With the New Jersey Governor’s recent push towards an electric vehicle (EV) mandate, many of us find ourselves at a crossroads! While the push for cleaner, greener transportation is laudable, not everyone is ready to jump on the EV bandwagon. Here are five reasons why I’m not ready to be steered into buying an electric car.
The Charging Challenge
The number one roadblock? Charging infrastructure. While urban areas may be sprouting charging stations like spring tulips, suburban and rural areas have yet to catch up. The thought of being stranded on the less-traveled roads of New Jersey with an unresponsive battery and no charging station in sight is, frankly, electrifying—and not in a good way.
The Cost Conundrum
Let’s talk dollars and sense. Electric cars still carry a premium over their gasoline-powered cousins. And while there are incentives, they don’t fully bridge the gap for every budget. The economic burden of switching to an EV can be substantial, and not everyone can absorb that shock to their finances.
Range Anxiety: More Real Than Mythical
Range anxiety isn’t just a clever phrase—it’s a real concern. Current EVs offer improved range compared to their early predecessors, but they still can’t compete with the hundreds of miles a gasoline tank can cover. For those of us who travel long distances or who can’t guarantee a charge every night, this limitation is a deal-breaker.
The Time Tax
Refueling a gasoline car takes what, five minutes? Charging an electric car, on the other hand, can be a more time-consuming affair. Even with fast-charging technology, it can take significantly longer to recharge an EV than to refill a gas tank. This “time tax” is a significant deterrent, especially for those with hectic schedules.
Cold Weather Woes
Battery performance dips in colder weather, and New Jersey isn’t exactly known for its tropical winters. Reduced efficiency and range in the cold months mean that owning an EV in New Jersey requires not just a change of vehicle but potentially a change in lifestyle and mobility habits.
While I fully support the move towards more sustainable technologies and cleaner air, mandating electric cars feels like putting the cart before the horse—or should I say, the EV before the charging station? As New Jersey paves the way toward a greener future, perhaps a bit more roadwork is needed to ensure that all drivers can travel that path, without reservations.
Bonus Reason
Lastly, I’m a Jersey Girl, nobody tells me what to do.
