Electrify Stories - Electric Vehicles

Hear from people who have replaced their gas car with a super fun EV…

Esther - Portland, OR

“I was due for a new car and am happy to say I am now an owner of a 2017 KIA Soul EV!! I love it! I’m still amazed at how quiet it is and the act of simply turning it on and being able to take off. My battery charge capacity did drop quite a bit during the colder season, but it is back up with the warmer weather. I am currently renting my home and do not have a driveway, so I utilize charging for free at work and at a realtor’s office down the road from me that offers free charging as well.”

Anne - Portland, OR

“Working in Sustainability, I knew it was only a matter of time til I got an EV. I was worried about price and charging, but I learned that with incentives/rebates, EV costs are lower than ever. I paid less to lease my eGolf than I would to lease a GTI. My work offers free charging and the EV charging infrastructure in Oregon is growing. I loved my GTI, but after test driving the eGolf I was sold! Driving my eGolf is a dream. I can accelerate to 60 mph in seconds, it’s quiet, and no more idling!”

Eunice - Portland, OR

“We wanted to see our parents last year, but it was too dangerous to fly because of COVID. So we drove our Tesla Model X to Bethesda, MD and brought them back to Portland for the summer. We drove 6,300 miles in 10 days and it was such a fun trip. We had no problem finding charge stations and went 300-350 miles per charge. We even camped in the car in Yellowstone. We love the autonomous driving and safety features - we will never go back to gasoline. Epic experience.”

Joe and Naomi - Portland, OR

“My family lives in an urban area with amazing options for walking, running, biking, scootering and mass transit. But when we do use a car, the cleanest way to fuel it is with electricity. In 2017, we joined the electric car movement (our first car ) by buying a used Nissan Leaf with 10,000 miles for only $7,800! After a few years we upgraded to a Tesla Model 3 and now take it on road trips. The electric motor drives extremely smoothly, it will virtually never need maintenance and “fueling” it is ridiculously cheap. I spend about 75 cents for a gallon equivalent (30 miles of driving). To drive our average 6,000 miles a year, we pay only $150.”

Lalit - Portland, OR

“I ordered the Mach E early because I really wanted one - I love the great design and performance, the handling and acceleration, and the quality interior materials. It has great digital features like Apple CarPlay and 360 degree cameras but it also has nice physical controls for wipers and volume. It has a big central screen and a smaller speedometer screen in front so I can keep my eyes on the road. I like the front charging port. Wish it had remote opening for the frunk and more customizable displays, but it’s pretty cool!”

Larry - Berkeley, CA

“I got the Kia Niro EV. It's comfortable, roomy, fun to drive and has good range. Mower not included but also fun. Thanks Electrify Now for pointing to alternatives that are convenient, fun and affordable!”

Adam - Portland, OR

“I LOVE this car because it's really zippy, I love the style, and most of all I love the fact that I can drive it around town 100% electric! “

Randall and Julia - Portland, OR

“I got rid of my Subaru Outback, a car that I loved, and got this all-wheel drive Tesla Model Y. It is a game changer and I feel great every time I go up skiing, mt. biking or driving anywhere having no tailpipes. I get asked a lot from friends about where I charge and if I have any anxiety with range. I use my regular household outlet to charge it overnight and have taken the car on long road trips in all sorts of weather with no problems finding EV charging stations. And if you like to drive, EVs are so much fun…try it, you’ll become addicted.”

Nancy - Portland, OR

“I love how stealth this car is - quiet and powerful. Its almost otherworldly when you accelerate - I will never go back to a gas powered car.”

Susan - Marin, CA

“I’ve never been never much of a ‘car person’ and I figured I’d drive my 12 year old Prius into the ground. But I got bit by the climate change bug and decided to take the plunge to take advantage of the $7500 federal tax credit. Now I’m obsessed with my car! The speed, the handling, the design, the sound system - all great. But best of all? No emissions!”

Alison - Portland, OR

“We have owned our Leaf for 7 years...we will never drive a gas car again.  Electric cars are so fun to drive and no carbon emissions!”

Brian - Portland, OR

“We replaced a Volvo SUV which got 22 MPG, with this Tesla Model 3. It has 4 wheel drive and I figure it will save us about $1,200 per year in gas and another $500 per year or so in maintenance. We drove it to California for thanksgiving and had no problem charging it on the road at the supercharger stations. We would stop every 2-3 hours for a coffee and charge up for 20-30 minutes. This car is so fun to drive its crazy!”

Frank - Portland, Or

“You don’t notice the acceleration lag in gas cars until you drive an electric, and once you feel that instant torque you never want to go back to a dinosaur burner.  Plus the satisfaction of regenerative braking is warm and fuzzy.”

Robin - Portland, OR

“We couldn't be happier with our new electric car. Since 2003, we've driven hybrid vehicles, thinking we were doing our part. But now that we've gone fully electric, we aren't going back. With the new Tesla model 3, we get over 300 miles of range. I only plug in at home once per week.”

Perrin - Portland, OR

“We replaced our VW Golf TDI with a VW eGolf. I don’t even like cars that much, but this car is great! Its super fun to drive. It only has a 120 mile range, but it is perfect for daily driving and really easy to park. We just plug it right into the wall outlet to charge it. I love not having to go to the gas station.”

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