Lately, CleanTechnica printed my article about previous age and electrical autos. It bought a a lot larger response than I anticipated, so I assumed, why not share a number of the different tales folks despatched me about their experiences with EVs as they enter the third age. Many because of those that contributed tales and concepts from CleanTechnica and from Fb. Issues raised have been: Are you able to get your walker within the boot? Does your gray hair conflict with the color of your automotive? Can a Tesla Mannequin Three substitute a pacemaker or play cupid?
Let’s begin with an electrical romance. Seems an EV is sweet for the center. Hugh Sykes met Margaret MacDonald by means of their shared love of EVs. They’re each over 75 and love to advertise EVs by means of group displays (Rotary, PROBUS, and the College of the Third Age). They have been married in 2022 and have been interviewed on Australian tv about their modern-day romance. “We weren’t keen on private publicity however have been eager to unfold the phrase about the advantages of adjusting to EVs,” Hugh tells me. Watch the video right here (additionally embedded under). Love the pickup line from the ’50s — “Would you want to come back for a drive in my automotive?”
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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 Three Lengthy Vary.
Hugh and Margaret discovered that EVs are good for the center. Photograph courtesy Hugh Sykes.
” data-medium-file=”https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-400×221.jpeg” data-large-file=”https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-800×442.jpeg” class=”wp-image-304766 size-full” src=”https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-scaled.jpeg” alt=”Good for the center” width=”2560″ top=”1415″ srcset=”https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-400×221.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-800×442.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-768×425.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-1536×849.jpeg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/information/2023/09/image0-2048×1132.jpeg 2048w” sizes=”(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px”>
Hugh and Margaret discovered that EVs are good for the center. Photograph courtesy of Hugh Sykes.
“As a result of I’m an previous fart, I referred to as my M3LR ‘SilentButDeadly’. Should 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 center 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 repeatedly, so I purchased a 2nd era Hyundai Kona. Up to now I’ve travelled 54,000 km in it. Each automobiles have been completely faultless and I really like them.”
“My 91-year-old father drives a Polestar. Thoughts you, he additionally writes his personal laptop code to create video games to amuse himself.”
“As an over 60, I realised if I didn’t get an electrical automotive now, I’ll not get an opportunity to drive one, so I purchased a BYD Atto 3. My daughter (mid 30’s) desires 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 means and confidence. I didn’t need one thing that I wanted to subscribe to or one thing so minimalist that I’m continually twiddling with the display. 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 have been the one 60 plus couple accumulating. Principally youthful households with their excited youngsters. All actively on telephones and in entrance seats investigating their new automobiles’ 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. Like it, and I really like the acceleration after I take off. I’m certain I don’t use as a lot of the technical stuff as I might, 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 completely happy to speak about that have.”
“Our Atto Three will in all probability see us out, as we’re early 70s. Like it! 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 absorb a number of the energy I get from my photo voltaic panels. I simply get 420 km from a cost and I’m utilizing my automotive to drive for Uber. I’m continually complimented on the automotive with about 1 in 5 passengers saying the automotive is sort of a spaceship. I want it got here with a spare. I nonetheless can’t recover from the superb financial system and effectivity of the car. 60 kWh prices me $18 for my 420 km. My feed-in is simply 10 cents/kWh, lowering this to $6 for 420 km. In summer season I export loads of energy at 5 cents/kWh, lowering a full cost price to $3. I want somebody would work out a value efficient approach to run my home off the automotive 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’ll be able to simply drive it, with out worrying/understanding all of the techno-stuff out there. After a number of months, we did learn to use the good cruise management, which we love on our occasional freeway journeys. Additionally, you’ll be able to simply drive it with out worrying about a whole lot of upkeep. We’ve rotated the tires (at our native long-time pleasant impartial auto service store) a number of occasions, and that’s it. Electrics are positively nice automobiles for us previous people.”
“We’re in our late 60s with a 2019 Leaf. We’ve pushed a number of occasions from Sydney to Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane. We have now the time and want to journey slowly, and to discover the nation on our journeys, which makes common stops for charging satisfying. Our solely issue is the batteries overheating after lengthy distance driving and 2-Three quick prices 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 find it irresistible. 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 through the day from the photo voltaic panels, price $0. I discover I’m driving much less so the vary anxiousness is lastly getting beneath management too.” Good for the center and for the pockets.
“Older folks in all probability don’t drive sufficient to make EV worthwhile. Should you’re spending $700 a 12 months on gasoline, a $40k-plus EV isn’t wise.”
“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 particularly could allow folks to drive longer, eg: simplicity of driving (together with predictability) — you’ll be able to focus extra on the environment; quietness — can hear outdoors 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 four years in the past. An outback highway and farm keep north-west of Damaged Hill and plenty of different highway journeys later I’m completely hooked. We purchased a caravan to efficiently show EVs positively don’t destroy your weekend. Should say it positively beats the AMG (actually). My spouse, additionally an octogenarian, drove a 25 12 months previous Mitsubishi Magna. Lately 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 select up the youngsters from faculty. We take pleasure in sharing our data and love of EVs with youthful generations.”
“The older I get the extra I need to keep away from doing oil and filter modifications. Additionally, regenerative braking ought to scale back the variety of occasions I’ve to go in for brand new brakes. And at last, if I die, the spouse can be significantly better off with an EV, as a result of car upkeep will not be her robust swimsuit. The purpose being, being older makes me extra prone to need an EV, not much less possible.”
“Plenty of enjoyable and really easy to regulate to the variations. No bother in any respect and most of the options are a lot safer for older folks. My reflexes will not be as quick, however my automotive has quick reflexes. I can see all of the automobiles round me with out even turning my head. The blind spot display and the lean display on my Tesla S is a particular profit for older drivers. Love with the ability to cost at dwelling. Been mugged twice at gasoline stations and we’re focused as we’re older and slower. I don’t have the total driving options however will in all probability 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 fantastic that every one these modifications have occurred throughout my lifetime and I’m going to make the most 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 at all times felt fallacious — and it was at all times powerful to resolve what we must always put behind there. In principle, your most unique and finest content material goes behind a paywall. However then fewer folks learn it! We simply don’t love 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 …
