An electric car for a middle-aged mom in the Great Plains (-ish).
Like soooo many, I’ve thought awhile about getting an electric car. When I got my next to last car in 2018 - my third Subaru - folks kept recommending various hybrids like the Toyota Highlander. But when looking at the numbers, that much larger car got the same gas mileage as the Outback. I wanted something that could easily handle dirt roads for camping and field work, which took the Prius out of the running. I’ve NEVER bought a new car, which took out the available Teslas - not that I could afford one anyway. And I just never had my busy life enough together for the extra effort of biofuel.
I’m single momming, and live in central Oklahoma - so this is a one car household in a state that just isn’t there yet in terms of charging stations - and which may take a “moral” stand against them anyway. So, PHEV. I like to keep my options open. The Kia Niro is super cute and was definitlely my second choice. Tied for first place? The Mitsubishi Outlander and the Ford Escape. Both companies have had stock (as opposed to after-market adapted) PHEVs on the road for several years, much longer then any other major car company. Finding out that there are NO Mitsubishi dealerships in OK pretty much sealed the deal - the tech is new enough that there are still a fair number of recalls so I wanted the option of going to a dealer.
I’ve had it for almost a year now and I love it. I can go for weeks without buying or using gas, but for the couple of road trips I’ve taken it on, it’s nice not having to worry. My combined MPG for the past year is 84. Having worked in natural disaster recovery, it’s also comforting to know that I can make it through a few weeks without power. It is a Ford Escape. It is NOT sexy. It is a black crossover that can be hard to find in a parking lot, though my OK DOC Scissortail plates help. I like blending in these days. It does have Escape in lettering that looks suspiciously like the Porsche font, but that’s where this car’s game ends. I don’t need my car to say much about me. It’s comfortable, has enough giddy-up that I’ve never noticed an issue, and holds four teens, or two teens and two rescue mutts, easily. Next step? Solar panels. Ideally a self contained carport system where I can charge the car without hooking either the panels or car into the grid.
