Investing in a Better Future?
For years now, many government officials, as well as media organizations, have touted EVs, as they’ve said buying these environmentally friendly cars is a great way for average Americans to invest in a better future — and save money on gas along the way.
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As a result, many Americans have purchased electric cars, especially those who are looking to take care of the environment.
Charging Your EV
According to Kilmer, there are unfortunately many problems with electric cars. One of the biggest has to do with charging an EV.
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Kilmer has explained that actually installing an EV charger at your home can be incredibly expensive — and cost as much as thousands of dollars. Plus, you might even have to change up your home’s electrical system before you even install this Level 2 charger.
The Time It Takes to Charge
Kilmer has also stated that it can take an incredibly long time for EV owners to charge their cars completely. These lengthy timeframes can quickly become annoying.
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For those with larger car batteries and lifestyles where they need to be using their car often, this can make owning an electric vehicle difficult. Therefore, it’s not a convenient option for many.
Battery Issues
EV batteries are complicated. Often, electric cars have both a large battery that is the main part of the car, as well as a smaller 12-volt battery that can power the electronics within the car, as well as start it.
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However, this smaller battery needs a lot of regular maintenance. It even needs to be replaced often, similar to how frequently we have to replace our regular batteries in gasoline cars.
Replacing EV Batteries
Replacing a smaller battery is one thing. Replacing an EV’s main battery is another thing entirely. Kilmer has explained that, if you ever need to replace your electric car’s main battery, you could be looking at dropping anywhere from $18,000 to $20,000.
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Often, this is more than the car’s overall value. As batteries always degrade over time, Kilmer has said that, eventually, EV car owners will need to replace this large, main battery — and pay that high price.
Repairing EVs
Getting regular maintenance — or any type of repair work — on your electric car also may become difficult. Kilmer explained that many EVs have their own specialized parts which require specific maintenance and equipment during repairs.
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Traditional repair shops, therefore, might not be easily able to repair one’s EV. This can quickly lead to having to pay for expert help, which can cost quite a lot more than any traditional car repair work.
The Overall Costs of Owning an Electric Car
Often, the media and EV supporters claim that owning an electric car can help Americans save money, as they won’t be spending all their money on fuel.
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However, Kilmer argues that this isn’t true. Buying an EV is already expensive. When you add in the expert maintenance work that may be needed, the overall cost of owning an EV can become incredibly expensive.
Are EVs Actually Good for the Environment?
Recently, more and more people have been questioning whether electric cars are actually as good for the environment as supporters have claimed.
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While not using gasoline as regularly as traditional cars can benefit the environment, Kilmer has explained that other factors associated with EVs aren’t environmentally friendly at all.
EVs and the Environment
According to the expert mechanic, the disposal of an electric vehicle’s battery remains controversial — and isn’t environmentally friendly. The production of these batteries doesn’t help the planet, either.
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This, alongside other EV issues, further proves to Kilmer that EVs aren’t the best way to truly drive an environmentally friendly car. More technological advancements likely need to be done to ensure these cars are as environmentally safe as many supporters claim they are.
EVs Could Get Better
While Kilmer revealed an electric car’s many issues, he also remained hopeful that more technological advancements could better EVs as a whole.
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However, until these advancements are made, he warned consumers against investing a lot of money in an EV.
What to Do if You Want an Electric Car
Kilmer, an electric car owner himself, also offered up some advice for those who may want to drive an electric car — yet they don’t want to deal with these many issues he brought up.
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To these people, Kilmer advises leasing an electric car. This can allow those interested in EV technology to try it out, yet they also won’t have to deal with any long-term financial issues.