In case anyone is interested, this is the email I sent to Eric at CS:
Hi Eric,
I would like to comment on your statements in this video (link below). Your quote, “These cars really don’t save you that much money---they don’t save you any money” is extremely misleading and incorrect. I bought a Leaf earlier this year. At a final price of $38,000 and a $3,000 charging station install (my install cost more than most people because I live in an apartment), it seems like a lot of money. After you factor in the $7500 federal tax credit and the $5000 California rebate, as well as the 50% federal tax credit on the charging station, the total comes to $27,000. Yes, it’s more expensive than a Jetta or a Corolla, but it’s not unreasonable and it’s a doable price point for many people. I do not make a 6-figure salary, far from it, but so far, I’ve had no problems making my payments and I’m not in any debt over this car. I’ve definitely noticed a surplus of discretionary funds in my budget.
You also say that people can expect their electric bills to double. This is not necessarily true. I live alone in an apartment and don’t have air conditioning, so my electric bill was usually $15. Since getting the Leaf, my electric bill has gone up $20. Yes, that’s more than doubled for me. But most people I know who own homes with A/C, who have families, have much larger electric bills. Taking advantage of utility companies’ super-off-peak rates at night for customers with electric vehicles, the average family can pay what I pay to charge. That’s $20 a month to fuel my car, compared to the $100 a month (at current gas prices) it would’ve been to fuel my previous car, a Toyota Matrix. I listen to friends and coworkers complain every day that it’s costing them upwards of $300 a month in gas.
In addition, I’m no longer spending ridiculous amounts of money at the mechanic. I’m a single girl—let me tell you, mechanics see dollar signs when a single woman comes into their shop and Los Angeles runs rampant with mechanics and quick-lube shops that deceive female customers. One mechanic of mine was busted in an undercover investigation by Channel 2 news. I paid that guy hundreds of dollars for what were probably bogus repairs. My maintenance schedule for the Leaf for the first year? Rotate the tires and replace the brake fluid. Less moving parts means more money in my wallet. Electric cars have proven to be reliable and cheap to maintain for many years. My friend Paul Scott has driven an electric Rav 4 for several years and he says that it hasn’t been in the shop since 2005.
You also say that “these [electric cars] are really for early adopters at this point” is also untrue. I’m not your typical “early adopter,” and I’m not “making a political statement” by driving this car. First of all, it’s just a car. It’s a way for me to get from A to B. I researched the Leaf and found that the price as well as range works perfectly for my lifestyle. I think if more people had the correct information, they would feel more comfortable making the switch to electric. I’m not an enviro-Nazi, nor am I a left-winger or a right-winger. I’m saving money, and putting that money back into my local community. I’m also driving a car that is quiet and does not emit pollution. What’s so wrong with that? Most people who ask me about the Leaf (at the grocery store, at work, my friends) pause for a few seconds and then they say, “well, that sounds perfect for me!” Like Ed Begley says, “Electric cars are not for everyone. They only meet the needs of 90% of drivers” Certainly not just for “early adopters.”
I think that your statements are biased and misleading to viewers. I expect objective, factual reporting from Consumer Reports and I’m disappointed in the unfair and prejudicial tone of your comments. I hope that any articles you write for CS about electric cars are more fairly and accurately represented.
Thanks for your time,
Mallory K
