If You Have This One Habit, EVs Are Not for You!

Written By: Neeraj Padmakumar
Published: July 29, 2025 at 04:47 PMUpdated: Updated: July 29, 2025 at 04:47 PM
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Electric Vehicles (EVs) are fast becoming the future of personal transport. They are cleaner, quieter, and often cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars and SUVs. But before you book your brand new EV, take a moment to ask yourself this very important question: 'Are you a “spur-of-the-moment” driver?' Because if there’s one habit that doesn’t pair well with EV ownership, it’s this- 'You don’t like to plan.' Poor planning and failing to set the right charge-discharge routines can potentially turn EV ownership into a nightmare.

The Impulsive Driver Problem

tata tiago ev

Let’s say you’re the kind of person who decides at 10 PM to go on a late-night drive or spontaneously agrees to a road trip at dawn without checking if the car’s fuel tank- or, in this case, battery- is ready. In an internal combustion engine (ICE) car, that’s no big deal. Petrol stations are everywhere, and refuelling takes five minutes max. With an EV, however, things are just the opposite. Spontaneous drives aren't possible at all!

Take, for example, someone who owns a Tata Nexon EV and typically charges once a week. If they forget to plug it in and suddenly want to drive 120 km on a whim, they might find themselves stranded midway or stuck at a slow charger, particularly outside the city.

Even on highways, EV drivers need to plan their charging stops- something impulsive drivers rarely do. Although India’s fast-charging infrastructure is growing rapidly, it’s not yet as widespread or reliable as conventional fuel pumps. A little planning can make long trips seamless in an EV- but a lack of it can turn your weekend getaway into a major headache.

Other Traits That May Make EVs Less Suitable for You

Short-Term Thinking

mahindra be6 and xev 9e

EVs often cost more upfront than their petrol counterparts. The financial benefits kick in over time- lower fuel costs, fewer moving parts to maintain, and fewer visits to the service centre. But if you plan to sell the car in 2–3 years, you might not see much savings. Also, the pre-owned EV space is still nascent, with most models posting low resale prices.

Wonder why used EV prices are so low? Well, battery degradation has a great role to play in defining pre- owned EV prices. People worry about battery degradation, the rapidly evolving EV landscape and the technological advancements that new models bring along ( people tend to overlook older models) while considering a pre-owned EV.

Reluctance To Learn New Tech And Range Anxiety

Some people dislike learning new systems or interacting frequently with gadgets. If you own an EV, you'll have to rely on mobile applications to find chargers and get charging done. Applications are also used to manage the vehicle's charging schedules. If you're uncomfortable with new tech or wary of "range anxiety," EVs may feel more stressful than satisfying to own.

Live Without a Dedicated Parking Space

ev charging station delhi

If you don’t have access to a private parking spot with a charging point, owning an EV can be a daily challenge. This applies primarily to people living in residential communities with shared parking. Public chargers are coming up fast, but for now, home charging is still the most convenient and cost-effective solution.

Low Daily Driving Distance

If your commute is just 10- 15 km a day, it’ll take years to recover the premium you paid upfront for your EV. In such cases, a petrol car may be more sensible financially- unless you're buying an EV for its silence, torque, or environmental benefits.

High Dependency On Brand Reliability

byd sealion 7

If you expect rock-solid manufacturer backing for 10-15 years, do your homework. Some EV makers are new to India, and corporate exits (like SAIC's scaling back from MG India) could complicate long-term support and spare part availability.

Electric vehicles have very few mechanical (and moving) components compared to conventional vehicles. These require proper brand support and trained professionals to get things fixed. You cannot just take them to the nearest mechanic and expect to get a glitch fixed. If, for some reason, the issue is related to the vehicle's battery pack, power electronics or electric motor, the manufacturer itself is your only resort.

Bottomline

EVs are brilliant. They’re smoother to drive, cheaper to run, and kinder to the planet. But they’re not for everyone- at least not yet. If you’re unwilling to plan ahead or adapt a little, you may find the ownership experience more frustrating than freeing.

So before you go electric, take a long look in the mirror- and at your calendar. Because when it comes to EV ownership, the most important thing to charge up… is your mindset itself.