Many Americans still aren’t sold on going electric for their next car purchase. A poll shows high prices and a lack of easy-to-find charging stations are major sticking points.
Restoring some fuel economy (increasing range) to a used ICE car can be as simple as replacing spark plugs and cleaning fuel injectors. Even if you’re not into doing that work yourself, that’s not prohibitively expensive.
Doing the same for an EV entails replacing the entire EV battery, which is prohibitively expensive, and which a shadetree mechanic would be hard-pressed to do themselves.
… and also an engine rebuild with new piston rings and possibly even cams and lifters if the old ones have worn down enough. When a ICE car drinks oil like its gas, there’s things you have to do.
Restoring some fuel economy (increasing range) to a used ICE car can be as simple as replacing spark plugs and cleaning fuel injectors. Even if you’re not into doing that work yourself, that’s not prohibitively expensive.
Doing the same for an EV entails replacing the entire EV battery, which is prohibitively expensive, and which a shadetree mechanic would be hard-pressed to do themselves.
… and also an engine rebuild with new piston rings and possibly even cams and lifters if the old ones have worn down enough. When a ICE car drinks oil like its gas, there’s things you have to do.
I take your point on individual maintenance, but that can also apply to EVs. But statistics show that in general ICE cars degrade faster than EVs
University of Michigan found that vehicles over 10 years old consume 33% to 35% more fuel per mile compared to newer vehicles. Another analysis by EPA researchers found that vehicles with damaged engines and exhaust systems could see a 40% efficiency loss.