# Economics of electric vehicles **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 16, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908 "2024-03-16T12:34:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/101 "2024-05-04T14:53:44Z")
It’s too early for me too look at the math but even where I am with very expensive electricity, a long charging session costs like $9. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/102 "2024-05-04T14:56:33Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Now, I’m not very good at math, but that sounds like each charging session (2,555 per year) would generate $103.71 on average. This sounds awfully high to me. Does a 30-minute charging session actually cost this much? Seems to me like that’s about 10x the average cost. I can’t be precise because Tesla is free to is (and I think costs vary) but $100 per charge can’t be right ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/103 "2024-05-04T14:57:31Z")
Yeah, that’s more what I had thought. Maybe I missed some part where they are considering a station with multiple chargers as an aggregate. I’m stumped. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/104 "2024-05-04T18:26:01Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Does a 30-minute charging session actually cost this much? I looked through my logs and found two 28 minute supercharging sessions. In one I added 36 kWh and it cost me $6.24. In the other I added 42 kWh and it cost $16.77. The price does vary by location and time of day, but $100 supercharging session would be something like adding 200 kWh at the more expensive places, and that’s not happening in 30 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/105 "2024-05-04T20:52:21Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Maybe I missed some part where they are considering a station with multiple chargers as an aggregate. I’m stumped. Their analysis was for a station with 4 chargers, so more like $26/charge. Still seems high, but not quite as ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/106 "2024-05-04T22:01:46Z")
That does, indeed, make more sense. I need to clean my glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/107 "2024-05-06T15:08:25Z")
From 5% to 80% of my 91kwh battery at 51¢ would cost me about $35 if I did the mental math right. I think you’d need a Hummer to hit $100. My Expedition cost me $108 yesterday, but that was from nearly empty and using 93 (obviously it’s not an EV). Luckily I charge at home most of the time, and the last 12 months I’ve used 3081kw/h at $494, so just about 16¢ per. Having to count on Tesla or EA would bankrupt me. Hyperbole, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/108 "2024-05-06T15:25:55Z")
It’s even worse if you buy an EV from one of the small startups. A person with a Fisker Ocean (what?) had their car declared totaled after the insurer couldn’t find a small replacement part for a door ding. Story on [Jalopnik](https://jalopnik.com/fisker-ocean-totaled-over-910-door-ding-after-insurer-1851451187). The repair/insurance thing is going to get really bad for even “major” EV makers. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/109 "2024-05-06T15:36:37Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > The repair/insurance thing is going to get really bad for even “major” EV makers. This may be the explanation for the apparent contradiction upthread between different takes on Consumer Reports’s maintenance rating for EVs. Routine maintenance may be lower, as some of the posters have commented, but maintenance following a collision of some sort may be higher. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/110 "2024-05-06T16:11:17Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Routine maintenance may be lower, as some of the posters have commented, but maintenance following a collision of some sort may be higher. This is it exactly. There isn’t any routine maintenance except for tire rotation. Collision repair is way more and there are more collisions because of unfamiliar drivers. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/111 "2024-05-06T17:42:33Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > It’s even worse if you buy an EV from one of the small startups. > > A person with a Fisker Ocean (what?) had their car declared totaled after the insurer couldn’t find a small replacement part for a door ding. Story on [Jalopnik](https://jalopnik.com/fisker-ocean-totaled-over-910-door-ding-after-insurer-1851451187). I have a low-production volume classic ICE roadster. It’s unfortunately common for cars to get totaled for what would be minor damage on a Camry or an F150 because there just aren’t any replacement \_\_\_ (fender, bumper, headlights, etc) out there to replace the damaged part(s). What was originally low volume & now an older model not being made anymore is not exactly a recipe for some third-party to start manufacturing after-market parts for them & turn a profit. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/112 "2024-05-07T01:55:03Z")
I saw [this story](https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/china-s-leading-electric-vehicle-maker-selling-cars-for-10-000-210371141734) on NBC Nightly News tonight. Chinese leading EV manufacturer BYD is selling cars for as little as $10k. They are not available in the US, but are being sold in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/113 "2024-06-29T19:33:43Z")
New study by JD Power indicates that EVs need repairs more often than ICE vehicles: > [@](#): > > J.D. Power’s study tracks responses from nearly 100,000 purchasers and lessees of 2024 vehicles within the first 90 days of ownership, and for the first time in the study’s 38-year history, it incorporates repair visit data. Overall, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles averaged 180 PP100 (or 180 problems per 100 vehicles), while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) averaged a whopping 266 PP100, 86 points higher than ICE vehicles. > > Automakers have typically said that EVs are generally less problematic and require fewer repairs than ICE vehicles because they have a smaller number of parts and systems. However, J.D. Power’s study with newly incorporated repair data shows EVs, as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), require more repairs than gas-powered vehicles in all repair categories. > **[EVs are giving new owners more headaches, and Tesla is a big reason why: J.D....](https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/evs-are-giving-new-owners-more-headaches-and-tesla-is-a-big-reason-why-jd-power-study-180922855.html)** > > Automotive research firm J.D. Power’s highly watched initial quality study is out — and it appears EVs are giving consumers big headaches. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/114 "2024-06-29T20:41:53Z")
I have been hearing for years that Tesla has a reputation for poor build quality. But that article seems to have concluded that EVs need more repairs simply my comparing the number of problems reported for pure EV brands compared to traditional car makers. But they don’t mention anything about the EVs built by Chevy, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, VW, Audi, and Volvo. So it’s not really clear if EVs in general need more repairs, or just that Teslas and Polestars need more repairs. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/115 "2024-06-29T20:56:09Z")
Our Lyriq needed 2 repairs in the first 3 months–the computer decided to not allow one window to roll up and the antenna wasn’t attached correctly. Annoying, but zero to do with being a BEV. In fact were I a betting man I would say that none of those first 90 day repairs had anything to do with the propulsion system. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/116 "2024-06-29T21:13:44Z")
Exactly. More incomplete data. But yeah, EVs are horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/117 "2024-06-30T00:04:53Z")
Some of Tesla’s “repairs” can be done remotely over the air. I wonder if those are included in the survey. We’ve had two EVs for 4-5 years. We had to bring the Tesla in once for a repair. The suspension was squeaking. But, no oil changes, tune ups, or other routine maintenance of any kind (except rotate the tires every two years or so). ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/118 "2024-07-11T01:01:15Z")
Did our first public charge today–added 35% charge or about 105 miles and a newer EA DC charger in 15 minutes–we hadn’t even received our food yet and had to go move the car to not get idling charges! The kiosk said $.64/KWH which isn’t so great, but so far they’ve charged us $6. It’s a good thing we charged, too, because the drive home was 103F, uphill slightly, and a 20 mph headwind. We burned 200 miles of range to go 140 miles and made it home with 27% battery. The same drive in my truck (2010 Dodge 1500–usually 17 mpg on the highway) with a 40 mph headwind got 11 mpg. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/119 "2024-07-11T01:16:44Z")
Family is at Onslow Beach for this week. Recreation area at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Only two charges (2 plugs each) in Jacksonville. Both 6.6kw slow but they are free. The electric company has a few scattered in the area further out. Free is good. The main location is at a mall (going concern) so we plug in, see a movie, and or take the grandkids to the play areas when we’re not beaching it. Two hours gets us 55 miles. Plenty for food/dining jetting about. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908/120 "2024-07-11T12:40:03Z")
Our Fourth of July trip was $62 at Tesla stations to go about 750 miles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-electric-vehicles/998908.md?page=7)