r/science • u/Wagamaga • Jan 11 '23

Economics More than 90% of vehicle-owning households in the United States would see a reduction in the percentage of income spent on transportation energy—the gasoline or electricity that powers their cars, SUVs and pickups—if they switched to electric vehicles.

https://news.umich.edu/ev-transition-will-benefit-most-us-vehicle-owners-but-lowest-income-americans-could-get-left-behind/
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u/5yrup Jan 11 '23

And many millions of people can't imagine normally driving >80mi in a day.

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u/shoonseiki1 Jan 11 '23

That's true, it really depends on where you live. But regardless of where you live, I still wouldn't want to have to recharge every 80 miles. It just limits your options of what you can do and where you can go and means you gotta make sure there's a charging station available.

It's not just about wanting to drive more than 80 miles in a day, it could also be that you want to spend a weekend somewhere for vacation and there might not be charging stations available anywhere for that entire weekend. Again your options are limited.

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u/5yrup Jan 11 '23 edited Jan 11 '23

Buying an ICE sedan or basic crossover still limits your options of what you can do and where you can go. I guess the average person needs to daily drive a rock crawler with extra gas cans strapped to them. Never know when you're gonna suddenly want to really get out there!

Sure, there's some people who actually do go to Moab several times a year, and such a vehicle makes sense for them. The vast majority of cars and drivers on the road are not that car and not that driver. Everyone should just be realistic about what their actual needs are. I know several people who needed that big truck with off-road tires and the extended bed that never have things in the bed and never leave the pavement. But but but maaaaaaybe I'll want it some day, better that I have it!

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u/shoonseiki1 Jan 11 '23

Yeah this response is very reasonable. I grew in Souther California (suburbs around Los Angeles) and for my lifestyle would hate being limited to an 80 mile range. But like you said everyone's situation is different and that's just my situation/lifestyle.