Thinking of Going Electric? 7 Things You Should Know First
May 22, 2025
6 min read
A few years back, if you told me I’d own a car I couldn’t change the oil on, I would’ve laughed, popped the hood on my '96 Bronco, and gone back to tightening my serpentine belt. I’ve always been a hands-on car guy—greasy fingernails, tools lined up in the garage, the kind of person who can identify a misfire by sound alone.
But curiosity got the better of me. When EVs started creeping into the mainstream, I didn’t just shrug them off. I started looking closer. The torque specs impressed me. The efficiency? Even more so. So I did what most mechanically-inclined folks do when facing something unfamiliar: I researched the hell out of it. And then I leased one.
Now, with a few years and a lot of highway miles behind me, I’ve got a decent perspective on the ups, the downs, and the “you don’t hear this from the sales rep” side of going electric. If you’re on the fence—or just EV-curious—these are the seven things I wish someone had told me upfront.
1. Driving an EV Feels Different—in a Good Way
Let’s start with the fun part. The first time I hit the accelerator in my EV, I let out an audible “whoa.” The torque is instant. No gear hunting, no lag—just smooth, quiet, efficient power. Merging onto the highway became oddly satisfying, and in-city driving felt almost… too easy.
That said, it does take a bit of adjustment. There's regenerative braking, for one, which uses the motor to slow the car and recharge the battery. If you’ve never experienced it, imagine easing off the gas and your car starts slowing down like you tapped the brake pedal. It’s intuitive after a few drives, but it caught me off guard the first couple of times.
And the silence? Weird at first. As someone used to hearing an engine hum, I found myself missing that audio feedback. Now I just crank up the radio and enjoy the eerily smooth ride.
2. Range Anxiety Is Real
Before going electric, I used to fill up my tank and not think about it again for 400 miles. With an EV, you do need to think a little more intentionally about your range—especially if you're heading out of town or live in a rural area.
My model gets around 275 miles per full charge, which is fine for daily driving. I plug in at home overnight, and it’s always full in the morning—zero trips to a gas station. But longer trips require some planning.
Here’s the real trick: charging isn’t like gassing up. A full charge at a Level 2 charger (what you’d install at home) takes several hours. A DC fast charger can get you 80% in 30-45 minutes, but they’re not everywhere yet, and availability varies depending on where you live.
Range anxiety fades once you learn your car’s limits and charging spots in your area. Apps help. So does treating your EV more like a smartphone than a gas car—charge when you sleep, not when you're on empty.
As of March 2025, there are more than 204,600 public EV charging stations across the U.S., according to Statista.
3. You’ll Miss the Garage Work
This one hit harder than I thought. I love working on cars—changing oil, swapping filters, bleeding brakes. It’s therapeutic. But with an EV? There’s just not that much to do under the hood. No oil changes, no spark plugs, no timing belts. My EV’s “engine bay” is basically a plastic tub.
That doesn’t mean zero maintenance. You’ll still rotate tires, check brakes (which last longer thanks to regenerative braking), and replace cabin air filters. Battery coolant systems also need periodic inspection. But overall, it’s shockingly low-maintenance.
Part of me misses weekend tune-ups. The other part? Enjoys not crawling around under a car on cold concrete every month. You trade elbow grease for quiet reliability.
4. Charging at Home Is a Game-Changer
If you’ve got a driveway or garage, installing a Level 2 charger is the best upgrade you can make. Installing a home EV charger costs an average of $964, according to Angi—but prices can range from $300 to $2,500 depending on the charger type and any extra features. I had a 240V line installed by a licensed electrician (cost me around $800 total with parts), and I plug in every night. Full battery by morning, every time.
If you live in an apartment or don’t have private parking? That’s where it gets tricky. You’ll rely more on public chargers or workplace stations. This works in cities with good infrastructure, but if you’re in a charger desert, you’ll need to plan ahead.
EVs can charge from a standard wall outlet (Level 1), but it’s painfully slow. Like, 3–5 miles of range per hour slow. Use it in emergencies or when you’re visiting family, but for daily life, it’s not sustainable.
5. Cold Weather Isn’t Kind to EVs
If you live somewhere like Minnesota, where winter doesn’t mess around, you’ll quickly learn that EV batteries and freezing temps don’t exactly get along. Range can drop by 20–30% when it’s below freezing. Pre-conditioning your vehicle—warming the battery while it’s still plugged in—definitely helps, but it’s something to keep in mind when planning your drive.
On the coldest mornings, I’ve seen my range dip from around 275 miles to closer to 220–230. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it is noticeable. Pro tip: Heated seats and steering wheels use a lot less energy than blasting the cabin heat, so use those to stay warm without draining too much battery.
The upside? EVs perform impressively well in snow. Thanks to their low center of gravity and precise torque control, mine handles icy roads better than any gas car I’ve driven in winter.
6. The Learning Curve Is Short
There’s a lot of new vocabulary when you go electric: kWh, DCFC, regen, one-pedal driving. It’s easy to feel like you’re starting from scratch, especially if you’re used to wrenching on traditional engines.
But EVs are smarter than they are complicated. Most systems are automated, and once you get the hang of charging and range planning, it becomes second nature. You start to appreciate the quiet efficiency, the lower cost per mile, and the sheer fun of zipping through traffic without a single gear shift.
I even found myself checking battery stats like I used to check oil levels—just now I do it from an app instead of a dipstick.
7. Not All EVs Are Created Equal
The market’s exploded lately. Every major manufacturer has at least one EV, and some (like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid) are all-in on the electric future. But like anything else, they’re not all built the same.
Some key things to compare:
- Range vs. your lifestyle: Don’t overpay for range you won’t use—but don’t underbuy, either.
- Interior tech: Some EVs are minimalist (Tesla), while others go full digital cockpit.
- Cargo space: Battery placement changes layout—check the frunk (front trunk) and rear storage.
- Ride quality: Some EVs feel like high-end sedans. Others feel stiffer, especially on larger wheels.
Test driving is essential—especially if you’ve never experienced one-pedal driving or a regen-heavy setup. Try different brands. Ask about warranty coverage, especially for the battery. A little legwork now can save a lot of frustration later.
Going Electric Is a Shift
Switching to an EV won’t make you a better person. It’s not a golden ticket to environmental sainthood or instant savings. But it is a smarter, more sustainable option for a lot of drivers—and it’s only getting better.
For me, the decision wasn’t just about gas prices or torque stats. It was about doing something new that still aligned with my love for cars and how they work (or don’t). I still keep a gas-powered truck for hauling and weekend projects. But for daily driving, my EV is hard to beat.
You don’t need to go all-in tomorrow. But if you’re curious? Take one for a spin. Kick the tires. Ask questions. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll find that under the hood (or lack thereof), going electric makes a lot more sense than you thought.
