With electric vehicles (EVs) gaining buzz in recent years, they’ve been touted as the future of transportation. Major automakers are rolling out new models, and governments are pushing for their adoption through incentives and regulatory measures. However, despite the hype, I remain skeptical about jumping on the EV bandwagon—at least for now. While I’m not ruling out the possibility of buying one someday, the reality is that EVs have significant hurdles to overcome before they make sense for me, and possibly many others.
The first—and perhaps most obvious—barrier is price. Most electric vehicles on the market today come with a hefty price tag. Even the so-called “affordable” models start at $30,000 or more, with some high-end options easily surpassing $60,000. In contrast, you can find reliable gasoline-powered vehicles for much less.
For an EV to appeal to me, the price needs to drop significantly. Ideally, I’m looking for something under $20,000, a price point where the technology becomes truly accessible to average consumers. While used EVs might help bridge that gap, concerns about battery life and replacement costs make them a less-than-attractive option.
Another major concern is range. While EV manufacturers have made strides in improving how far a vehicle can travel on a single charge, most still top out at around 250-350 miles. For longer road trips or rural driving, this simply isn’t sufficient.
I would seriously consider an EV if it could exceed 500 miles on a single charge—something that gasoline-powered cars easily achieve with a full tank. Until EVs can meet or exceed that standard, they remain more of a novelty for people with specific, urban-focused driving needs rather than a true replacement for gasoline vehicles.
Even if EVs became cheaper and could travel further, the United States’ charging infrastructure isn’t ready to support mass adoption. While urban centers and highways are starting to see more charging stations, vast swaths of the country remain underserved. Long road trips can become logistical nightmares, requiring careful planning around available charging points, many of which still take far longer to recharge a vehicle than a simple gas station stop.
The current patchwork of charging stations and lack of consistency makes gasoline-powered cars the more practical and reliable option, especially in rural or less developed areas. I don’t want to be stuck somewhere in the middle of a road trip, searching for a charging station and then waiting 30 minutes or more to get back on the road.
There’s no denying that EVs come with environmental benefits. They produce zero tailpipe emissions and, when powered by renewable energy, have the potential to drastically reduce carbon footprints. However, the environmental advantage isn’t the only factor in making a purchase. A vehicle needs to meet practical needs—price, range, and reliability—before it becomes a viable option for most people.
I’m not saying I’ll never buy an electric vehicle. I’m open to the idea that EVs will improve as technology advances. But for now, gasoline vehicles remain the more sensible choice for me. Someday, if EVs reach that $20,000 price point and offer 500 miles of range, with an infrastructure that supports hassle-free charging, I’ll reconsider. Until then, EVs are a step in the right direction—but not one I’m ready to take just yet. Gasoline, despite its environmental drawbacks, remains the best option for practicality and cost-efficiency today.
In short, electric vehicles may be the future, but that future just hasn’t arrived yet.