I don’t own an electric car but tried one (a basic Renault Zoé) on carsharing. It’s so fun, especially in the mountains. The instant torque really helps to propel you forward on climbs and around corners, and the regen is super useful to control the speed. Hard to get that same smooth flow with a gas car. And compared to a manual, no worries about shifting gears on the steeps or stalling. The regen works so well that you almost get the same range as on flat roads (for the same average speed).
And I haven’t even mentioned the comfort and lack of stress while driving in cities or heavy traffic.
In almost every way, an EV is better, more fun, and way less polluting than a gas car. But it’s really on mountain passes where they shine, like driving on flat roads even on a climb.
As cheaper models and more used EVs show up, more people will get to try them, understand how they work, and buy them.
More EVs on the road should mean more charging stations too, which makes it easier for everyone.
@Gabriel
On my way home from the mall, there’s this steep half-mile incline. I just zip up, and everyone else struggles to keep up. It’s pretty amazing.
I have a friend who’s a real gearhead and refuses to even try an EV because he thinks it’ll ruin gas cars for him. Probably not wrong. Even Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, said the best way to sell EVs is to just get people to drive them. My brother, not an EV fan, drove my Bolt EUV for a few days, then went and bought an Ioniq 5 a couple of weeks later.
But yeah, charging is still an issue for folks without home or work outlets. In the US, the CCS network isn’t great yet, so road trips can be rough for some (though I find it fun). Driving, maintenance, and fuel costs are just so much easier with an EV.
@martin
This is so true. I saw an interview with bus drivers from the capital here, and almost all of them said that electric buses, with their low floors, instant torque, AC, and smooth steering, felt way softer and comfier than diesel buses.
I actually have a gearhead friend that refuses to drive an EV because he is worried it will ruin his impression of gas cars.
I get it. We’ve got an EV6 GT and a much slower Stinger GT. I still love the Stinger for the turbo sounds and exhaust and the build-up of torque. The EV6 is way faster but not always as thrilling… except when someone tries to race you at a light – then, it’s unbeatable fun.
@martin
Best of both worlds, really. In a gas car, you appreciate the sound and the gear shifts. With electric, it’s all about the response and the quiet. Driving a go-kart doesn’t make your regular car less fun, right?
Michael said:
I love EVs, but mountain driving? They still can’t beat gas cars for sheer fun. They’re just too heavy, tend to understeer.
A lot of EVs (and new gas cars) are SUVs, which are never that fun to drive. But OP was in a Renault Zoé – that’s pretty light and I doubt it would understeer much.
People say EVs are quiet, but even my 2015 Leaf can burn rubber. Made a sharp turn the other day and realized it’s not as quiet as I thought. It’s fun pulling up to others and flooring it, the thrill is awesome.
I’ve got a question for EV owners. I’m an ICE driver and only drove an EV once (Ioniq 5). The acceleration was amazing, and it was fun, but I can’t see EVs having the same appeal everywhere. In Europe, ‘fun’ cars are usually light hot hatches that handle tight roads well, but most EVs are heavy, which seems better for US roads where straight-line speed is the focus. What’s your experience, especially if you’re in Europe?
@Jason
I’m in Europe! A small electric car still feels pretty nimble here. In mountain corners, you notice the weight, but the low center of gravity from the batteries makes up for it. I’m not a super sporty driver, but I’ve never cornered as hard as in an EV. The Zoé isn’t too heavy, though, so maybe a bigger car would feel different.