Primary Use of Your EV

Before you commit to buying an EV, the fist question you need to ask yourself is what is my primary use for this EV. Here are some possible answers and some guidance regarding types of EVs to consider:

1. Primarily Local Driving -  Includes commuting to-and-from work, conducting in-town errands, and staying within a single battery charge from home. Also, this scenario assumes you charge your EV at home with a Level 2 charging system.  Essentially any of the EVs currently for sale will work in this scenario and your decision will depend on a willingness to pay for range, luxury, performance, and advanced technologies and safety features. If you have an unusually long commute, you might want to investigate those EVs with longer ranges. If you are looking for a good lower cost option, I could recommend the Chevy Bolt EV/EUV – it has exceeded my expectations in terms of drivability/performance, utility, and efficiency.  
2. Primarily Local Driving, But May Use For Infrequent Longer Trips -  Includes all the aspects of Answer #1, with the option to take trips that would require DCFC charging.  Range and charging speed become more important factors – but since only for infrequent longer trips, not the primary factors. Utility needs, performance, comfort/luxury, technology/safety features, manufacturer preference will all need to be balanced against your price range. The lower priced EVs are not well suited for making longer trips. However, most of the options in the middle to higher price categories are certainly worth investigating. If range is a determining factor because out-of-town charging options are limited, then focus on the longer range vehicles.  If your longer trips would involve multiple charging stops, maybe over multiple days to get to your destination, I suggest you refrain from looking at the lower priced options – their charging capabilities are too limited and would substantially increase the trip duration. However, if your primary trip is just outside your range requiring only 1 or 2 stops, then any of the EV options could work. 
3. All-around Vehicle To Be Used For In-Town and Frequent Long-Distance Trips - Because this answer includes frequent long-distance trips, your evaluation should focus on longer range vehicles. If you meet those requirements, the EV will easily perform your in-town driving. The primary considerations are real-world range and time needed to charge the EV. Also, it will be important to determine charging facilities available on the frequently traveled routes. EV manufacturers do not typically provide you with all the information you will need to perform a thorough evaluation so additional research will be required on your highest priority EV options. You should also plan to increase your budget because longer-range EVs tend to have a higher price.