Online car company Carvana has three-year-old Teslas with 25,000 miles on them for $27,000. That is for a Model 3. Tesla charges about $46,000 for a new one.
The math of owning an EV may change if gas prices reach $6 or $7. At this point, the fact that EVs are better for the environment may no longer be the center of people’s decisions.
NRDC makes the point that EVs were less expensive before gas prices rose. “Going electric means you get to skip pricey trips to the pump, which is one of the biggest draws for making the switch.” New EVs cost about $10,000 more than gas powered cars, on average. The argument EV advocates is that owners make that up over time based on the price of fuel A Consumer Reports study shows, “While electric vehicles (EVs) typically have higher upfront purchase prices, they can save consumers a lot on operating expenses. “
The question is whether high gas prices will overcome the objections to EV ownership
Why do people shy away from EVs? A US News report partially answers the question. “There’s no doubt it takes longer to charge an EV than it does to pump gas, but EV charging is arguably easier and cleaner. “ That does not help when people don’t have or are not near a charging station. Gassing up a car can take as little as 10 minutes to fill the tank. An EV can take several hours to get a full change/
And, people worry about range According to the Department of Energy in 2024 the average range of an EV was 283 miles per charge.
There is a tipping point for many people at which gas becomes so expensive that an EV becomes a real alternative, no matter their current objections.
