Electric vehicles have a long history, dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s before gas-powered cars like the Ford Model T took over the roads.
In recent decades, several manufacturers, including G-Wiz, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Toyota, have introduced electric and hybrid models to try to entice people to switch from internal combustion engines, stressing their impact on the environment.
In 2024, manufacturers sold more than 1.3 million electric vehicles, a 7.3% increase over the year prior, per Kelley Blue Book. Despite their growing popularity, some seem to be turning away from them entirely.
More Expensive to Purchase
Right off the bat, looking at sticker prices, it’s easy to notice EVs are more expensive than gas-powered vehicles. For instance, looking at the Toyota website, the 2025 Toyota RAV4 MSRP starts at $29,250. The RAV4 Hybrid starts at $32,300, a cost of $3,050 more.
However, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a non-profit organization advocating for environmental protection, studies have shown that driving EVs saves money on fuel, as much as 60%. Those savings, over the car’s lifetime, could help mitigate the extra upfront cost.
Insurance Costs
And it’s not just the sticker price you have to worry about, either. Value Penguin notes that insurers charge an estimated 20% more to cover EVs because of the cost involved in buying and repairing them.
According to the included chart, the Volkswagen ID.4 was the cheapest to insure, while Tesla’s Model X was the most expensive. Before purchasing, it’s a good idea to get a quote from your insurance agent so you’re prepared ahead of time.
Battery Production Woes
It’s no secret EVs run on electric batteries, but the production of those batteries has caused some serious environmental concerns. The lithium is mined in Africa, where water depletion and contamination are major issues, especially considering the process uses millions of liters. That water has to come from somewhere and according to Greenly, mining diverts it from communities that need it, causing extreme shortages.
And speaking of batteries…
Availability of Chargers a Major Issue
Despite having been on the market for a few decades, the infrastructure isn’t quite there to support all the usage, yet. In a 2022 McKinsey & Company released last year, the latest data revealed a lack of charging ports has deterred would-be buyers. Though EV owners can charge their vehicles at home, they still rely on public ones while they’re on the go. Further, if the development of these ports doesn’t keep up with the number of EVs on the road, it could put them off entirely.
Consumers are not just looking for charging ports, either. McKinsey & Company noted that EV owners also want fast, efficient charging speeds, with the majority — 60% — desiring times of 30 minutes or less.
Cost of Maintenance and Repairs
The cost of maintaining an EV is more expensive to maintain and repair. In fact, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) cites a Mitchell report outlining how repairs on EVs cost 30% more than gas-powered vehicles because labor and parts are more expensive.
EVs still require maintenance like their gas-powered counterparts, but because they have fewer moving parts, maintenance costs tend to be 40% lower. However, there’s a caveat: the batteries can be very costly to replace, between $5,000 and $20,000. Tires also tend to wear out faster, according to a US News report, because of the heavier weight of the batteries and instant torque, which allows them to generate maximum torque from a stopped position.
Can’t Fix It Yourself
Remember when you could lift the hood of your car and fix small issues yourself—or even tackle big repairs if you had the right tools and skills? Not so much with an EV. Maintenance and repairs are best left to the pros because of the high-voltage systems that pose a safety risk and the specialized knowledge required to service these components.
And if you do it wrong, you’re risking damage and costly mistakes to the vehicle. But, even if you’re looking for a pro, you might find yourself waiting a while, because…
Lack of Skilled Professionals
The number of skilled mechanics for electric vehicles has not kept up with consumer demand. Because of that, you’ll likely find yourself on a lengthy waitlist. But that’s not all; if you don’t book your service in a timely manner, it can lead to performance issues and potentially even shorten the EV’s lifespan.
Resale Value
Cars depreciate the moment you drive them off the lot, per KBB, and up to 20% in their first year. Over five years, according to iSeeCars, internal combustion engine cars lose 38.8% of their value, but the real hit comes with EVs, which lose an average of 49.1%. This depreciation happens because of a combination of factors, including rapid changes in technology, decreasing sticker prices, and financial incentives.
The report points out four electric vehicles in particular that exceed the average:
- Tesla Model X (49.9%)
- Nissan LEAF (50.8%)
- Chevy Bolt (51.1%)
- Tesla Model S (55.5%)
Not Good for Towing or Hauling
It’s not uncommon to use our cars to tow or haul small loads, but with EVs, you might want to think twice. Since they’re battery-powered, any additional weight is likely to reduce the range. In fact, that’s exactly what Consumer Reports found in testing EV pickup trucks with heavy trailers, “significant reductions in driving range” in both a Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning.
JD Power also cited a reduced range in multiple vehicles, including the Tesla Model Y Long Range, when additional weight was added to the load.
Effect on Our Bodies
There have been concerns about the effects EVs have on our bodies, specifically related to electromagnetic radiation. An article published in Sensors, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and made available through the National Institutes of Health, evaluates the effect of the electromagnetic field in electric vehicles on both the driver and any passengers.
It notes that while the EMF exposure limits meet regulatory standards, “long-lasting daily exposure … cannot be counted to be negligible when the context of possible health effects due to chronic exposure” is at hand. It goes on to say the extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF MF) “was classified to be a possible carcinogenic to human[s].” In short, more research needs to be done and data collected to determine the true effect of driving EVs on our bodies.
