I’ve owned a battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV, or just EV for short) for three years. It’s the best car I’ve ever owned, by far. It’s easy to drive, accelerates quickly, recharges the battery when I slow down, and runs on electricity that is cheaper than gasoline. Unlike internal combustion engine (ICE) or hybrid vehicles, which are full of parts that require periodic service or replacement, EVs have just a few parts that wear out (tires, brakes, wiper blades). My car has been serviced just twice; once for a routine checkup at six months, and once to upgrade the software (which since then takes place over-the-air).
Would an EV make sense for you? Let’s focus on the big picture. Here are the questions that people often ask me. The numbers below represent my experience; your experience may differ.
What is your range?
A better question is “Does it have enough driving range for your needs?” Any EV will get you to the grocery market, your doctor, or into Boston or Worcester and back before it needs to be recharged. If you confine your driving to about a 75-mile radius, any EV can make that round trip without needing to be recharged. Some EV models will support up to twice that radius for a round trip. Your range will be reduced by about 20% in the winter months, because you will be heating the car and because batteries aren’t as efficient when they are cold. I have tried to avoid long drives my whole life; I have no desire to drive to Florida or Ohio. The nominal range for my EV is 200 miles. I typically charge to 80% and recharge when it falls below 30%. My records show that I recharge, on average, every four days having driven 90 miles. This suits me fine.
How do you find chargers when you are on the road?
Directions to the nearest charging station are built into the car’s navigation app. I also use similar apps on my mobile phone. My EV incessantly nags me when the charge level drops below 25% and asks if I want directions to the nearest charger. Availability of chargers varies by state; New Hampshire is lagging behind Massachusetts. But there are noticeably more public chargers now than when I first bought my EV. Given my driving habits, I’ve only needed public chargers a few times; 99% of my charging is done at home.
How long does it take you to recharge the battery?
Recharging time depends on the type of charger, the capacity of the battery, the remaining charge in the battery, the target charging level, and the air temperature. My 2021 model year EV has a 78 kWh battery. Level 1 charging (110 volts AC, up to 1 kW) only provides about 1 mile of range per hour of charging; I used level 1 until I had a charger installed but I don’t recommend it, for obvious reasons. Level 2 charging (220 volts AC, up to 11 kW, found on home and typical public charging stations) provides about 25 miles of range per hour of charging. Level 3 charging (DC, 150 kW, found on interstate highways) can recharge my EV from 10% to 80% in 40 minutes; faster if you recharge before it gets so low. My EV takes about four hours to recharge from 30% to 80% at 220 volts, 40 amps. I usually recharge it overnight. I could top it off nightly but given my driving habits, that isn’t necessary.
Did you buy a home charging station?
Yes, but you don’t need one. For charging an EV at your home, you just need to hire a licensed electrician to install a 220v, high amperage receptacle near your parking space. A separate charging station has ancillary benefits (record-keeping, text messages, longer charging cables) but it is not required.
Do you worry about your EV catching fire?
I don’t worry, but I do follow all manufacturer’s recommendations, which are also endorsed by FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration. According to a study of government data compiled and published by www.autoin suranceez.com, hybrid vehicles are 139 times more likely to catch fire than an EV, and ICE vehicles are 61 times more likely to catch fire than an EV. Collisions appear to be the main source of ICE and hybrid fires. Overcharging appears to be the main source of EV fires. Fire safety is crucial for any vehicle. Hybrid and EV fires are difficult to extinguish, so you need to follow the guidelines and firefighters need specialized training. All vehicles undergo extensive testing by their manufacturers. EV and EV charger manufacturers supply a long list of do’s and don’ts.
Read the manual! Keep the software up to date, especially if you get a recall letter. Have the vehicle checked out if you scrape the underside or get into a collision. Keep the battery charged between 10% and 90% unless you are just about to take a long trip where you need the extra range. Use only charging cables that are supplied by the manufacturers. Regardless of the type of vehicle you own, bring your home up to current codes with respect to fire detection and alarm systems, and ensure that everyone has two paths to exit your house should a fire break out anywhere in it.
Paul Green is a former member of the Energy Advisory Committee and the Harvard Climate Initiative Committee.
