Electric vehicle sales have dropped significantly since the government killed the tax
credit. This was expected as buyers rushed to lock in incentives before the September
deadline. Will demand for EVs rise again? I think so. Based on my experience and recent
data, here are six reasons to consider an EV sooner rather than later.
1. EVs are cheaper to own:
Say goodbye to engine and transmission oil changes, air filter replacements, tune-ups, mufflers, and other repairs specific to gas engines. Even brakes last longer thanks to the EV’s resistive braking, which slows the car and charges the battery when you decelerate. The most significant EV-specific maintenance is replacing the cooling fluids, which in my car’s case is every 40,000 miles.
According to an Atlas Public Policy report, maintenance costs for EVs are 40% lower than for gas-powered cars. This translates to a saving of $2,000 to $8,000 over a seven-year period, depending on the size and model of the EV. EVs less than 10 years old have a battery replacement rate of only 1% according to EV market analyst firm Recurrent. Owners of newer EVs can expect batteries to last the lifetime of the car.
Electricity is cheaper than gas, too. The electricity cost for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV is less than half the fuel cost of a 2025 Equinox gas model ($.06 per mile vs. $0.12 per mile), according to Atlas Public Policy. If you charge your EV primarily from home, the savings are even greater.
2. The ownership experience is better:
Lower operating costs are a big part of the EV ownership experience, but for me, EVs are simply better cars. I bought my EV, a used Hyundai Kona, last November. After driving it for several weeks, I drove my wife’s gas-powered Subaru Impreza. It seemed sluggish, loud, and less responsive than the EV, even though I did not have those complaints before.
EVs have good torque, which allows for better acceleration. I often have to pull onto Route
101 near the top of Temple Mountain, and I can easily get up to speed before reaching the
top. Thanks to the weight of the battery packs under the vehicle’s floor, a low center of gravity makes for great handling, especially on winding roads.
3. The price gap between EVs and gas-powered cars is shrinking:
While incentives for purchasing EVs have ended, other factors help lower the cost for both new and used EVs. Batteries represent a major cost for manufacturing EVs, and battery prices have recently fallen by about 20% according to a Recurrent report.
In August 2025, the average price gap between EVs and gas cars was down to $897,
according to Cox Automotive. Some used EV models are selling for less than their gas
counterparts.
Manufacturers are responding to the loss of tax incentives with aggressive pricing and a focus on new lower-cost models, such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt, both under $30,000.
4. EVs are more environmentally friendly:
A new study from Northern Arizona University and Duke University shows that gas-powered cars do twice as much environmental damage over their lifetimes as EVs, and this takes into account the added loads on power grids and the fact that manufacturing EVs and batteries is more energy-intensive when compared to gas-powered cars. This gap is expected to increase as power grids continue to adopt cleaner sources of electricity, such as solar and wind.
5. Range limitations are good and improving:
My Kona runs for 300 miles or more on a charge, and some newer models are pushing 400 miles. The charging station infrastructure continues to grow. We have multiple local charging options. The International Energy Agency predicts that public charging stations in the U.S. will grow from about 200,000 today to more than 500,000 in 2030. For comparison, fewer than 150,000 gas stations are in the U.S.
6. EVs are safer:
When I bought my front-wheel-drive EV, the dealer assured me that front-wheel drive on an EV was as good as all-wheel drive on a gas-powered vehicle. I was skeptical, but my experience confirms this. I’ve driven my EV in bad winter weather on treacherous roads, and the car would not let me get into trouble. Its computer sensed how much traction I had and provided just enough power to the drive wheels to maintain control.
Also, batteries are safer than gasoline. Research from multiple sources, including EV Firesafe and Tesla, shows that gas-powered cars are about 80 times more likely to catch fire than an EV. It’s also impossible to get carbon monoxide poisoning from an EV battery.
When you consider the financial advantages and better driver experience, it’s easy to justify buying an EV.
Come Join Us!
Want to help local residents reduce their energy costs and improve the environment? The
Peterborough Renewable Energy Project is recruiting energy- and climate-conscious
volunteers to join our ranks, especially anyone with social media and website-building skills. Send us a note at info@prepnh.org.