This week I took an opportunity to visit a friend's home, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that he'd recently purchased a used Nissan Leaf at an absolute bargain price. He reasoned that the $4,500 he spent on the car would quickly be made up by his daily local trips. He was offloading his low-mileage used AWD Dodge Charger. Rising operating costs for the Dodge, including insurance rates, oil changes, and tires (on top of mounting Stellantis maintenance bills), plus the extra set of winter tires and L2 wall charger that came with the Nissan meant the car would pay for itself in short order.
๐ The Core Development
This friend is a dyed-in-the-wool car nut. He has a collection of hot rods and a self-built shop space with several times more square footage than my home. When I need help tuning a carburetor or fabricating fender flares, he's the guy I call. The fact that he's been converted to the merits of electric vehicles in these trying times is, anecdotally at least, indicative of changing trends in the car market. This friend is no luddite, but he's not the sort to adopt the latest technology without good reason.
Last weekend, I asked Jalopnik readers if the bombing in Iran had begun to change their mind about their gasoline-powered vehicles , specifically as it relates to the recent (and ongoing) price increases. As you might suspect, the topic can be a touchy one, and the comment section was buzzing with energy. We got replies from people who have been on the EV train for years , many who are looking to make the jump, and others who have gasoline in their veins. Let's dig into the answers from the Jalopnik commentariat โ why don't we? And if you didn't get a chance to weigh in last week, here's your opportunity. Drop a few additional ideas in the comments below.
๐ Background & Sector Context
Selling my beloved R33 GT-R after 3 years and buying an Ionic 5 N (or 6).
This is maybe the saddest thing I've ever seen on the internet. Good luck and Godspeed.
๐ Industry & Real-World Impact
What would you do if we were plunged back into gas rationing, with limited purchase days per week? How would you get to work? School? The market? Your doctor?
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๐ฎ Strategic Outlook & What Lies Ahead
We're getting pretty innovative in the U.S. We're cutting jobs so people don't have to drive. Fewer people are having children so they don't have to drive to school. Nobody can afford groceries, so they don't go to the market. Everyone just deals with their illnesses because they can't afford a doctor, even with insurance. It's kind of a win-win for everyone involved!
The long term assessment on volatility and the damage to society was a foregone conclusion and decision back in 2018. I'm never going back.
