I bought my EV in 2018 and it was a STEAL at $9,500 for a two year old car under warranty with 18,000 miles. I found it on Car Gurus which conveniently allows you to search for electric drive train.

As the range of EVs keeps getting longer, this factor will eventually go away, but currently, range is the most important factor to consider when deciding what to buy. The longer the range, the more “payola” you’ll need to spend on an EV with a big battery (EV trim lines are about the battery size and range). I needed an EV that would get me to work and back, and run some errands. If you’re looking for a road-trip EV, your looking at some big money, and frankly, I’d stick with a combustion engine for those matters. And lets face it, most of us do a road trip about twice a year and renting a dino-fuel car for those rare occasions has worked very well for me.

How much range is enough?

An electric car’s range will vary a little due to weather conditions. In the winter the rang goes down about 10%. In the summer it increases 10%. Fall and Spring will be your baselines. And sometimes you want to take your co-workers for a spin or run some errands after work. So you need more than just for your commute. My suggestion is to have an extra 30% on top of what you need for your commute.

So take the distance from home to the office and multiply by that distance by 3.

Suggested EV Range = distance from home to work X 3

Speaking as someone who’s drive an EV for two years, the above formula has really worked well.

Charge Networks

Charge networks are companies that maintain charging stations around your city. These are the *new* gas stations. When you need to charge your car away from home, you can use their charge stations for a low cost, usually $1-3 dollars and often you get a discount for parking and frequently even premium parking. Payment is taken at the change device by either swiping a credit card or using their smartphone app. Search your workplace or your favorite shopping areas for what charge networks are available. Most malls, Kohls, Fred Meyer, transit centers, translations, Starbucks, and park-and-rides have charge stations. Some of them are free. When is the last time you got free fuel?

Here is a list and map of charging networks in the Seattle area.