This episode is a rerun. It originally aired on August 15, 2023.
Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall.
We did it. My family finally bought an electric car. What’s it like? Should you get one too? Here to help me explain is my husband, Ryan T Conaty.
Ryan Conaty: Hey, Megan.
Megan Hall: Hi. So before we get into what it’s been like to own an electric car, would you just give everyone the basic information about the car, like the make and model and all that.
Ryan Conaty: Sure. We bought a 2019 Chevy Bolt, had about 50k on the clock, when we bought it, we paid 21 grand. And I think the maximum range is 250 miles.
Megan Hall: I think we started searching in January, and we finally bought the car at the end of March.
Ryan Conaty: You had to drag me kicking and screaming.
Megan Hall: And why was that?
Ryan Conaty: I’m particular about my transportation. And I put a lot of sweat equity into our old car.
Megan Hall: And how did you feel about particularly getting an electric car, not just replacing our old car?
Ryan Conaty: I mean, they’re not cool. I didn’t want to get that. It’s like, you know, it’s an appliance. It’s like, going to buy a washing machine or something.
Megan Hall: How do you feel about it now?
Ryan Conaty: I absolutely love it. And I’m so glad that I had the idea to buy an electric car.
Ryan Conaty: Why is that?
Megan Hall: I think because you need to plan your trip a little bit and figure out how you’re going to charge it and like having that be part of its character, it sort of gives a little personality a little, a little bit of a challenge just makes it realer somehow.
Megan Hall: But it wasn’t just about the challenge, right? Like the first few weeks we own this car. Anyone you could find anywhere we went. You wanted them to ride with you and take a test drive.
Ryan Conaty: Yeah. Strangers, I would just meet a stranger on the beach. I’d talk to him for five minutes. And be like, “aw dude, you gotta drive it! Never driven one? Get in here!” Well, because it's the way that the power rolls on is unusual. The sound, the lack of sound that it makes.
Megan Hall: That was something I really had to adjust to. How would you describe what it’s like to backup this thing?
Ryan Conaty: It’s like in a traditional car, if you were to push on the clutch or if you put it in neutral and it starts to roll down a hill, except you’re not on a hill, you’re just in your driveway and it starts to move. It’s unnerving.
Megan Hall: Also, what did you say about if you ever wanted to race someone else on the road in the electric car?
Ryan Conaty: I’d have to roll down the window and yell from ZROOM ZROOM at them or something. What would I do? How would they know that I would want to race them?
Megan Hall: Imagine how silly you would look.
Ryan Conaty: Hey you!
Megan Hall: And then there was the first time we charged at home. It was Easter, and we were late. Let’s get in the car, let’s go. So we backed out of the driveway. Did you unplug it?
Ryan Conaty: It is a miracle. We haven’t ripped the garage door off that house yet.
Megan Hall: We’re getting better but the girls still decided to name our charging cord Kevin! After the kid from Home Alone.
Ryan Conaty: Yeah, don’t forget Kevin.
Megan Hall: But other than that, I would say it’s pretty much like driving any modern car. I mean, when I plug it in at night, it tops it off and I’m good for the next day.
Ryan Conaty: It’s been great for what we need it to do. So would you do it again? Yes. I love my little Chevy.
That’s it for today. You can find more information, or ask a question about the way your choices affect our planet, at askpossibly.org. You can also subscribe to Possibly wherever you get your podcasts or follow us on social media at “ask possibly”
Possibly is a co-production of Brown University's Institute for Environment and Society, Ocean State Media and WBRU.
