Not too long ago, CleanTechnica revealed my article about outdated age and electrical autos. It received a a lot larger response than I anticipated, so I assumed, why not share among the different tales folks despatched me about their experiences with EVs as they enter the third age. Many due to those that contributed tales and concepts from CleanTechnica and from Fb. Considerations raised had been: Are you able to get your walker within the boot? Does your gray hair conflict with the color of your automobile? Can a Tesla Mannequin 3 change a pacemaker or play cupid?
Let’s begin with an electrical romance. Seems an EV is nice for the guts. Hugh Sykes met Margaret MacDonald via their shared love of EVs. They’re each over 75 and love to advertise EVs via neighborhood shows (Rotary, PROBUS, and the College of the Third Age). They had been married in 2022 and had been interviewed on Australian tv about their modern-day romance. “We weren’t thinking about private publicity however had been eager to unfold the phrase about the advantages of fixing to EVs,” Hugh tells me. Watch the video right here (additionally embedded beneath). Love the pickup line from the ’50s — “Would you want to return for a drive in my automobile?”
Hugh and Margaret have been on many highway journeys and are nonetheless collectively. She drives a 2019 Hyundai Kona Electrical and he a Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary.
Hugh and Margaret discovered that EVs are good for the guts. Photograph courtesy of Hugh Sykes.
“As a result of I’m an outdated fart, I referred to as my M3LR ‘SilentButDeadly’. In the event you’ve ever pulled up within the inside lane subsequent to me on the lights, younger fella, you’ll know why ….” Don’t want a pacemaker to maintain the guts racing.
“I’m 72 and had one of many first-generation Nissan Leafs on Wellington, New Zealand. I ran it for 7 years and 80,000 km simply going backwards and forwards to work. It greater than paid for itself. Then 2 years in the past I moved to the Coromandel however nonetheless needed to go to Wellington frequently, so I purchased a 2nd era Hyundai Kona. Up to now I’ve travelled 54,000 km in it. Each vehicles have been completely faultless and I really like them.”
“My 91-year-old father drives a Polestar. Thoughts you, he additionally writes his personal pc code to create video games to amuse himself.”
“As an over 60, I realised if I didn’t get an electrical automobile now, I could not get an opportunity to drive one, so I purchased a BYD Atto 3. My daughter (mid 30’s) needs to attend one other 10 years to see how the expertise improves and if costs go down. I don’t know what I’ll be like in my 70’s so far as driving capacity and confidence. I didn’t need one thing that I wanted to subscribe to or one thing so minimalist that I’m continually fidgeting with the display screen. An inexpensive value additionally helped.”
“I purchased a brand new 40 kW Leaf in February. I’m in my late 60’s and located little or no change wanted for transition. Love e pedal driving previous petrol stations.”
“After we collected our Tesla we had been the one 60 plus couple gathering. Largely youthful households with their excited kids. All actively on telephones and in entrance seats investigating their new vehicles’ screens and capabilities. A household occasion. As soon as comfortably within the know, away they drove.”
“I’m 75 and we have now had our BYD since January. Find it irresistible, and I really like the acceleration after I take off. I’m positive I don’t use as a lot of the technical stuff as I may, however that’s life.”
“Hmmm … ‘older folks’? Older than what? We’re two of us nearing 70 who drove Perth-Melbourne-Sydney and again in our Kona EV. At all times glad to talk about that have.”
“Our Atto 3 will most likely see us out, as we’re early 70s. Find it irresistible! We don’t stream music or watch Netflix or use Sport mode, however we benefit from the intelligent options we do use!”
“I’m 62 and purchased my Atto3 to take in among the energy I get from my photo voltaic panels. I simply get 420 km from a cost and I’m utilizing my automobile to drive for Uber. I’m continually complimented on the automobile with about 1 in 5 passengers saying the automobile is sort of a spaceship. I want it got here with a spare. I nonetheless can’t recover from the wonderful financial system and effectivity of the car. 60 kWh prices me $18 for my 420 km. My feed-in is barely 10 cents/kWh, decreasing this to $6 for 420 km. In summer season I export loads of energy at 5 cents/kWh, decreasing a full cost price to $3. I want somebody would work out a price efficient option to run my home off the automobile battery at night time.”
“In 2022, each 75, my spouse and I purchased an Ioniq 5, to place our cash the place our environmental mouth was. It’s particular, you possibly can simply drive it, with out worrying/understanding all of the techno-stuff out there. After just a few months, we did discover ways to use the sensible cruise management, which we love on our occasional freeway journeys. Additionally, you possibly can simply drive it with out worrying about lots of upkeep. We’ve rotated the tires (at our native long-time pleasant impartial auto service store) just a few instances, and that’s it. Electrics are undoubtedly nice vehicles for us outdated people.”
“We’re in our late 60s with a 2019 Leaf. We’ve pushed a number of instances from Sydney to Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane. We’ve the time and need to journey slowly, and to discover the nation on our journeys, which makes common stops for charging pleasurable. Our solely issue is the batteries overheating after lengthy distance driving and 2-3 quick fees in a day. We love driving it across the metropolis — quiet, responsive, and simple to park.”
“I feel tech-savvy is a greater predictor than age of EV acceptance. Youthful folks are inclined to have grown up with computer systems, however then once more, I’m 64, retired from a profession in IT, and I really like our Tesla.”
“I’ve a 2018 gray import Leaf and adore it. I estimate I’ll have saved between $5000–$8000 in gasoline this calendar 12 months. Popping out of your pension it’s some huge cash. As a result of I’m retired, I can cost the Leaf in the course of the day from the photo voltaic panels, price $0. I discover I’m driving much less so the vary nervousness is lastly getting underneath management too.” Good for the guts and for the pockets.
“Older folks most likely don’t drive sufficient to make EV worthwhile. In the event you’re spending $700 a 12 months on gasoline, a $40k-plus EV isn’t smart.”
“I’m in my mid-60s, and I feel there are a number of options of EVs that IMHO make them notably appropriate for older drivers and specifically could allow folks to drive longer, eg: simplicity of driving (together with predictability) — you possibly can focus extra on the environment; quietness — can hear exterior noises extra simply, and refinement — a lot much less tiring on lengthy drives.”
“The general public I do know of their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s constructed their first EV’s a long time in the past. However I hang around with unusual crowds, that prefer to tinker.”
“As an octogenarian, I opted to purchase a efficiency Mannequin 3. That was 4 years in the past. An outback highway and farm keep north-west of Damaged Hill and lots of different highway journeys later I’m completely hooked. We purchased a caravan to efficiently show EVs undoubtedly don’t wreck your weekend. Should say it undoubtedly beats the AMG (actually). My spouse, additionally an octogenarian, drove a 25 12 months outdated Mitsubishi Magna. Not too long ago she purchased an 11-year-old Nissan Leaf. With an 80–100 km vary she says it’s good for ‘tootling off to the retailers’. The Leaf beats the RAM pushed by her a lot youthful sisters to choose up the children from faculty. We get pleasure from sharing our information and love of EVs with youthful generations.”
“The older I get the extra I wish to keep away from doing oil and filter adjustments. Additionally, regenerative braking ought to scale back the variety of instances I’ve to go in for brand new brakes. And at last, if I die, the spouse could be a lot better off with an EV, as a result of car upkeep just isn’t her sturdy go well with. The purpose being, being older makes me extra prone to need an EV, not much less probably.”
“A number of enjoyable and really easy to regulate to the variations. No hassle in any respect and most of the options are a lot safer for older folks. My reflexes is probably not as quick, however my automobile has quick reflexes. I can see all of the vehicles round me with out even turning my head. The blind spot display screen and the lean display screen on my Tesla S is a particular profit for older drivers. Love having the ability to cost at residence. Been mugged twice at fuel stations and we’re focused as we’re older and slower. I don’t have the total driving options however will most likely add it subsequent 12 months. Even the partial auto drive is nice. I went on a visit from Dallas to Galveston 5 days after getting my Tesla S. So go for it! A few years over 65. I feel it’s great that every one these adjustments have occurred throughout my lifetime and I’m going to reap the benefits of them. No horse and buggy for me.”
One reader recommended that I ought to ask the query: Are you too younger for an EV? Put a 16-year-old male driver in a Tesla Mannequin S Plaid and stand again. Is perhaps an article in that! Keep tuned!
I do not like paywalls. You do not like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Right here at CleanTechnica, we applied a restricted paywall for some time, nevertheless it all the time felt mistaken — and it was all the time powerful to determine what we must always put behind there. In concept, your most unique and finest content material goes behind a paywall. However then fewer folks learn it! We simply do not like paywalls, and so we have determined to ditch ours.
Sadly, the media enterprise remains to be a tricky, cut-throat enterprise with tiny margins. It is a unending Olympic problem to remain above water and even maybe — gasp — develop. So …
