Rediscovering the Gas Station Routine: My Experience Driving an ICE Vehicle After Six Months with an EV
By: Bob Stanbrough
After six months as a dedicated EV owner, I recently had an unexpected trip down memory lane—my electric vehicle (EV) went in for service due to an issue with module updates, which left me back in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle for a few days. The experience was eye-opening, and not for the reasons I expected. I knew that, unlike my EV, I’d have to revisit the gas station to fuel up. But I never realized just how much time those stops actually took out of my routine.
Remembering the Gas Station Stops
Before owning an EV, I’d never thought twice about the time spent at gas stations. Stopping, filling up, and paying was simply a part of life. Now, however, I have a very different perspective. On average, most Americans spend around 3 to 8 hours per year at gas stations, with each stop taking about 5 to 10 minutes. I’d become so used to just plugging my EV in at home each night that the time savings hadn’t hit me—until I had to stop for gas again.
Plugging in my EV takes about a minute or two each day. Compare that to a routine gas fill-up, and it’s clear that EV charging, particularly at home, offers a huge convenience advantage. Over a year, EV owners spend around 1 to 2.5 hours plugging in, whereas gasoline vehicle owners spend up to four times that amount at the gas station. Realizing I had reclaimed that time was a big “a-ha” moment.
The Reality of Road Trips: A Trade-off
I know one of the first questions that comes to mind when considering EVs is: What about road trips? Isn’t it inconvenient to stop for a 30- to 35-minute charge every 280 miles? And yes, I agree—long-distance travel does come with the need for planning and the occasional wait at a charging station. But while those road trip stops can add time, I’ve found that for day-to-day driving, the convenience of charging at home more than makes up for it.
In my case, I only need those longer charge stops on rare road trips. For daily driving, I’m saving not only time but also the effort and planning that used to go into my gas station stops.
Looking Forward
Switching back to an ICE vehicle for a few days reminded me just how seamless my EV experience has become. Yes, my recent service issue required an update to my EV’s modules—a reminder that no technology is perfect. But even with the occasional hiccup, the simplicity of home charging has given me more time and a lot more convenience in my day-to-day life.
Driving an ICE vehicle again was a reminder of the small but meaningful conveniences I hadn’t fully appreciated about owning an EV. And while every EV owner knows that road trips require a bit more planning, for everyday driving, the time saved by skipping gas station stops has been a welcome and unexpected benefit.
