Most EVs use the same plugs for level 2 charging. The most obvious exception to this rule is Tesla, which has proprietary cords and plugs. However, an adapter quickly allows you to use a standard public charger in a pinch. Additionally, some manufacturers, including Nissan and Mitsubishi, use a different plug for rapid chargers. This is a little different from the ability to pull up to any gas pump in any car and top off your tank, so it’s a good idea to have an extra charging cord and adapter on hand. 

Take Advantage of Credits and Incentives

The cost of a new car or truck is prohibitive for many households. When you consider that electric vehicles tend to be priced about $10,000 higher than comparable gas models, it should come as no surprise that sticker shock is one of the biggest obstacles to ownership. However, the sticker price is not the best indicator of overall cost in this situation.

There are significant tax credits and manufacturer rebates that can reduce the actual purchase price. So, don’t let a high sticker price keep you from learning more about buying an electric vehicle. New rules allow a credit of up to $7,500 for new vehicles and up to $4,000 for used EVs, but you must research what manufacturers qualify for the full incentive to see how much you can save. 

Electric vehicles also tend to have lower operating costs, thanks largely to no need for gas fill-ups. In places where gas prices are higher than average, this can add up to significant savings. Considering what it will cost you to buy and operate an EV after incentives and fuel savings is a great way to see how big an obstacle cost really is. You may be surprised to find out that any additional upfront costs are offset within the first year or two of ownership. 

Range anxiety, a lack of charging infrastructure, and sticker shock are among the biggest obstacles to EV ownership. However, you can overcome each one with a little research and planning.