Juan Ventura stood on the sidewalk chatting with his buddies while sneaking quick looks at the shiny new electric vehicles lined up as part of the second annual EV car show held at California State University, Northridge on Wednesday, April 26.
“Gas prices are pretty expensive right now,” said the 18-year-old computer engineering major. “Also, there’s not even much maintenance on these electric cars, just change the tires and inspect the brakes. That saves you a lot of money.”
Still, Ventura kept his distance, not speaking to the car reps or asking for a test spin. He drives his dad’s car to school and can’t afford his own. Asked about buying a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), he said: “Maybe, in the future, but right now, I don’t know.”
While electric cars are hard to keep on dealer lots these days, it’s not a purchase that many low or middle-income folks can afford. And the price of a new one can be daunting.
Doug Schwartz, who is semi-retired, put his gasoline-powered Porsche up for sale but so far has not gotten any bites. He thought that a new BEV with about 200 miles of range on a charge would suit him fine. So what’s stopping him? “I would say the cost. The prices are a concern,” he said.
The array of cars on display at CSUN were almost exclusively mid-end to high-end EVs: BMWs, Porches, Volvos, and newer startups from Lucid and Vinfast, a Vietnam-based company new to the North American market. Missing were the Chevy Bolt models, which start at around $29,000.
With the suggested retail price of EVs about $10,000 more than gas-powered cars, sticker shock can be a roadblock to ownership. However, many point out that over time, plugging in a battery-electric vehicle saves the owner hundreds of dollars a year on fuel. And there are fewer maintenance costs, with no oil changes or tune-ups needed.
Inside CSUN’s Institute of Sustainability, a roundtable discussion on the industry, sales, and charging infrastructure shed some…
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