Not OP, but also drive simple, older cars. And yeah, the maintenance costs really aren’t very high. The bulk of my maintenance costs are stuff like tires & brakes - which I’d still be buying for electric cars too. Biggest cost by far is insurance, and once again, going to need to insure an electric car too.
Second biggest cost is gas though, and you are correct, not having to pay that would be nice. But I’m not yet convinced that when I need to replace the battery, that single cost will be more affordable than the running cost for weekly fill-ups. I have yet to see any automaker publicly list their battery packs for sale with a pricetag. Ditto for all of the aftermarket auto part shops. My fear is that lack of visibility is intentional, and that battery packs actually cost far more than we want to believe. I would like to be proven wrong, and I suspect someday I will. But I doubt it will be in the near future.
The difference is it costs a fraction to rebuild an engine or replace with a lower mileage unit than it does getting a new or refurbished battery pack.
I’m ready for EVs too but the lack of DIY maintenance makes it not make sense.
Yeah, that part is great, seriously, I believe it.
Everything drivetrain is rock solid, given.
But my newest vehicle is from 1997.
I’m looking at a 2005 land cruiser tomorrow to add to the fleet.
I work in tech and make good money, it’s not a matter of affordability, however I struggle to rationalize why I would spend new car prices for something with arguably far shorter lifespan than my current vehicles.
People going into debt to buy newer cars that don’t last more than 10 years is shitty, that’s all.
If you baby an EV battery I believe it’ll make 15 years tops before serious compromises, and there is no sub thousand dollar junkyard engine or rebuild solution for battery packs is the point. I don’t doubt the motors and other components will last longer without issue.
however I struggle to rationalize why I would spend new car prices for something with arguably far shorter lifespan than my current vehicles.
I have saved more in fuel costs alone than the price of my car, over the 7 years I’ve had it. Now, granted, that was before car costs exploded but still, that’s an impressive number.
Not OP, but also drive simple, older cars. And yeah, the maintenance costs really aren’t very high. The bulk of my maintenance costs are stuff like tires & brakes - which I’d still be buying for electric cars too. Biggest cost by far is insurance, and once again, going to need to insure an electric car too.
Second biggest cost is gas though, and you are correct, not having to pay that would be nice. But I’m not yet convinced that when I need to replace the battery, that single cost will be more affordable than the running cost for weekly fill-ups. I have yet to see any automaker publicly list their battery packs for sale with a pricetag. Ditto for all of the aftermarket auto part shops. My fear is that lack of visibility is intentional, and that battery packs actually cost far more than we want to believe. I would like to be proven wrong, and I suspect someday I will. But I doubt it will be in the near future.
All you guys are acting like batteries will 100% need to be replaced but the gas engine on an old car can’t break
Overall EV reliability, running and maintenance cost is lower than that of gas cars.
The difference is it costs a fraction to rebuild an engine or replace with a lower mileage unit than it does getting a new or refurbished battery pack.
I’m ready for EVs too but the lack of DIY maintenance makes it not make sense.
For EVs, it’s not just a lack of DIY maintenance.
It’s a lack of maintenance.
Yeah, that part is great, seriously, I believe it.
Everything drivetrain is rock solid, given.
But my newest vehicle is from 1997.
I’m looking at a 2005 land cruiser tomorrow to add to the fleet.
I work in tech and make good money, it’s not a matter of affordability, however I struggle to rationalize why I would spend new car prices for something with arguably far shorter lifespan than my current vehicles.
People going into debt to buy newer cars that don’t last more than 10 years is shitty, that’s all.
If you baby an EV battery I believe it’ll make 15 years tops before serious compromises, and there is no sub thousand dollar junkyard engine or rebuild solution for battery packs is the point. I don’t doubt the motors and other components will last longer without issue.
I have saved more in fuel costs alone than the price of my car, over the 7 years I’ve had it. Now, granted, that was before car costs exploded but still, that’s an impressive number.