Some time ago we decided that our next automobile would be an electric vehicle. Once this decision was made, we started researching which EV would best suit our needs – to say nothing of our bank account!

People that follow the electric vehicle market have noticed how the number and variety of products offered by manufacturers has mushroomed over the last couple of years, from sedans to SUVs to pickup trucks. Nowadays EV shoppers have many very good choices to consider.

As the date for the last payment on our current hybrid car approached (we’d driven hybrids exclusively since 2006), we settled on purchasing a KIA EV6.

 

As you can see, the EV6 is properly termed a compact SUV, even though our state title identifies it by the anachronistic term “station wagon”! We’ve found this vehicle to be roomy enough for our passenger- and cargo-hauling needs, and it is quite comfortable. And the instant torque afforded by the electric motor makes driving the KIA a blast!

Of course the car is equipped with a myriad – and occasionally overwhelming – level of tech. We especially appreciate the number of safety oriented aspects, including the radar that alerts one to the presence of nearby vehicles or pedestrians when reversing out of a parking space.

Charging our car’s battery to 80 percent, a level that’ll extend its service life, generally yields a cruising range of around 230 miles. There are vehicles whose larger battery packs promise ranges as high as 350 miles but, in the five months we have owned the EV6, we’ve never experienced so-called “range anxiety.” The car keeps one informed regarding how using the heating/cooling and entertainment systems affect performance . . . you just need to pay attention.

When it comes to “refueling,” living with an electric demands a different mindset from that of internal combustion engine vehicles. There are several phone apps that can be used to map out where public chargers are to be found. This makes it easy to plan road trips. The Tesla charger network is the most extensive one; supermarkets in our area usually have a ban of as many as a dozen in their parking lots. At this point non-Tesla EVs cannot utilize them, but happily there are already many other public networks available for our car. Their numbers are growing steadily in terms of location and availability, too.

The easiest way to keep the EV’s electrons topped up is to install a home charger. The charger manufacturer’s app or that of the EV company enable owners to schedule charging their autos during off-peak hours, when reduced demand for electricity makes charging cheaper.

Moving to our new home provided the perfect opportunity to have a charger installed, in the garage. All we need do is schedule the charge period and plug in the KIA. That way every day it will be ready to go.

We’re glad to have made the switch to driving an EV. If readers of my blog have questions regarding our experience of electric vehicle ownership, I hope they will free to contact me!