I've driven 19 electric cars. From cargo space to cool tech, there are 4 huge reasons your next ride should be battery powered.
- I've driven electric cars from Tesla, Audi, Porsche, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, Rivian, and more.
- EVs offer tons of benefits over gas cars that have nothing to do with being green.
After driving well over a dozen new electric cars, I'm convinced that one is in my future.
To be sure, there are real challenges to buying and owning an electric vehicle today. They're quite expensive to buy new and hard to find used. Charging infrastructure is immature enough that it can pose a challenge on long road trips.
But the many advantages of EVs are tough to ignore.
EVs are quick, fun, and quiet
Almost all EVs, from budget Chevys to sporty Audis, have more pep in their step than comparable gas cars. They deliver instant, brisk acceleration that helps immensely with quick merges and the like. And besides the practical benefits, being able to shoot forward at a moment's notice is just plain fun.
They're also super quiet and smooth on the road, since you don't hear the grumble of an engine or feel its vibrations. Particularly in high-end models like the Mercedes-Benz EQS, the experience is serene.
They're packed with interesting features
Electric cars are where you'll find the latest in automotive tech and novel features you didn't think you needed.
Teslas, for example, have a dog mode that keeps the air on for your pet and a sentry mode that records any fishy behavior near your car. The Chevy Bolt EUV offers Super Cruise, an excellent hands-free driving system for highways. The Mercedes EQS has an optional 56-inch array of screens that should make tech lovers salivate.
The Kia EV6 boasts a couple of power outlets, while the Ford F-150 Lightning can offload enough electricity to power a house for days.
They offer cool storage solutions and spacious interiors
Since electric cars lack bulky components like an engine and transmission, automakers enjoy lots of flexibility to add extra interior room for people and stuff.
Take the Ioniq 5 SUV, for example. Hyundai stretched its wheels far out to either end, boosting passenger comfort. Like many EVs, it has a totally flat floor (with no hump running down the middle) which does wonders for legroom. And it has a unique, sliding center console that lets owners decide when to free up more space in back or up front.
The Rivian R1T pickup truck has an awe-inspiring gear tunnel, a transverse storage cubby behind the rear seats that's accessed from either side of the vehicle. The F-150 Lightning, among other electric models, offers a giant front trunk. Tesla's Model Y pairs a frunk with generous under-floor storage in back.
Charging can be more convenient than getting gas
Once you get the hang of charging, it can actually be less of a hassle than filling up on gas. If you have a garage or driveway, you can plug in an EV at home overnight and wake up with a full charge in the morning. And while you run errands or travel, you can often find chargers to add a little juice while you're out and about. (To be sure, finding charging stations — particularly working ones — can pose a challenge.)
Yes, an EV needs to sit for a long while to charge — much longer than a typical fuel stop — but consider how much of the day your car is sitting anyway.
For example, while I spent the day skiing last winter, I left the Polestar 2 I was reviewing plugged into a free charger at the mountain and came back to a nearly full battery. Charging will only get more streamlined as more plugs sprout up in parking lots, offices, and on city streets.
All these advantages, plus the huge benefit of not burning fossil fuels, make EVs a clear choice for many buyers — especially once they get a little cheaper.