I wanted to buy an electric car – now I drive a combustion engine

A new car is needed. Many people have probably been in a situation like this before. At the moment it seems sensible to buy an electric car – or at least think about it. That's what happened to me too. But now I drive a combustion engine – and unfortunately there are several reasons for that.

Electric car or combustion engine? The initial situation

At some point two years ago, I felt the desire to own a car again. It manifested itself in mid-2023. Because more than ten years after my first and so far only vehicle, I longed for more independence, flexibility and freedom.

My requirements for a new car quickly became clear: it had to be something bigger. Nothing for everyday life in the big city, because I don't need a car for that. Traveling in the urban jungle is usually less stressful and more comfortable by bike, public transport or on foot. Finding a parking space, traffic jams and rush hour greet you.

It should be something for vacations, spontaneous weekend trips and family visits. Age and mileage played a minor role for me. Firstly, because I'm not a fan of necessarily buying everything new. And secondly, because I like starting my own projects – especially since I don't depend on a vehicle in everyday life or don't necessarily want to be dependent on it.

The thought of a small camper quickly took hold in my mind. In the meantime, I even had the romantic idea of ​​wanting to design an old vehicle according to my individual wishes. But I didn't want to rule out a new car or an electric car either, as environmental protection and efficiency play a big role for me. So I started researching.

Buying an electric car: When reality strikes back

Based on the price alone, I quickly realized that an electric car was not an option for me. There are only a few larger vehicles that would be suitable as mini campers – even regardless of the price. “Maybe something smaller,” I thought and looked around for alternatives on the electric car market. Then came the disillusionment.

Even in the medium and low price segment, electric cars are significantly more expensive than combustion engines. According to ADAC, there are just six electric cars in Germany that are available for less than 30,000 euros – and they are all small cars. When it comes to e-Bullis or e-campers, the offer looks even bleaker.

However, it quickly becomes apparent where electromobility reaches its limits. Because the bigger the car, the shorter the range. Or, to put it in other words: the bigger the car, the heavier the battery, the lower the payload. In addition, there are high acquisition costs. The few e-Bullis on the market, like the ID. Buzz from VW, the EQV from Mercedes or the Ford E-Transit cost well over 50,000 euros.

Due to weight and range problems, Volkswagen has stopped production of its ID.Buzz California electric camper van. Nevertheless, I have dealt with the topic of range and charging infrastructure. However, I could never share the so-called range anxiety. After around 400 kilometers, just take a charging break and stretch your legs for 20 to 30 minutes: that would be a laugh!

Lack of charging infrastructure and high costs

The charging infrastructure in Germany is a much bigger problem than the range of electric cars. First of all, there is one thing in particular: too few charging stations. However, in order to adequately charge an electric car within 20 to 30 minutes, it needs a fast charging station – and there are even fewer of them.

Added to this are the significantly higher costs for fast charging. At so-called DC chargers, i.e. the much faster direct current stations, a kilowatt hour costs an average of around 66 cents. Assuming a consumption of 25 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers of range, 400 kilometers cost a whopping 66 euros.

This corresponds to an average fuel consumption of ten liters of petrol per 100 kilometers – at a price of 1.70 euros per liter. Another problem: In many cities and communities, for example where part of my family lives, there is a fundamental lack of charging stations. In some, there are none at all.

The big advantage of being able to charge an electric car using a wallbox at home is lost when you live in an apartment – even in a big city. However, when the environmental bonus was canceled at the end of 2023, the topic of electric cars was finally settled for me. Studies show that climate protection measures only work in combination with price incentives. Free!

Conclusion: Electric cars are often unattractive and expensive

It pains me a bit to write this conclusion. Because I see e-mobility as a sensible future technology that, in whatever form, there will be no way around it. Nevertheless, I bought a combustion engine for the reasons mentioned.

I quickly discarded the idea of ​​buying a new car. Because many diesel and gasoline engines have also become almost unaffordable. This is also because many manufacturers produce bypassing the market. Even if it didn't play a role in my project, small cars are a dying breed in Germany.

The fundamental problem, however, is that many people simply can no longer afford a new car – let alone electric cars. There is a lot of catching up to do in this regard. On the one hand, politicians should not be surprised if they miss their targets for electromobility if there are no incentives in the form of charging infrastructure and bonuses.

On the other hand, there is no reason for the manufacturers to be surprised that their sales will collapse if they no longer produce affordable cars. Despite all these grievances, I still hope for a comeback of Germany as a car nation – especially when it comes to e-mobility. That's why I don't want to rule out the possibility that my next car might be an electric car. By the way, the current one is an older VW van.

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