This story comes to us from Lena Lewis in Virginia who made the transition to an EV and hasn’t looked back since.

I am always looking for ways to lighten my impact on the environment, especially on climate change. In 2022 I decided to purchase a used 2020 Tesla Model 3. Initially, I was worried about charging. I wasn’t sure how I would find chargers on road trips, but I’ve learned it isn’t much of an issue, it just takes a bit of planning ahead. It’s been getting easier as the charging infrastructure is growing.

I charge at home 98% of the time. We do not have a garage, so we got a charger designed to withstand the weather. I sometimes drive to Richmond for work. In the winter, the range on the battery does go down, and it is not enough to make the round trip back home on very cold days. Right now, there are no Tesla chargers convenient to my drive back to Charlottesville, so I had to go several miles out of my way to charge my Tesla in the winter – but we got a second EV with a longer range, so that problem will go away.

Knowing that I am emitting far less carbon pollution when I drive is the best thing about owning an EV. I’ve never been a car enthusiast before, but my EV is fun to drive. I also enjoy plugging it in overnight and having a full charge in the morning. There is nothing I miss about the gas station. I encourage anyone considering an EV to get one! EVs are fun and easy to drive, and it does not take long to get used to driving one. If you have to drive a car, driving an EV is a major step you can take to lower your carbon footprint

Remember to consider your total costs of car ownership – cost of fuel, repair and maintenance, not just the sticker price of the car – that’s where you’ll see that EVs can save you money. There are online calculators to help you do the comparisons. When we bought our used vehicle, there were no federal credits available for used EVs. Luckily, we were able to afford our vehicle. I think it’s very important that the state rebate program for used EVs is funded so more people can afford them.
I cannot imagine going back to a gas car. The stakes for the planet are too high. In addition to driving an EV, I try to do everything I can to limit my environmental impact. I buy the most energy efficient appliances I can, with Energy Star ratings. I replaced my gas stove with an induction stove and love it. I have honeycomb blinds on our windows. With a bit of research, home electrification can be a breeze.

I think it’s very important that the state rebate program for used EVs is funded so more people can afford them.
I cannot imagine going back to a gas car. The stakes for the planet are too high.