Expensive insurance and fast-wearing tires: The unpleasant surprises this new EV owner has faced
Marcus Griswold bought an EV, an found out the hard way that it’s not all roses.
When Marcus Griswold switched to an electric vehicle, he expected big savings: no petrol bills, fewer mechanical nuisances, and even a bit back in tax incentives. And while much of that proved true, some surprise costs caught him off guard, reminding us that going electric is great, but not entirely free of quirks.
First, the weight. EVs carry hefty batteries—heavier than your typical petrol car. Couple that weight with the SUV’s quick-launch torque, and you’ve got tires that tear up faster than expected. “The one that hit me was the tires,” Griswold revealed. “Before I replaced my front tires, they were starting to flake chunks of rubber within 17,000 miles.”
Then there’s public charging. While electricity is often cheaper than petrol, it only makes sense if you’re plugging in at home. Griswold found that in some places, like parts of California, filling up at public charging stations could cost as much as gas, or even more: “In California, the cost to fill up a tank of gas is about the same cost I see to ‘fill up’ my battery,” Griswold said.
As for installing a home charger, that can be costly, with prices ranging from several hundred to even a few thousand dollars. Interestingly, Volkswagen offered him compensation: “I was offered either three free years of charging or a charger installation discount from VW,” he said.
Added to all these problems are higher insurance premiums, with Griswold saying “even though I received the rebate, my insurance and registration costs are higher.”
Despite all of this, one thing hangs over him with his EV: the battery, which will need changing within 8 to 10 years: “Fortunately I have not had to change my battery, but that’s also looming in the background,” he lamented.
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Driving an EV is still the environment-conscious choice, with zero tailpipe emissions, they help improve air quality and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, making them an important tool in combating climate change. While the technology and infrastructure are still improving, the future is here with electric vehicles as we move away from the stone age.
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