Teslas and EV’s are wonderful but I will readily admit they aren’t for everyone!
There are inconvenient for certain lifestyles, functioning purposes, and even impractical in some moments. I’ll cover all the reasons you shouldn’t get one in this guide.
Honestly, I still think you should buy a Tesla. The future is coming and future infrastructure will be made to support Teslas much sooner than you think.
I think it’s going to be similar to the whole WI-FI revolution when businesses everywhere started offering free WI-FI. Searching for EV chargers certainly feels like driving around for free WI-FI but those days will soon come to an end. Trust me!
But this review is written for RIGHT NOW and those needing a functional car RIGHT NOW, as of 2019.
On to it already…
REASON #1 – hard to find charging
You don’t have access to a charging station or electrical outlet at home, and there are no nearby electric vehicle charging stations. Without being able to charge electronically, it’s going to be a pain to refuel your car and thus, rendering it nearly useless.
REASON #2 – you drive a lot (over 200 miles a day)
If there’s one thing I do like about gas vehicles or internal combustion engines (aka ICE’s), it’s that they refuel very quickly. My old Lexus gas tank could be filled up within 5 minutes and off I go with about nearly 400 miles of range. An electric car like a Tesla on the other hand can’t refuel as quickly. The slowest LEVEL 1 (outlet) charging gets you about 2-5 miles per hour, faster LEVEL 2 (240 watt or EV charger) gets you 12-30 miles per hour, and fastest LEVEL 3 (Tesla supercharger) gets you 500-1500 miles per hour.
But here’s the thing. Even with the fastest supercharger. It only charges quickly up to 80%. Once you get past there, it will slow down to avoid overheating the battery and also discourage you from charging longer while other Teslas are waiting. Charging to 80% still takes a good 15-30 minutes depending on how fast the station is and how many other cars are charging at the same time. And then you also have to factor in the wait time. Because Teslas are so popular now, some charging stations have people waiting in line in busy cities and at busy hours. Of course, all that will change but this is the current state of affairs.
Anyway, if you hate waiting to refuel your car…Tesla is not for you. BUTTTTT….with that said, Tesla charging stations are convenient. They’re not like gas stations in the middle of nowhere. They’re often nearby other useful places like shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, where you can do things while your car is charging. There’s also entertainment games in the car so your kids have something to do. There might also be WIFI, bathrooms, and free coffee as well.
REASON #3 – you want a traditional car
Maybe you like engine sounds, knobs and dials, a stick shift. Or certain creature comforts like the seats of an old Cadillac. Or maybe you hate the feel of regenerative breaking (although I did get used to it). Or you just like the look and feel of a classic car. Whatever the case may be. Teslas are not traditional cars and don’t feel that way.
Hey, no judgement!
REASON #4 – you like being able to fix your car
I think it’s a pro and a con. Tesla’s do seem like way less maintenance but should anything happen, you’ll likely have to call someone and wait for them to come out and fix your car. If you’re a mechanic or car-savvy person who has always fixed their own car, you may find Teslas a bit disempowering and scary.
REASON #5 – you want a cheaper car
Tesla’s are not cheap. Are they so expensive that you won’t appreciate the gas savings, no…not that expensive. But in this scenario…you might prefer a cheap EV over a Tesla.
REASON #6 – you live in harsh climates
Because of Tesla battery technology, I don’t think they can handle such extreme heat and extreme cold. They’d be expending a lot of battery power to keep it at optimal temperature. Then again…maybe ICE’s have harsh weather issues, too. But I feel they’re more resilient left alone outdoors for months in blistering weather whereas Tesla’s feel like they should be stored indoors and charged when not in use.
…hmm, I’m still short of my 7 reasons. Why don’t you guys help me add one more?
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