Lien Russell

Why did you choose to buy an EV?

“I was previously driving a compact hybrid, so when it was time to buy a new car, I didn’t want to go backward. Choosing electric was the step forward I wanted to take. The idea of not ever having to pump gas again was fantastic. And I wanted our family to do our part for the environment. I love that I no longer have tailpipes. I love that I never have to go to a gas station again. I love that I can go from zero to 60 in four seconds.”

Do you ever worry about running out of juice?

“Between my car’s range, home charging and public charging stations, I have zero range anxiety. I wake up every morning with a full tank of gas. My car has the capacity to drive 260 miles without needing a charge, so my commute and errands are no problem. I don’t know that I drive 260 miles in a week! I can just pull into my garage and plug in — then I don’t even have to think about it. It’s like going to the gas station every night while you’re sleeping.”

What do your kids like about riding in an EV?

“As a mom of a teenage daughter, I find that driving electric has given me a little bit of a cool factor when I roll up in the carline. I think my kids feel like we are on the cutting edge. They love driving in it and we all love the car’s technology; it’s like we’re driving around in a smart phone. I also feel like I’m setting a good example for my kids in the choice I’ve made to drive a car that doesn’t pollute our environment. In 20 years, we’re going to be talking about how crazy it was in the old days when we used to pour volatile fluid into our cars.”

Does driving electric make good financial sense for your family?

“I did a lot of price comparisons when I was shopping for my car, and I found an EV was the same price as the other cars I was looking at. And, when you factor in the gas savings, it’s even cheaper. The difference in my electric bill has been minimal since I started charging at home, so it’s represented a big savings in fuel. gas I was the type of person to notice and seek out the cheapest gas prices, and it feels really nice not to have to think about that anymore. It’s a timesaver to not have to stop for gas and a mental timesaver to not worry about getting the best price for gas.”

What do you like about driving an EV? 

“Driving an EV is so fun. These cars have a lot of punch to them! I think some people think they’ll be giving up power if they drive electric, but you actually gain power. I have an hour commute every day, and I like driving so much better now. I’ll listen to podcasts or music and I can just kind of unplug and relax. I also love the safety features that came standard with my EV. I can set the car to chime if I go five or 10 miles over the speed limit. If I try to change lanes and there’s another car in my blind spot, I can see it on the monitor right next to me. The focus on safety is peace of mind — especially knowing that it won’t be too long before my kids are borrowing m EV.”

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