The next car I buy will be all-electric. People often assume I switched long ago, considering how many EVs I’ve test-driven and reviewed in recent years. 

Nope. I’ve held out for several reasons, mainly because they’re too expensive, I’ve had massive range anxiety, and the car I currently drive is paid off. 

But my “free and clear” 2012 Audi, with its 150,000 miles, is something of a diva these days. It demands constant attention from my local mechanic for issues like a troublesome timing chain and faulty electronics. 

To add asphalt to injury, my husband’s 2007 Mercedes isn’t faring much better. With repair bills climbing higher than a Tesla’s stock price, it’s time to decide if we’re ready to leap into the all-electric future. 

Is now a good time to buy an EV?

Yes. Carmakers are going all out to sell this year’s models before the new year. 

Examples include Suburu’s offer of 0% financing for six years on its 2024 Solterra until December 2. Toyota has a similar financing deal for “up to six years” on its sporty 2024 bZ4X, plus a $2,500 “bonus cash” rebate. 

Similar tempting offers are coming from Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and others too. 

My favorite so far is from Ford, and I recently spent three weeks reviewing the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT ($40K). 

The automaker just launched year-end promotions for the 2024 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E models, including 0% financing for 72 months and a $5,000 cash rebate. In addition, they throw in a Level-2 EV charger and cover the cost of standard installation. For me, that’s worth a couple of grand right there.

What is it really like to switch from gas to electric? 

During my time with the Mach-E and testing out the 80-amp charger Ford now includes as part of the deal, I wondered what took me so long. 

The Mach-E travels nearly 300 miles on a full charge, accelerates from 0 to 60 in about three seconds, and is so quiet that it’s hard to tell if it’s turned on.  

It was such a monumental upgrade from my current ride that I could spend the rest of this article gushing about how fabulous it is to drive a vehicle made in this decade.

But the best part was not having to worry about going to the gas station anymore. I fueled it up 100% at home, which nearly everyone with an EV does these days. I’m pretty sure this is the vehicle we will buy or lease next. 

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Why charging your EV at home is a game changer:

For me, convenience is key and getting time back in my day is a top priority.

Filling up your electric vehicle at home is as easy as plugging in your phone overnight. Charge during off-peak hours (most utilities offer discounts, and this is usually at night), and the savings add up even faster. 

The best part is that you can set the EV to charge when it’s cheapest, too, all with a tap or two on the touchscreen controls.  

Plus, no more oil changes or costly engine repairs. Almost immediately, EVs win in the cost department, hands down.

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Does your electricity bill increase when you fill up your car at home? 

Yes, charging your EV at home bumps up your electric bill. 

In my case, it’s been an extra $60-$80 a month. But here’s the kicker: I’m no longer spending $90 to $100 a pop at the gas station. Carry that math over a year; based on how much I drive, I’m saving about $2,000.

Is it better to lease or buy an electric vehicle?

Leases, monthly payment options and even straight-out pay-up-front prices are also hitting new lows right now. 

Just a few years ago, a new EV cost $10,000 more than a similarly specced gas-powered counterpart. Today, that gap has shrunk to a mere $2,800, less than the cost of upgrading to a higher trim level in many models.

We’re even hearing that the price of new EVs will drop below $30,000 — and that’s before you factor in federal tax credits and local incentives.

According to a recent report from J.D. Power, leasing an electric vehicle is even better than buying one outright.

If you’re in the market for a used car, the study shows that nearly 280,000 EV leases will end in the next two years in the United States, making it a good idea to wait until 2026 to buy a used EV versus a brand-spanking new one. 

But if you’re like me and need a vehicle to get around before that, you’ll save money by buying it as soon as possible.

Will EV incentives go away under the Trump administration?

According to Reuters, President-elect Donald Trump's transition team does plan to kill the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicle purchases. That’s another good reason to get one now while President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is still in place with those federal tax credits. 

Some states make things even sweeter with additional perks like rebates and reduced registration fees.

This adds up to buying an electric sooner rather than later, agrees auto journalist Ivan Drury, Edmonds director of insights. 

What’s it like to drive a 100K EV? 

I also spent another three weeks exploring the superpremium Rivian R1S dual-performance model (around $100K). I would buy this vehicle in a heartbeat if I won the lottery. It felt like an extension of my body and brain, more than any other vehicle I’ve tried. 

After an overnight plug-in on the 80-amp charger, my average range was an incredible 410 miles. It also has an astonishing amount of “punch.” 

All of the EVs I’ve reviewed have a lot of power. You step on the gas, and the speedometer hits 60 in about the same amount of time it takes you to blink. But the R1S feels like you’re taking off in a rocket, especially for an SUV and when going uphill. 

I also really tested it in my somewhat rugged lifestyle. I hauled four 100 bales of hay inside and stacked another four bags of grain in the frunk. I drove it up a steep, muddy dirt road to take care of horses. It was ultra smooth, quiet inside and out, and much roomier than expected.

The hardest part to get used to was not turning it on or off. There’s no key. It powers on with a fob-type card or by pairing it with an app on your smartphone. The doors unlock when you get close to it with either of the things in your pocket, and it just turns itself off and locks itself up when you walk away. That’s weird, right? Or maybe I’m just not used to driving anything so “fancy.” 

Again, there are pros and cons, but there are many pros, and the cons feel nitpicky. How does it feel to drive a 100K vehicle around? Amazing. 

So, are you in? 

Would-be EV buyers, including those in largely rural areas or apartment dwellers who don’t have the option of overnight charging, remain legitimately concerned. 

That said, I’m in a largely rural area, and today’s EVs are miles ahead (pun intended) of their first-gen all-electric forefathers. With topping off at home, the dreaded fear of getting stranded with zero charges isn’t a thing. 

Prices are dropping, charging infrastructure is improving, and the savings over time are hard to ignore. Plus, with automakers offering perks — like the free Level 2 charger Ford offers buyers — the transition is far less of a headache than it once was. 

Still undecided? Test drive one. The experience might convince you that your next car should be an EV.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for "The Today Show.” The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected]