Owning an electric vehicle usually affords you a better experience than owning an internal combustion vehicle, but there are certain drawbacks associated with driving an EV, like limited range and battery replacement costs. None of these downsides are deal-breakers if you're considering purchasing an electric vehicle, but you'll want to keep them in mind.

Let's dive into some of the disadvantages of owning an EV!

1. Towing Drastically Reduces Range

model x towing small camper image
Image Credit: Tesla/YouTube

If you're someone who uses their pickup truck to tow regularly, an electric pickup might not be the best vehicle for you. According to Rivian, towing 11,000 pounds with its R1T electric pickup truck will reduce the range by 50%. This is a drastic reduction when you consider the top-of-the-range R1T quad-motor's EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) range of 328 miles. Towing really cuts into the practicality of the Rivian, and this is especially noticeable when you compare it to a conventional diesel pickup truck's capabilities.

When Kelly Blue Book tested a diesel Ford F-150's towing capacity by hooking it up to a 9,000-pound trailer, the truck was able to achieve 12 MPG during the trip. This means the truck's fuel economy was also sliced in half from the EPA's combined rating of 24 MPG. The difference, however, is that the F-150 has a 26-gallon fuel tank, which is good for 620 miles without a trailer, significantly better than Rivian's range estimate.

When you consider the 12 MPG fuel economy rating while towing a 9,000-pound trailer, the F-150 still achieves a driving range of over 300 miles, which equates to around twice what you'd get from the Rivian while towing its maximum capacity. Twice the range will be vital to many pickup drivers, especially if you don't know when the next charging station will pop up. Electric pickup trucks offer many advantages over traditional pickup trucks, but serious towing is still the domain of internal combustion trucks.

2. High Battery Replacement Costs

A view of the technical components in the underbody of the Porsche Taycan
Image Credit: Porsche

An electric vehicle's battery is its most expensive component. When everything is functioning correctly, the battery can not only power the vehicle for hundreds of miles, but also offer awesome benefits like bidirectional charging capabilities to provide power for other uses. But if something goes wrong, you could be looking at a steep bill.

This shouldn't be a huge deal if you're still covered by your manufacturer's warranty, but if you're considering a used EV, the battery replacement cost could be a huge deterrent. The cost of replacing a Tesla battery could be anywhere from $9,000 to more than $20,000.

3. Charging Infrastructure Still Needs Work

empty charging station parking space

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure has vastly improved thanks to companies like Tesla and Electrify America working tirelessly on their networks of fast chargers. It's undeniable that the number of chargers has increased tremendously, but there are still many places, especially outside of major metropolitan areas, where access to DC fast chargers is limited or entirely unavailable.

If you're considering an electric vehicle, you should make sure that the charging infrastructure in your area is solid enough to allow for extended road trips in your EV without running out of range in the process.

4. It Takes Longer to Charge Than to Fill Up

solar awnings at future electrify america charging station
Image Credit: Electrify America

Charging your EV takes considerably longer than filling up your car at the gas station, although having an EV does eliminate the need to visit the gas station altogether. The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV has a maximum fast-charging speed of 55 kW. This is very slow compared to what other manufacturers offer, but since the Bolt is one of the most affordable EVs for sale, this is a very realistic view of what most consumers will experience when charging their EV.

Even with the slow charging speed, though, the Bolt can recover 100 miles of range in 30 minutes using a DC fast charger, which means you'll probably spend somewhere close to an hour to recharge your EV from near empty to 80%. But by contrast, with a conventional car, you’ll only need a few minutes to fill its tank completely.

5. Limited Range Compared to Traditional Cars

A black 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV sits charging in a dim-lit room
Image Credit: Chevrolet

Electric vehicle range is improving drastically, but in many cases it's still not on par with the average internal combustion vehicle. According to data from the US Department of Energy, the average EV's driving range for the 2021 model year was only around 60% of a gasoline vehicle's range. The average range for EVs was 243 miles, while combustion vehicles could go 403 miles on average.

To make matters worse, most of the long-range electric vehicles currently for sale are very expensive, like some Lucid Air models that can exceed 500 miles of range. This shouldn't be a problem for too long, especially as EV adoption continues to grow and the cost of batteries keeps dropping.

6. Winter Driving Reduces Range

Electric vehicle on a snowy road

If you live in an area that experiences extreme winters, you should be mindful of the fact that an EV's range will diminish significantly during cold-weather driving. This is because winter driving in an EV requires more from the HVAC system, which not only needs to heat the cabin but also keep the battery at optimum temperature.

Consumer Reports tested a Tesla Model 3 during a Connecticut winter, and the publication found that the Tesla depleted its range at about twice the rate it was supposed to. The test concluded that the Model 3 used 121 miles of displayed range in just 64 miles of actual driving.

A decrease in range as significant as 50% isn't something to be taken lightly, especially if you're going to traverse roads that are far from a charging station; you should definitely factor it into your EV buying decision.

7. Higher Purchase Price Than Traditional Cars

lucid air pure side view feature
Image Credit: Lucid

The average price of an electric vehicle in the United States in August 2022 hovered around $66,000, while the average price for a new car was around $48,000. This is a big price difference, and it could ultimately be the deciding factor for many people on the fence about purchasing an electric vehicle.

While savings in fuel costs can help bridge the price gap, especially if you charge at home during off-peak hours, on average, EVs are still substantially more expensive to buy.

8. Limited Model Selection

BMW i4 driving
Source: BMW

Although most legacy automakers now offer electric vehicles, the number of EV choices is still small compared to traditional vehicles. This is especially true for the economy car segment in the US, where the only affordable EVs (with decent range) are the Chevy Bolt, the Nissan Leaf, and the Hyundai Kona EV.

This is an issue that will continue to improve as more and more EV manufacturers begin to expand their portfolios, but it could present a problem for you if you're shopping for an EV at the moment.

9. Limited Number of Tesla Service Centers

Tesla Model 3 in white

This is a drawback of purchasing a Tesla EV in particular, but because the brand occupies such a large percentage of EV sales, it's still worth discussing when talking EVs. Legacy automakers like Ford have hundreds of dealer service centers that will work on your vehicle whether it's under warranty or not.

Tesla service centers are much rarer, and many US states only have one Tesla service center. One service center for your entire state basically guarantees you'll experience unpleasantly long waiting times and many inconveniences when you need to fix your Tesla.

10. Not as Engaging to Drive

A Hummer EV in extract mode moving through rocks
Image Credit: GMC

Electric vehicles usually have the edge when it comes to straight-line performance, but their heavy batteries detract from the fun of driving an EV in a spirited manner. For example, a Mazda Miata definitely surpasses most EVs when it comes to fun around the corners. Even though the Miata isn't super powerful like one of Tesla's Plaid models, the Miata's excellent chassis and lightweight construction make for a fun canyon carver.

Electric vehicle batteries should go down in weight as technology advances, so this problem shouldn't be a permanent one. Electric vehicles that can put a smile on a driving enthusiast's face do exist, but they're not all that common.

Despite Minor Drawbacks, EVs Are Still a Great Buy

Electric vehicles aren't perfect, but they're still a great option to consider if you're going to purchase a new car. There are certainly some drawbacks that might mean an EV isn't for you, but for most people, driving an electric vehicle offers many benefits over a traditional car—especially if you mainly drive short journeys, so you won't have to charge too frequently.