Sound of electric car parking/driving
In recent years, electric cars have taken to the streets, joining the plethora of cars that jam the highway, expressways and city streets. And the number of these electric cars are just growing as time goes on. According to MarketWatch, there has been a 60% increase in electric car sales in the United States from 2022-2023.
Jean-Manuel Nothias, an experienced car owner who also loves racing cars, has owned an electric car for six years.
Sound of electric car trunk closing
For Mr. Nothias, some aspects of caring for an electric car are easier than gas, while others are harder. However, he thinks that investing in an electric car comes out a lot cheaper than in a gas car.
“No oil change, no electrical anything, but the catch-22 is tires, and all the repairs, that–all the updates, like a computer, you know–oh, there is a glitch, so you have to wait for the update.”
“Cheaper, way cheaper than my other cars that cost a lot of money to fix.”
Mr. Nothias is not the only person who has made the switch to electric vehicles, and he feels that the reasons for this switch may not only be because of the benefits of the car itself.
“There is, like everything else for humans, there is the fashion of it, right, this is the new stuff, so people want the new stuff.”
The increase in electric car sales is also seen globally. Over 10 million electric vehicles were sold in 2022 according to MarketWatch, and that number continued to increase by 25% in 2023.
Mr. Nothias thinks that this may continue to grow, but logistical reasons regarding charging the vehicles might get in the way.
Sound of charging electric car
“I think they’re perfect for the city, but, for the long-distance and all that still I feel like, you know, the gas is better right now.”
Although electric car owners do not have to wait in the lines at the gas station, the supply for chargers is starting to be greatly outnumbered by demand.
“It’s kind of, in French you say ‘you put the horse before the chariot.’ No, no, you have to put the horse there to go, right? So, if you have the chariot it’s great, but you’re not going anywhere if you don’t have the horse. And the horse here is the station. It’s where you plug your car in.”
Sound of electric car parking
“I think today people should be able to electrify, you know, somehow, right? A plug-in, a plug-in hybrid, or an EV. And, you’ve gotta learn about the EV–what they do and what they cannot do. And then make a choice and say hey you know this is for me or this is not for me.”
Reporting for the U-High Midway, I’m Dina Sadikovic Letko.
