EV owners should lend their vehicles to friends and family for several days at a time to convince skeptics that electric cars work for everyday driving, according to this opinion piece.
Short test drives do not expose people to the real benefits of EV ownership, particularly the convenience of charging at home. A three-day loan allows potential buyers to see how an electric vehicle fits into their daily lives. Automakers have shown little interest in extending test drive periods due to cost and complexity, leaving current EV owners to drive adoption.
The author cites two examples. A friend named Bill borrowed an EV while replacing a damaged Mazda CX-5 and ended up purchasing a Hyundai Ioniq 5. Bill noted that "driving them is super f—ing fun" and found himself enjoying regenerative braking optimization, which he did not expect. The author's brother borrowed a Fiat EV for a week while replacing his company truck and later bought a different electric vehicle, motivated by the ability to charge at home.
The author acknowledges the risk of lending cars but argues the payoff justifies it. EV owners willing to share their vehicles can overcome what the article calls pro-oil propaganda and help mainstream adoption in the U.S., where electric vehicle uptake lags other markets.