I went from a plug in hybrid Volt (53 miles electric range) and a Leaf (83 mile electric) range, for our distance driving and daily driver with nary a hitch. We have been completely electric since 2018, and will never go back. We drove to SC to check on a friend’s house and were able to go down and back (300+ miles) with no -problems charging, whereas gas was in tight supply and had long lines.

“Standard feature”? My brain is fuzzy tonight.

Most of them do seem to offer it though. As an added option that increases the price. I’m just starting to look into the idea. I wasn’t planning on getting a new car for awhile but I wrecked my 2015 Honda civic a couple weeks ago so I guess I’ll be car shopping sooner than I’d expected. There are lots of things nowadays that cars come with as standard (base model). My civic 10 yrs ago had power everything, blue tooth, a nice stereo, AC and a back up camera on the base model. Maybe that plug in will be standard in a couple years.

The plug in hybrid is a distinct model from the regular hybrid. There are a number of used Volts out there at a decent price. There is also the Prius Prime and the Rav4 plug in, but their electric range is shorter than the Volt. The best used EV s with decent range are the Kia Niro EV, and the Chevy Bolt. Prices aren't too bad. That said, Hertz is selling off some base model Tesla 3s at very good prices.

He got it pretty cheap but its range wasn’t very good. Less than 100 miles. He just got it as an experiment and only drove around town with it but he still got stranded once waiting to access a charger somewhere.

The Volt had an onboard gasoline generator and could go 38/53 miles (depending on year) on electric, and then another 300+ miles with gasoline. You would be unlikely to get stranded since when the battery was exhausted, it switched on the gas generator and you kept driving. The Chevy Bolt was an all electric, but had a range of 238/248 miles. Sounds like the Nissan Leaf which was 70-100 miles all electric in the early days (pre-2019), and had a CHAdeMO charge port, and those chargers were never numerous in the US.

He was a pretty handy guy and he put a charging system in his garage. I think he told me it was supposed to go 70 miles on a charge but he didn’t get close to that. It was pretty old.

Leaves had a major battery longevity problem and are the source of claims that EV batteries don't last.

He just ran around town with it. I don’t think there many charging stations around. I think maybe Costco was one place that had them.

... but is a bit intimidated by the technology part.

I don't have a home charger, and Tesla has the best charging system in the world. Tesla Superchargers are literally all over the country. They make it easy for people like me.

It doesn't seem that charging is such a barrier anymore.

What scares me are all those stories about EV cars catching on fire or exploding. They're even telling EV owners to park their car overnight in an unattached garage. Yikes!

The reality is EVs rarely catch fire, in fact they are far less likely to catch than ICE cars. Also, each generation of battery chemistry gets safer.

Appreciate the fact that they had to buy one and the new buyers just get one for free.. and instillation as well!

before he bought the Tesla home (and bought it used from another dealer so the cash didn't go to Elon!). He wanted to try one as a commuter car and likes it so far. That's a really good marketing idea from Ford, to make it easier for the buyer.

And better weather resistance in the structure. We both like how metal roofs sound.

Sudden catastrophic engine failure and 11 other recalls including sudden catastrophic transmission failure. The car was totalled when we were hit by BMW and none of the safety features worked. Pretty much committing fraud.

2 stationwagons (the old Country Squire and then a LTD stationwagon, and a Mercury sedan). Years of starting the car, driving a block up the street and then stalling. I swore NEVER!

Then after about 20 years or so of Dodges and Chevys, I found myself back with one (and then got another after that).

(I have only owned American cars as a note)