Electric vehicles

My name‿ is Sofia. I have driven‿ an‿ electric car for‿ a year,│ and‿ I have learned that the vehicle‿ is‿ a solved problem│ while the infrastructure‿ emphatically is not.

The car‿ itself‿ is‿ excellent:│ quiet,│ inexpensive to run‿ an(d) cheaper to maintain,│ because there‿ is neither‿ engine nor‿ oil. The battery yields 350 kilometres‿ in summer‿ an(d) roughly 280 in winter^win-der,│ which‿ is‿ ample for daily life‿ an(d) requires planning for‿ a holiday. Range‿ anxiety is not‿ an‿ irrational fear‿ of the vehicle;│ it‿ is‿ a rational‿ assessment‿ of charging provision. In my city^ci-dy there‿ are chargers‿ on‿ almost‿ every street,│ and‿ an‿ hour beyond‿ it there‿ are‿ almos(t) none,│ which‿ is why we waited fifty^fif-dy minutes‿ in‿ Augus(t) behind‿ a family with two small children.

The environmental‿ argument‿ also requires care. Lifecycle‿ emissions‿ are lower than those‿ of‿ a petrol car,│ but‿ only│ if the electricity is generated cleanly,│ which‿ in my country it partly is,│ an(d) dependence‿ on‿ a single‿ energy source‿ is‿ a vulnerability as well‿ as‿ a benefit. Total cost‿ of‿ ownership‿ already favours‿ a high-mileage‿ urban driver‿ an(d) penalises somebody│ who drives twice‿ a week. The transition will happen;│ the incentive,│ however,│ should be attached to infrastructure rather than to buyers,│ because‿ I did not require‿ a subsidy. I required‿ a charger.