Post by blue-footedbooby on Aug 9, 2023 9:57:14 GMT -5
According Cox Automotive the average transaction price for electric cars was $53,438 in June 2023, vs. gas-powered vehicles at $48,808. Tesla contributed to a substantial drop in EV prices since late last year as it cut prices. Ultimately it comes down to TCO or total cost of ownership including things like insurance, maintenance, trade-in value or depreciation, electricity or gas costs, government tax credits, etc.
Regarding adverse weather there are some issues. As you turn up or down the temperature, the loss of range is apparent. At 5F, EVs drop to 54% of their rated range, meaning a car that is rated for 250 miles will only get on average 135 miles. High heat is also culpable, but it's only on the order of 15%. Here in Northern Minnesota you hardly ever see an EV, even in the middle of summer when it makes the most sense to operate one. Tesla installed charging stations next to a local grocery store, but they are always empty. OTOH, where I live in California, Los Altos, the number of Tesla EVs per capita is the highest in the nation. Gas prices are extremely high in CA and free charging electricity can be found at school and company parking lots.
EV batteries are usually good for about 300,000 to 500,000 miles if you maintain the battery pack at peak performance. That means you should keep your EV charged between 60 percent and 80 percent most of the time, minimize fast charging, and avoid extreme temperatures over long periods of time.