Recent studies show that interest in electric vehicles is still high, but EV sales only account for about 3% of vehicles sold. With rising gas prices, looming climate issues, and lower maintenance costs, it’s hard to imagine why electric vehicles aren’t the best choice when buying a new vehicle.

Even though EV sales continue to rise, there are several reasons to remain skeptical about joining the small percentage of people who own electric vehicles. Check out these ten reasons why buying an electric car is overrated.

1. Driving Distance

Range anxiety keeps people from buying an electric vehicle. The average range of a fully charged EV battery is about 250 miles, which is more than most people drive, even on short trips, but it’s just not enough to keep people from worrying about it. Until the average range of a charge increases, this is a deal breaker for many people.

2. Charging Time

The world is fast-paced, and people don’t think twice about stopping to fuel up in a gas-powered vehicle. You’ll be on your way in just a few minutes. In an EV, even a fast charger can require 3.5 hours to charge your battery. Since quick charging can’t be relied on because it can damage your battery long-term, the charging time is another reason to distrust the EV hype.

3. The High Cost of Replacing Batteries

Talk to anyone who has looked into buying an electric vehicle, and you’ll hear concerns about the high cost of replacing batteries. While it’s true that repair bills on EVs can get out of control pretty quickly, the same is also true with gas-powered vehicles, which is why consumers buy extended car warranties.

To be fair, Tesla vehicles come with an 8-year, 150,000-mile warranty on batteries, which guarantees 70 percent battery retention during this period. Extended Tesla warranties are also available.

4. There Aren’t Enough Charging Stations

Until more charging stations are built, consumers will be hesitant to purchase an EV, especially if it takes several hours to charge their vehicle.

5. EVs Are Too Expensive

Electric cars are still high priced, and as long as the price tag is high, even with tax incentives and rebates, people can’t afford to pay an extra $15,000 to $20,000 for an electric vehicle.

6. Electrical Fires

Any car can catch fire, but electric vehicle fires have been in the news, and there’s genuine concern about their inclination to catch fire for no clear reason. Even though EVs aren’t more likely to catch fire than a gas-fueled vehicle, when they do, they tend to burn hotter and longer.

7. Power Station Emissions

While many people are working towards environmental sustainability, as long as fossil fuels are involved in powering EVs, electric cars don’t seem like practical alternatives to gas-powered vehicles.

The power needed to charge your EV has to come from somewhere, and right now, only about 20% of power in the US comes from renewable sources. Thankfully, that number continues to grow, but in some areas, electricity is still being produced by coal or gas.

8. The Cost of Electricity

There’s considerable concern about the rising cost of electricity as more and more EVs get on the road. As countries continue to replace gas-powered vehicles with electric models, they will have to produce more and more electricity. At this point, there’s no guarantee that the replacement power source will be greener or cheaper than driving gas-powered cars.

9. Electric Blackouts

Several parts of the US are experiencing blackouts during all times of the year. While the US struggles to modernize the electric grid, drivers are faced with the choice of paying for high gas prices or being stranded at home with no power and no car.

10. Resale Value

The problem with the high cost of EV batteries has created another issue with electric cars: the resale value. No one wants to buy a used electric vehicle without a warranty when they have to pay exorbitant amounts to replace the battery. Even though electric vehicles require less maintenance overall, they still have a lifespan, and people are hesitant to buy a used EV.

Conclusion

Environmental sustainability is increasingly important, and there is no doubt that an alternative to gas-powered vehicles is necessary. While electric vehicles are undoubtedly part of a global solution to reverse climate change, they may not be the only answer.

Taylor Gilbert is the admin and freelance writer at How About Tech since 2020. He primarily writes Tech articles, How-to guides and Entertainment as well.