On August 12, 2023, I stepped into the world of electric vehicles (EVs) in Detroit Lakes, Minn. attending my first EV Ride and Drive event. Just two weeks into my AmeriCorps service term, this opportunity introduced me to the field I would be navigating.
I was particularly interested in connecting with the EV owners — it was the perfect time to ask the questions I accrued during my first two weeks on the job. I connected with Pdon, an EV owner from the Twin Cities who graciously allowed me to test drive his Tesla Model 3. We talked about battery life in EVs, and how Tesla batteries are meant to last 300,000-500,000 miles. He then explained that by the time you reach 300,000 miles, you will have spent a fraction of the amount on maintenance and fuel that you would have spent with a combustion engine car. This helped me understand how affordable EVs can be.