With Ford set to announce a fully electric version of its venerable F-150 pickup truck - the best selling vehicle in America for the past few decades - the era of the internal combustion engine is truly over. We’ve reached the point of no return in the transition to electric vehicles. The question is only how fast can we get to mass adoption, and how quickly can the public charging infrastructure build out to compliment the EV transition of nearly every major automaker.
I think that if you have the capability to charge at home, your next new car should be fully electric. Unless you drive an absurd amount of miles for your commute, there’s absolutely no need use any public charging point. An overnight charge on any standard 240 volt home system should be able to adequately charge an EV. For the few instances when you absolutely need the range (think road trips), you can always rent a regular gas-powered car. Don’t be like that person who drives a pickup truck, but only goes on a Home Depot haul once a year.
I am more certain than ever that my BMW M2 Competition will be the last new internal-combustion car I buy. The only petrol car I would get to replace it with is something used, and something with a Porsche badge. Otherwise, any future new car will surely be electrically motivated. Other than the current state of the public charging infrastructure, there’s really no downside to electric vehicles (perhaps price). Once you’ve experienced that EV shove and the silent ride, there’s no going back.
Obviously I am keen to hold on to the M2 for quite awhile. Hopefully by the time I am ready for my personal transition to an electric car, public charging points will be way more abundant and reliable than it is now. I see no greater incentive for that to happen than America’s best selling vehicle - the Ford F-150 - going fully electric.
Take a look outside.