[triangles]

My Gateway drug was an electric Ford Focus. Besides basics like wipers and cleaning there is little maintenance. Rotate tires, change coolant after 10 years, and change the brake fluid when needed. Rated at 76 miles and almost down to 40miles in harsh winter weather the only down side was wanting more range. You don't realize how inconvenient having to go to a gas station is until you no longer have to go to one and breathe stinky carcinogenic chemicals. I pretty much maintain my vehicles myself since I have yet to find a competent mechanic that doesn't do a halfassed job or outright screw things up worse. I have done everything short of tearing down an engine block, not because I really wanted to but because I have learned if you want it done right you have to do it yourself. Fortunately I have the skill and ability to do almost all repair tasks. Now that I have had a taste of not dealing with constant time consuming maintenance I am hooked. Still the range limit is a deal breaker for many and this type of EV is really only practical for a commuter and grocery getter which is about 90+% of most peoples driving. This makes EV's not really practical since you would need another vehicle or the expense of renting one for the other 10% of your mobility needs.

My addiction deepens, the Model 3 is an absolute game changer. I cannot go back to ICE. To me an ICE vehicle seems almost as antiquated and quaint as a horse carriage. Not only does model 3 represent an "equivalent" replacement for a gasoline car, It is superior to an ICE car in almost every way:
- more convenient refueling.
---5 seconds to plug in.
---No standing out in the cold waiting like with an ICE car.
---leave home with a "full tank" every day.
- plenty of range for cross country trips.
- very little to maintain.
---Pretty much same as above with the Focus Electric except Tesla wants you to change the coolant ever 4 year or 50k miles which seems overly conservative especially considering coolant in an EV lives a much easier life than in an ICE.
- silence... no noisy engine drowning out your music.
- fuel is about 1/3 the cost compared to my old 4cyl econobox.

As an added bonus the power and instant torque makes it feel like a super car when all you have ever driven is 4cyl econoboxes. Charging speeds could still be improved for long distance travel but for me and I'd imagine most people, being able to add 100-150 miles at simple pottie stop is close enough to the convenience of a gas fill up. Further if you stop for a meal, that's often enough time for a "full tank" of premium electrons. Essentially the model 3 represents the first vehicle than can comparably replace a gasoline car. The only con is the price premium. In another decade with battery cost decreasing, when EVs become available with 300+ mile ranges and cost $20K-$30K. That will be the final nail in the coffin for ICE cars. At that point EVs will be the same or cheaper to buy, far cheaper to fuel, far easier and cheaper to maintain having a significantly less TCO. That is when the ICE will finally go the way of the horse carriage. We are at the beginning of the end. The interesting thing will be to see how long it takes.