RALEIGH, N.C. — There are quite a few makes and models of electric vehicles on the market, but, even during a gas shortage, owning one can have its pros and cons.

What You Need To Know

  • Both electric and standard vehicles have their pros and cons

  • One Raleigh driver says electric vehicles can be at the mercy of a power grid outage

  • It's important EV drivers thoughtfully plan longer trips and know where charging stations are

  • Researching things like range and battery degredation is important before buying an EV

 

"I felt like I was in a really good position having an electric car and not having to fill up, but also, made me feel a little guilty passing all the long lines at gas stations," said Tiffany Alexy, an electric vehicle owner.

Alexy has owned an electric car since 2017, and she knew she could help some people out during a time when many people are struggling to fill up their tanks. 

"I was seeing more and more friends asking where gas stations are, what was open and what had gas," Alexy said. "I posted, 'hey if any of my friends really need to get somewhere and you don’t have gas, please let me know and I’ll give you a ride.'"

However, Alexy says she knows electric vehicles, or EVs, aren’t immune either.

"The power grid can go down as well, so nobody is really safe. Ideally you would have some sort of renewable energy source, like solar panels, that power your charger, and those aren’t as easily hacked," Alexy said.

She says there are misconceptions about EVs, but believes all drivers can face similar risks.

"It’s definitely the range anxiety. The fear that, 'oh my gosh, what am I going to do if I run out of electricity and get stranded?' Just like someone can run out of gas," Alexy said.

Alexy says this gas shortage may be the tipping point needed to convince more people to buy an EV.

"They’ve definitely become more and more common in the past couple of years. I feel like that trend is going to continue, especially with different models coming out, price points getting lower. They are definitely more accessible," Alexy said.

If you're interested in buying an electric vehicle, Alexy says research is very important. You'll want to look at range, which means how far the vehicle can travel before the battery needs to be recharged. You'll also want to consider battery degradation, or how the battery's maximum charge capacity is reduced over its lifespan.