Sometimes the best-meaning EV advice comes out as a bit expensive

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Submitted by Marc Stern on February 14, 2024 - 9:45PM

This is why we will be taking close looks at EVs for seniors soon.

I watched an electric car maven discussing the best cars for seniors, and something stuck with me as rather funny about the announcer’s rather an eclectic bunch of EVs that he picked as the best for seniors. While they aren’t bad choices, a piece to the bottom line must be mentioned. Most of the EVs he has chosen as the best for seniors are relatively expensive.

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We’ll try to look at a wide range of EVs

Perhaps to the announcer, a vehicle that has as its starting price point in the low-40s is pretty cheap. After all, the announcer seemed to be a man in his peak earning years, so an EV that has as its starting point in the $40,000 to $45,000 range isn’t a big deal, especially when the announcer also likely test drives various EVs during the year, whether for a week or a month. Who knows, we certainly don’t.

And, let’s face it, if we had to go out looking for an EV today, it wouldn’t be a Genesis or a Nissan Ariya, two of the vehicles he kept giving effusive phrases about. Even another favorite choice of his, the Ford Mustang Mach-E crossover, seems to carry a price starting point. True, many seniors do have the wherewithal to afford more expensive EVs, but what about those folks who just can’t afford them?+

Our Look will be a deep dive: We will look at all options including Teslas.

So, what would I recommend for my fellow Social Security types looking for an EV? I would start by looking at EV availability today. Believe it or not, there are some models out there that are reasonably priced. Take Chevy’s Bolt. It carries a starting price that is in the upper $20s, and it is holding this price point.

Hopefully  we will make our point

Okay, so it may not have the biggest mileage reserve available. But the Bolt is reasonably priced and ready to go. Or how about the small Nissan, which offers reasonably good mileage around the city, and of course, the BMW’s small model is also available. Each of the vehicles I have mentioned has as its starting point – if you are looking for a perfect low-cost EV for a senior – pricing that won’t break the bank. Also, each EV, if you must have an EV, gets a reasonable range before you have to plug it in, so that’s a good piece of news.

So, here’s what I would propose – indeed, I plan to look over the low-end electric market to see just what is available for people today. Once I have a feel for what’s out there, I will create a rather interesting story listing showing what is available for the pinched senior buyer.

There are EVs for Seniors

Let me throw this out for your thoughts as we head toward the long piece I promised. What about a plug-in hybrid that will meet the needs of just about any buyer out there. It’s a thought.

Ford Motor Photo

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.