Here's another example of why "averages" are not enough.
This article claims that U.S. car shoppers want "too much car" because they want a 300-mile range for EVs.
"Yet there is a glaring disconnect between what American drivers want and what they actually need: Some 95% of U.S. car trips are 30 miles or less."
That statement doesn't address the issue at all because it doesn't address the length of the other 5% of trips. It's focused on averages instead of variability.
I might fit this pattern. Most of my trips, probably close to 95%, are less than 40 or 50 miles. However, about every two months, I head out of town to visit relatives who are between 450 and 700 miles away.
If EVs are only short-range, then my options are:
- Stop frequently to recharge on my long trips.
- Rent a gas vehicle every time I leave town.
- Own two vehicles: an EV for around town and a gas vehicle for out of town.
- Don't buy an EV
So far, I've selected option #4. For most one-car households, that's a reasonable choice that has nothing to do with wanting "too much car".
However, my wife and I have considered #3 because we already are a two-car family. If we could find an EV that wasn't too expensive and had sufficient legroom (I'm over 6' tall), then we might buy one.
