Meet Harold – an early adopter in the electric vehicle space from Ohio. As a kid he used to race electric slot cars – he remembers they were fast, while not being loud or smelly. When Harold started following early news about electric vehicles, he was intrigued by the technology. An EV owner since 2013, Harold has personally experienced the evolution of electric vehicles in the U.S.. Thanks to early EV advocates like Harold, EV owners today face fewer barriers and enjoy just as much of the efficiency and fun.
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My interest in cars started when I was young. I was an early adopter of hybrid models, which allowed me to save on cost with greater fuel efficiency and my vehicle getting 40-48 miles a gallon. I knew early on that hybrid cars, and ultimately electric, was the way to go.
It has been quite impressive to see how much the electric vehicle technology has changed over the past 30+ years. When I first tried to purchase an EV, the dealership I went to had a waitlist due to a production shortage of models available. I also struck out when trying to get a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), but finally, in early 2012, I attended the Detroit auto show and saw that Tesla would start delivering in 2013. At the time, you could choose a 40 kWh, 60 kWh, or 85 kWh battery (kind of like choosing computer memory/power). I went right in the middle with a Model S 60 that has a 60kWh lithium-ion battery having 180 mile range that would be more than enough to get me to/from work everyday. I loved it! And while my switch started as a financial decision, it was great to be able to easily warm up my car from my home on a winter day and never have to go to a gas station. Fortunately, I was able to do 98% of my driving on this range and charge at home. There were no public chargers in Ohio at that time.
In the early days, I only charged at home on my Level 2 charger. At that time, because there were so few chargers, there was an informal network of people who you could pay to charge at their home. On my first road trip that would require more than a day’s charge, I researched three places that I could charge, which included visiting a local golf course for their Level 2 charger. These days, I still do most of my charging at home, and I can use DC fast charging for road trips. My family and I have driven from Cincinnati to Florida – I love that the car tells me where to charge. We also travel in the region and look for restaurants and hotels that offer charging. This past summer, my wife and I even drove to “Paris” Kentucky during the 2024 “Paris” France Olympics.
Price and savings were important to me. I was on a waitlist for 6 months, then drove 2 hours to Columbus, OH to pick it up. I’d been saving for a new car, plus the $7500 tax credit, and my trade in really helped. Early on I did the calculations on how much I saved just from gas alone. In the first month, I drove 90 miles/5 days a week, and saved on a repair I would have needed for my existing vehicle, so I saved $900 the first month. After that, I saved $90-100 each month. There was a jump in my electric bill – but nothing compared to what I had been paying for gas.
As a long time EV owner, I’m involved in helping others switch to an EV. I’m a member of several EV groups including Drive Electric Columbus and Cincinnati and EVOLVE KY. I’ve participated in National Drive Electric Week, Earth Day events, and EV ride-and-drive events in parking lots. I’m glad to see more EV chargers coming online through National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding.
My advice to someone considering electric: It’s easy to make the switch now, there are superchargers (DC Fast Chargers) all over the place and it’s easy to have a Level 1 or Level 2 charger in your garage, though it can be harder for people living in apartments to find reliable charging. With today’s EV range, you can do most of all the driving you need — even longer, multi-state road trips, with planning. EVs are great both in the city and for travel. There are so many options right now. It’s a great time to get an EV.
