Q: What was it like driving an EV that first time?

Fantastic. It was everything that I thought it would be, and more. I was nervous and hesitant to fully experience the EV pick-up until the test drive coordinator encouraged me to really “punch” it. Wow! The power, the smoothness, the luxury - everything about it exceeded my expectations.

Q: In that first test drive, did anything surprise you?

I did so much research ahead of time, the only thing I can think of was the acceleration. I mean, 0-60 in an EV is totally different from a gas car. That’s why I tell people, to this day, you really have to drive one to understand the difference.

Q: What did you consider when making the decision to buy an EV?

Economics, value, performance, acceleration, and the convenience of fueling your vehicle at home. Think about it, it’s just like charging your mobile phone: every night, when you go to bed, you plug in your EV, and in the morning, it’s fully charged and ready to go. That’s a huge benefit that I think few people think about.

Q: How did you decide to buy a Rivian?

I was in California and had the chance to see one in person. I couldn’t drive it but was able to sit in it. The quality was really good. On my way home, I ordered one. That was November, 2021 and I got the Rivian July, 2022 - faster than I expected. The Rivian has a smaller bed than most trucks but it has something that truck owners have wanted for a long time - lockable storage. You’ve got the frunk, the gear tunnel, the bed with lockable power tonneau, there is even space under the bed.

Q: What is the longest trip that you’ve taken so far in your EV?

I’ve driven to California three times. Michigan ten times. DC one time. Florida five times. The longest was California by way of the Grand Canyon, over to LA, up to San Francisco and back home all in one week.

I’ve had no issues with finding charging stations along the way. Tesla has a great Supercharger network. There is also Electrify America, EVGo is coming along, and Charge Point is doing a lot. There are more and more options being added every day.

Q: What would you say to people who are hesitant to buy an EV?

I’m not pressuring anyone, but if you’re interested, try one out for a day and see if you like it. Better yet, try a couple of them. I find the performance sort of intoxicating. And the fueling is so convenient.

Some people are concerned about the cost or the hassle of installing a Level 2 charging station in their home. Just contact an electrician. They do free estimates. And for the people who don’t drive a lot, all you need is a Level 1 GFCI wall outlet.

There are a lot of reasons to buy an electric car but you only need one. Maybe you want the fastest performance, or to help the environment, or it’s because you want to save money on gas. Whatever your reason is, just try it out and see for yourself. You’ve gotta try it to believe it. 

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