this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2026
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Electric Vehicles

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Electric Vehicles are a key part of our tomorrow and how we get there. If we can get all the fossil fuel vehicles off our roads, out of our seas and out of our skies, we'll have a much better environment. This community is where we discuss the various different vehicles and news stories regarding electric transportation.

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EVs remain a niche choice in the US, according to survey (arstechnica.com)
submitted 3 days ago by Midnight@slrpnk.net to c/electricvehicles@slrpnk.net
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[–] Dogyote@slrpnk.net 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I don't get this. I thought I was a late adopter when I got my EV and I really like it. Wouldn't go back to gas ever. I've heard that 98% of EV drivers wouldn't go back either. It's an objectively better vehicle. Yet when I suggest to friends who are car shopping to get an EV I'm surprised by the resistance. One just got a jeep with a V6 because of infrastructure anxiety, and they're an electrical engineer. Another friend didn't want an EV because of Tesla's software and door handle issues. They didn't seem to know their are other brands of EV. Didn't know that our Nissans are EVs.

I doubt most people will switch voluntarily. They're unconvinced and a car is too expensive to be uncertain.

[–] UnpledgedCatnapTipper@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I got a used 2017 Chevy Bolt back in August. Under 14k miles, and a new battery to replace the recalled one. I love it and never want to go back to a gas car.

I don't even have a fast charger at home, the standard 120v outlet is fast enough to charge my normal daily usage, though if I drive a lot extra it'll take a few days to fully catch up.

[–] mctoasterson@reddthat.com 2 points 2 days ago

This is what I have found also. My car has a 200+ mile range at 80% charge but for my typical daily and weekly driving habits it works just great and I seldom need to use public charging.

I only get 2-3 miles of range back per hour of 120v level 1 charging, but it matters little because I just let it charge overnight in the garage and it is ready to go the next morning.

[–] doctordevice@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

I love my Bolt, and I too just use a standard outlet. I don't drive a ton daily (just my local area mostly) but I regularly do a 100 mile round-trip to visit family in it, often every 2-3 weeks. I only need to be charging maybe 10% of the time I could be, so I wouldn't have to change anything even if I increased my driving a lot.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

That’s too bad. Everyone’s pissed about the Venezuela situation — but if these same people bought electric cars, there’d be less money to make in the oil industry.

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (3 children)

It's all about charging infrastructure. If you ask people in rural areas, of course they'll say no. Ask in an urban center with a lot of charging options and the answer may be different. Also, make public charging be a fixed monthly fee, and that will help people set their budget.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

The only real charging infrastructure you need for commuting is an empty 120v socket at home. Plugging in at night adds plenty enough to the tank. While it’s more difficult for apartment dwellers, homeowners should be fine.

Road trips are a different situation, but you can rent a car for long trips if there are no fast chargers on your route.

[–] Steve 6 points 3 days ago (2 children)

It's all about willful ignorance. If people complain about a lack of public chargers, they don't know what they're talking about. Public charging only matters on long road trips. For the other 350 days a year, you'll charge at home.

If you live in an apartment, parking in a standard lot, with no way to run power out to your car? I get it. You need to look for another apartment first. It at least you know how actually owning an electric car works.

[–] mctoasterson@reddthat.com 2 points 2 days ago

I was thinking about this, and to defray the cost and make EVs more plausible in suburban US areas, they could make one simple modification.

Instead of the current model where only certain businesses are electing to spend $10-20k per level 2 charger, they should just aim to build almost all new businesses (this would include hotels, apartments, etc.) with basic-bitch 120v 15A outdoor-rated wall outlets in front of every parking spot. The outlets could be on a post, on a wall, built into the concrete curb, whatever is up to code and can be done cheaply.

The cost per spot would be relatively low compared to level 2 or DC fast charging and then people could charge using their own portable level 1 charger and the provided outlet. Level 1 charging at virtually any parking lot, plus being able to overnight charge where you live, covers almost all use cases.

[–] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

Speak up for charging in flat lots.

[–] Dogyote@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

make public charging be a fixed monthly fee, and that will help people set their budget.

Would that work? No gas station has a pricing plan like that.

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

This is anecdotal, but when people talk about EVs, their three biggest concerns are vehicle price, range anxiety, and cost of fuel.

The purchase price will come down as more used vehicles get off leases or if Chinese imports enter the market. Range anxiety is mitigated when there are charging stations at regular intervals.

But fuel cost is variable. Tesla made charging free for the first few years of existence. VW and related models include a moderate amount of Electrify America L3 charging in their pricing. That reduces operating cost anxiety. There's also an upfront cost for setting up L2 home charging. If that can be reduced or mitigated, it would help.

[–] Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 days ago

Probably won’t be a choice at all pretty soon.