Wow. When the 'expensive' vehicle is a Fit, that's saying something.

I was spending about $130 a month on gas for the Fit. It didn’t break down much but at 130,000 it needed both front axle bearings replaced. And of course it needed belts, oil changes every 10,000 miles, and brake pads and rotors every 30,000 miles or so.

The Leaf costs me $30 a month in electrons.

I mean, not that you're wrong or anything but the leaf also needs annual service which isn't any cheaper than that for a petrol vehicle even though there's no oil change to be done, and it will eventually need new brake pads and rotors too. Same with suspension bits, those things will deteriorate exactly the same as they would on an ICE vehicle.

Brake pads are physically worn by braking. But the EV has an electric motor, which is the same thing as a generator. I don't mean they're pretty similar, they're the _same thing_ because of how electricity works‡. So this means (albeit with some extra circuitry) the EV can just run everything backwards and turn your movement back into electricity to brake the vehicle. It does still need brakes, but it uses them much less than an ICE vehicle.

‡ And likewise an electric pump and a turbine are the same thing in opposite directions. At Dinorwig, for example, the pumped storage facility, when water flows down it drives a bunch of huge turbines to make electricity for peak usage and when they have spare electricity to store those same machines function as pumps to move the water back up to the top lake.

Yes, true.

Prius has a well-earned reputation for never needing brake pads. Regeneration takes the brunt of every stop, the physical brakes are just the final part.

I bought a used Prius for my son, it's been a great vehicle.

I have similar experience with my hybrid, compared to my previous paid-off F150. Although still a gas car, the cost savings of driving it (gas, plus oil changes are half as often) pays for about 80% of my car payment.

My next car in another 10 - 15 years will definitely be electric.

I talked to a man charging his leaf at walmart at the evgo fast charger. He had leased it new, commuted 100 miles a day, charged once via the nissan no charge to charge and said he was way ahead of gas for his previous car. and he was driving a late model car too.

On the other hand, he probably was pretty dependent on fast charging.

> he was way ahead of gas for his previous car

Wait until his current battery dies, and he has to get a new one.

For Tesla, it's close to 10k-12 or more.

But he leased the leaf. they don't degrade much in 3 years. truly not his worry.

That's many hundreds of thousands of miles down the road.

what is the monthly cost of a fully paid F150 in terms of gas and repairs?

We are currently spending $75 a week on gas.

Repairs for us average $2000 a year. Trucks are expensive to repair. We've had it for two years. It has needed a catalytic converter, a new belt, a new brake caliper, and it probably right now needs a head gasket. It's losing oil.

Cost of my Leaf loan payment is $250 a month. Plus $30 in gas, for a total of $280.

If a Leaf does the job, why do does she own a Ford F-150? Is she a fan of agricultural devices?

Why do you buy a F150 if you can manage with a Leaf?!

Because I have a farm. We have to have a truck regardless. But at the moment my wife is commuting in the truck.

You will be happy to learn that electric pickup trucks are coming real soon.

Why buy a leaf when you could manage with a 1990 Honda Civic?

Why buy a 1990 Honda Civic when you could manage with a bicycle?

(Sorry; it was there for the taking. Also, downsized from 2 cars to 1+bicycle.).