Beyond Charging: Why Going Electric Is About More Than Cost Savings

Why EVs offer a level of safety gas-powered cars can’t match

After publishing on Monday, I realized that while I covered the details of charging electric vehicles (EVs), I didn’t explain why going electric is worth considering. Sure, EVs can save money in the long run, but the upfront cost is often higher, and charging can seem like a hassle.

Here are my favorite things about EVs:

1. Cars Are Now Computers on Wheels

Until recently, cars hadn’t changed much since the 1950s. Sure, they became more complex with microchips controlling everything from seat belts to ride comfort, but the overall design and function remained the same.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were the biggest improvement to infotainment systems in 50 years, and they weren’t even built by the carmakers!

Then battery electric vehicles (BEVs) came along and transformed the auto industry. Now, cars can update silently overnight, adding new features and improvements (my car’s dashboard looks completely different than it did when I bought it in 2021). EVs also allow for more innovative designs, like a front trunk and much more cargo space in the back.

Before my Tesla, I drove a 2012 Ford Fusion, which I loved. But when Apple CarPlay launched in 2014, I had to install an aftermarket head unit to get it, as Ford had no intention of upgrading the screen-less dash in older models.

In the three years since buying my Tesla Model Y, I’ve received several new features via updates, including:

1. Auto lane-changes on the highway

2. (Supervised) Full-Self Driving on City Streets

3. Apple Music and Podcasts

4. Disney Plus

5. Better car visualizations

6. Automatic blind spot camera views when the blinkers are activated

7. Light shows

2. EVs Are Extremely Safe

When we purchased the Model Y, my son was one year old and we were considering our second, so safety was super important. But this only reaffirmed our decision because the Model Y was the safest car in its class.

There are a couple of reasons why EVs are safer. First, the battery is located low and in the center of the car, which makes the vehicle very stable and less likely to tip over. This applies to most electric vehicles, not just the Model Y.

Second, EVs have a large crumple zone in the front because there’s no engine taking up space. In gas-powered cars, this space is filled with machinery, which gets crushed in a collision. In many EVs, there’s just empty space, making it safer for the driver and passengers in the event of a crash.

3. Gas Just Isn’t Ideal

Imagine a gas-powered computer. Would you have to use it outside all the time? Would you connect it to an exhaust pipe on your house? How would you refill it? Would you have to run a gas line to it? How would any of this work for laptops?

I can’t take credit for these ideas. They come from an old Nissan Leaf ad campaign.

As a society, I think we have started the process of slowly coming around to the idea that gas is…not great. I am by no means calling for a ban on gas or even higher gas taxes. What I’m trying to get across is having to burn something to create energy is - all else equal - worse than using energy from a battery.

Of course, gasoline is still necessary in many cases, and as I mentioned in my previous article, charging infrastructure still has room to improve. But as charging speeds increase and stations become more common, gas-powered vehicles will start to seem less attractive.