Why My First EV Won’t Be My Last

Originally published on LinkedIn on July 22, 2026.

The first time I took my electric vehicle on a long trip, I accidentally threw away my phone.

Losing your phone is inconvenient for anyone. In my case, it also meant losing the key to my car. My phone is my digital key, so without it I can’t unlock the doors or drive away. And I was three hours from home.

My son repeatedly called the phone while someone at the shopping mall searched through the garbage. Fortunately, he heard it ringing just before it reached the trash compactor. We recovered it, and I made it home. But for a few unsettling minutes, I wondered whether I had made a terrible mistake buying a vehicle so different from everything I had owned before.

That moment captured much of what I had felt about moving from a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an EV. I was intrigued, but I had also heard plenty of negatives, so my instinct was to stick with what I knew.

Then I took a test drive.

Sometimes the Best Research Is Someone You Trust

My cousin is an EV enthusiast. Long before I was ready to buy one, he told me about the driving experience, technology, charging process, and practically every feature imaginable.

His enthusiasm helped, but what mattered most was that I trusted him. Instead of dismissing my concerns about range and charging, he showed me how EV ownership worked in everyday life. Seeing someone I trusted comfortably with an EV made the idea feel less like a risk.

One day, I finally took him up on an offer to test drive the car. The experience changed my mind almost immediately.  The ride was smooth and quiet. Instead of an overwhelming collection of buttons and controls, the cabin felt intentionally simple.

Getting into the car felt like a breath of fresh air; a sense of serenity I had never associated with driving before.

My cousin's experience gave me the confidence to try an EV, and the test drive gave me the confidence to buy one. After that, it was simply a matter of making the numbers work.

When I was considering my purchase in Quebec in 2021, federal and provincial incentives significantly lowered the cost of the vehicle. Another incentive nearly covered the full price of our home charger. I still needed electrical work to support the installation. With the charger nearly paid for, the remaining cost felt much more manageable.

My mind was made up. I was sold, and I had done enough research to convince myself I was making the right decision. There was just one detail I underestimated.

Range Is More Than a Number

I was so impressed with my cousin's EV that I chose what I considered a good starter model from the same manufacturer. It didn't take long to discover what I'd overlooked: range.

Range stopped being a number on a screen the first time it added another stop to my trip.

I enjoy long-distance driving, so I should have paid more attention to range. At the time, those numbers felt like just another specification on a screen. I didn't realize they represented extra charging stops and more time on the road. A trip that might require two charging stops in a longer-range vehicle required three in mine. On an especially long route, the difference could be six stops instead of eight. Choosing a different model could save me an hour or more and better fit my lifestyle.

It's something I'll pay much closer attention to next time. A good EV isn't simply one you enjoy driving. It also needs to fit the way you actually drive.

The Charging Network Is Part of the Purchase

Most conversations about EVs eventually come down to two things: range and charging. After buying one, I realized those conversations don't end with the purchase.

Before owning an EV, I assumed charging would become another chore. Instead, it's become one of the simplest parts of owning my vehicle. At home, I plug it in overnight and begin each day with the energy I need. I no longer think about stopping for gas or building fuel stops into my routine.

At home, charging is wonderfully uneventful. I plug in the vehicle and begin the next day with the energy I need.

On the road, my car does much of the planning for me. I enter my destination, and it tells me where to stop, how long to charge, and when I'll have enough power to continue my trip. What once felt like one of my biggest concerns has become just another part of driving.

That doesn't mean every charging experience is the same. During one stop, I watched another EV driver discover the charging cable couldn't reach the port on his vehicle without blocking multiple charging spaces. There was nothing wrong with the vehicle or the charger. The two simply weren't a good match.

Just as I learned to think beyond the range number, I've learned to think beyond the vehicle itself. My advice? Don't just compare the cars. Think about how you'll charge it, travel with it, and live with it every day. That's where you'll find the EV that's right for you.

Why My Next Vehicle Will Be Another EV

My two sons will soon be driving, which means another vehicle purchase is on the horizon. This time, I will approach the decision with more experience and better questions.

I won't just compare vehicles. I'll think about how each one fits the way I drive and the ownership experience I want. An intuitive cabin and a well-designed app will matter, too, because both help make the vehicle as easy to own as it is to drive.

Those priorities reflect the high standard set by my current ownership experience. Software updates happen remotely, bringing new features to a car I purchased several years ago. When service is needed, I just describe the issue through an app, select an appointment, and find out whether the vehicle can be serviced at my location. Managing these routine needs on my schedule—without playing phone tag or waiting on hold—has become an important part of what I expect as an owner.

The costs and maintenance are simpler, too. I don't pay for gasoline or oil changes, and many updates happen automatically while the vehicle is parked. Owning it just feels simpler. There are fewer appointments to schedule, fewer routine maintenance visits, and fewer surprises. And yes, I will do more research before buying my next vehicle. I will ask questions I did not know to ask the first time and make sure the vehicle fits the way I drive.  But there is very little chance I will return to an ICE vehicle.

It's funny to think this story began with one of the most stressful moments I've had as an EV owner.  Since then, EV ownership has removed far more worries than it has created.

For me, that simplicity is the bottom line.

About the Author

As Senior Manager of Project Management at Percepta, Janice Freeman leads a global team delivering complex client initiatives from planning through execution. She enjoys bringing people together, simplifying complex challenges, and helping teams turn ideas into results.