Here's what I've learned from 3 years of driving an electric vehicle in rural Missouri
The goal of this letter is to dispel misinformation about electric vehicles. We live in rural Dade County and have put 60,000+ miles on a new 2021 vehicle with trips around southwest Missouri and numerous visits to family in Kansas City. Honestly, from the onset of this adventure I was hopeful but skeptical. There were a lot of questions I felt unanswered when we bought the car, and rightly so. However, gladly I can say those worries are rarely an issue for us today.
Our new EV officially travels 300+ miles with a full charge but we have never tried to go that far. Gas-powered vehicles are seldom run full to empty. Depending on the weather, batteries don’t store as much in cold weather; 30 mph winds hinder miles/charge; and driving through heavy rain, can all decrease EV range just as it can an ICE vehicle (internal combustion engine, gas- or diesel-powered). However, EV chargers are scarce except along the freeways and gas stations are everywhere.
How will I efficiently charge the thing? Home charging was the answer. Ninety-five percent of our charging is done at home, seriously (a level 2 charger, 220v, is one-fifth the price of gasoline). Just plug it in when we come in late from Springfield. Six hours later, by 3 a.m., the EV is nearly full up. That may sound like a long time but we do need to sleep. We charge only to 85% to prolong battery health. Our rural situation is probably a stretch for the average EV buyer. However, an EV in an urban area is a no-brainer. Drive it 40-50 miles a day, park it in the garage overnight, and the EV is back up to full in a matter of little more than two hours. Charging with a 120v circuit takes longer.
Superchargers (level 3 chargers) are used on the freeway when visiting our grandkids in KC. Level 3 chargers are more expensive than at-home but still cost half the price of gasoline. We charge for 20 minutes at the Nevada Casey's and then at Hy-Vees in KC. Hitting the bathrooms and buying coffee at the charging site makes the 20-minute wait time no problem. Our daughter drives her EV all over the country with few charger problems. If a problem does arise, we can plug into 50 amp RV outlets just about anywhere.
Everyone having an EV will overload the electric grid while charging? Incorrect! Standard misinformation out there. EVs can be programmed to charge from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., thus avoiding peak use time on the grid. Electric suppliers want to sell electricity when the demand is lowest during the wee hours. A win-win for all involved it seems if your electricity supplier has this option. Most do.
Maintenance? March 2021 till now, March 2024 is three years, 65,000 miles. Windshield wipers, tires — two sets, and nothing more. At first, showing friends the remarkable acceleration of the vehicle wore out the first set quickly. I am pleased, so far, with the near total lack of maintenance. However, when specialty maintenance is required it is available locally in Nixa now. Suspension and brake work can be performed at any tire shop. An EV has eight moving parts! The normal ICE vehicle has over 300 moving parts! Figure on that for a moment. Flat tires do occur, broken windshields from rocks on the road are a given, but otherwise nothing yet. Brakes are rarely used. Alternative braking from the second motor works remarkably well. I can expect the normal 12v battery, not the massive battery under our feet, to need replacing after five to seven years. Info on the screen tells us if the 12v battery is failing.
How long will the main battery last? Batteries in delivery fleets are lasting over 300,000 miles. So far, we have lost 20 miles total from the original 305 miles/charge the car came with. However, the battery loss has leveled out at about 290 miles/charge. Our battery is guaranteed eight years or 150,000 miles.
How safe are EVs? Ours is rated to be one the safest of any cars manufactured! Any cars! EVs do catch on fire but gas-powered vehicles catch on fire, too — 300 times more often than EVs! You hear about the rare EV fire but not the ICE vehicles. Why? You figure it.
Displacement of all vehicles: On our farm my diesel tractor and gas farm truck are not going anywhere nor are yours. Can’t see how agricultural areas could go electric economically. For the mechanics, there will be lots of ICE vehicles to fix in the next 50 years. Missouri will be the last to follow in California’s footsteps.
Other issues: Batteries of any kind are most efficient storing electricity in moderate temperatures. Cold or hot temps will lower the range. Heating and cooling lower the range, which is only important if you are driving a long distance. Longer trips require more planning. Charging stations are presently along the freeway every 100 miles or so. Range anxiety has become minimal since we’ve owned the car.
EVs are the perfect fit for families and fleet delivery vehicles running around town, where 95% of Americans live. EVs in the country are not for everyone. For longer trips you may want to rent a car. Yes, our car was expensive, however less expensive ones are beginning to show up on the market. The $7,500 energy credit helps make EVs obtainable. All of them will be cheaper as battery technology continues to evolve. Rent one first to see if you like it. We will buy another EV if I live long enough to wear this one out, and yes, it is fun to drive. EVs are here to stay. And for you real skeptics, “No, I don’t sell cars.”
Frank Johnson is a retired science teacher living in Greenfield.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: What I've learned after 3 years driving an EV in rural Missouri
