Living with an EV
Lots of people like the idea of having an electric vehicle as their daily driver -- at least in theory. Many still have qualms about range anxiety and how owning an EV will affect their daily routines. We’ve been talking to EV owners about these issues and have found plenty of compelling reasons to flip the EV switch!
When asked why they considered buying an electric vehicle, most EV owners point to the environmental benefits - that driving electric means emitting zero tailpipe emissions.
But once people dive into the EV lifestyle, they quickly point out other reasons for not missing their internal combustion cars.
RICHARD HARTNETT: The biggest benefit I think is the extremely low cost of ownership, and of course, the side benefit that it’s extremely healthy to the environment. Because it’s not a gasoline powered vehicle, it’s not spewing any carbon emissions out into the air, which is good for all of us.
JOYCE BREINER: Part of it was, reducing our emissions. We were on a track trying to reduce our household, our family emissions, and the other part was actually a little bit of a surprise, was they are so much fun.
ALEXANDER YANEY: So, what I love about this car, is the acceleration. Zero to sixty in 4.2 seconds, which is better than any car I’ve had…
We’ve got to give some credit to Tesla and their Ludicrous Mode for popularizing the notion that electric vehicles can be kick-ass performance cars, and other EV makers are following suit, but even the most basic EV can be fun to drive thanks to their electric motor’s instant-on torque curve.
Sergeant Richard Hartnett of the Hyattsville Maryland Police liked his own Chevy Bolt so much, he lobbied to drive one at work too.
RICHARD HARTNETT: One of the big advantages of the Bolt as a Police car, is that because there’s no transmission per se in an electric vehicle, when you step on the accelerator, the car just sorta takes right off..and that’s a little different than the gasoline-powered police cars, which have a little bit of sluggishness when they first take off. So, it’s very quick off the line, it’s had no problem keeping up with local chases, the few that we’ve had with it, and it’s very very quiet, so if i have to sorta sneak up on something that’s going on, the bad guys don’t know that I’m there.
Currently, plug-in vehicle sales in the U.S. account for a very small percentage of all vehicles sold, but we’re starting to see a new generation of drivers for whom nothing else will do!
I started driving on electric vehicles about 8 years ago. I took my driving test in a Nissan Leaf.
And don’t forget, EV’s are not limited to four wheelers..
VANESSA THOMAS: I rode motorcycles for a very long time, I grew up on motorcycles because my parents both ride. When I heard there was electric motorcycles out there, I was intrigued and wanted to find out more.. So I actually rode up to the closest place that had an electric motorcycle for sale, which was in New Jersey, which was a couple hundred miles from where I live, and rode one, and had a grin on my face from ear to ear all day long after that, and just knew i wanted one, so I’ve been riding electric ever since.
Of course, the other big benefit of electric vehicles is lower cost of ownership and maintenance.
VANESSA THOMAS: I really haven’t had much to fix on it so its been very low cost, very low maintenance.
JOYCE BREINER: In a nutshell, EVs are so much less expensive to own or operate.
It’s about 4 cents a mile to run an EV, and the maintenance is like non-existent you’re not worrying about going to, going to the shop for oil changes or anything like that. And they’ve pretty been maintenance free for us for the most part.
The number of publicly accessible charging stations reached about 26,000 in 2020, offering over 83,500 outlets.
But most owners we talked to say that bypassing the gas station and “fueling” at home is the greatest benefit of owning an EV. Plug in to a 110-volt outlet and virtually any electric vehicle can be fully charged overnight for a fraction of what a tank of gasoline or diesel would cost.
VANESSA THOMAS: It costs a little over a dollar to charge up from zero to full, so I can get you know 150 miles on a dollar.
For those who’ve made the electric switch, it seems there’s no going back!
JOYCE BREINER: EVs are fun, fun, fun to drive, and they’re easy, they’re safe, too. And I wouldn’t really want to be in anything else.
1998 TVR Griffith 500
Great Britain is known for making some of the most iconic two-seat roadsters to ever tear down the tarmac. But amidst the Aston Martins, Jags and Lotus’ that we’ve driven over the years, there’s another brand that has an equally unique story, TVR. It’s a story our own Roger Mecca learned about when he got behind the wheel of one of their most storied designs—one that has the looks, speed, style and thrills American car fans search for, but few ever found.
ROGER MECCA: For every household name in European automotive history, there are many others that just never gained attention in the US despite making sports cars that could leave their peers in a cloud of dust.
One of those brands is TVR, a British automaker you may not have heard of, but actually has been around for almost 80 years. And in that time, this is perhaps their signature model, the Griffith 500: A car that, on paper, anyway, had everything necessary to get people’s hearts racing.
Ralf Berthiez is the owner of this 1998 TVR Griffith 500, which he’s owned since 2022 after importing it from England. A longtime enthusiast, he’d been looking for a car that had the perfect combination of speed, good looks and driving comfort, while also being a little rare. The Griffith checked all those boxes.
RALF BETHIEZ: It’s a raw performance car. I mean, it’s kind of an in-between of a Viper and a Cobra. I mean, it’s just raw… and I like that. I like that it’s a something a little bit different. Something I don’t see all over the place. You know, you don’t want to come out of the supermarket and say “okay, which Porsche Boxster is mine.”
ROGER MECCA: But before we focus on the Griffith, I mentioned that many of you may not be familiar with the TVR brand. Well, since they’ve been around since 1946, I could literally spend an entire episode on TVR’s history. So, in the interest of time, I’ll summarize them this way: TVR is a boutique British sportscar company with a reputation for creating fast two-seaters with striking, often beautiful designs, but unfortunately, they’ve gone bankrupt three times. Despite trying to make inroads to the US several times, the brand never set up a consistent dealer network in America and few units ever made it here.
MotorWeek has reviewed only two TVRs in over 40 years: a 380 I Tasmin, as part of a 1985 review of imported convertibles, and a Ford V8-modified Grantura that was developed by, fittingly enough, American entrepreneur Jack Griffith. Though they haven’t produced a car since 2006, TVR is, technically, still in existence and, reportedly, working on a new V8 coupe that’s being developed in partnership with racing legend Gordon Murray and Cosworth. But as luck would have it, the last model that was available to a few US buyers was arguably the company’s best: the Griffith 500.
It’s a shame this car never took off in the United States because I think Americans would love it. I mean, it’s basically a muscle car. It’s got a big V8 up front, rear wheel drive, and then, of course, there’s the noise.
With an all-fiberglass body, the Griffith 500 is roughly the same size and weight as a first-generation Miata. But the Griffith’s engine, well, that couldn’t be more different. It’s a 5.0-liter, 340-horsepower all-aluminum V8 supplied by fellow British automaker Rover, an engine they got from Buick in 1969 and then used for decades. As you can imagine, putting a big V8 in a car the same size as a Miata produces some dramatic results.
Even by today’s standards, it’s very quick; 0-60 is just over 4 seconds, and with 350 pounds of torque, you just touch that accelerator and you’re off like a rocket.
When it came out, the Griffith was as fast, or faster, to 60 than any 911 model, the Corvette ZR-1, and only a few tenths slower than a Lamborghini Diablo! As for Ferrari, only the mighty F40 was quicker. Handling is very precise and there is immediate feedback through the steering wheel, and even the tiniest road variations instantly translate to your fingers. There’s no traction control, ABS or driver aids of any kind. It’s just you, and the car.
Inside It’s comfortable and refined, with soft leather, posh seats, and an easy-to-read dash layout with refined gauges and wood trim, all angled toward the driver, making for a classic, understated British elegance. It all adds up to an experience that, for people like Ralf, is something truly special.
RALF BETHIEZ: At the end of the day, I really don’t care who notices it. It’s for me, helps me smile during the day and the week, and that’s what it’s all about.