We can’t say it enough: there’s no such thing as an environmentally friendly car! But let’s be real, if you don’t live in a city with proper public transportation, a car often remains a necessary evil. So if you do need a car, better choose one that respects the planet as much as possible.

Unfortunately, some people still don’t get what ecology is all about. So here’s a little crash course for the slow learners: oil is basically CO₂ that’s been buried underground for millions of years, and now we’re dumping it back into the atmosphere in massive quantities. The Earth’s atmosphere is thin and fragile. You don’t need a PhD to understand the damage that causes. End of story! And maybe those in power should take a long, hard look at that truth… because one day, future generations will judge them harshly for the mess they’ve left behind. 🙁

Now, let’s be clear: electricity is an energy carrier, not an energy source. So if your electric car is charged using electricity from fossil fuels, all you’ve done is move the pollution from your tailpipe to the smokestack of the nearest power plant. But if you’re clever, and you’ve followed NovaFuture’s awesome advice 😎, maybe you’ve installed a solar charging system at home. That drastically cuts your carbon footprint and saves you a ton on fuel costs.

Let’s not pretend otherwise. With the advances in electric vehicle technology, I can totally recommend going electric. No hesitation. But here comes the big caveat! The real issue is the same as with regular cars: manufacturers now build disposable vehicles that barely outlive the loans people take out to buy them.

So what’s the problem, exactly? At its core, an electric car is super simple: one electric motor, one controller, and a battery pack. Period. And yes, the electric motor is way more efficient and reliable than a combustion engine. That is a fact. So far, so good. That should have been the end of the story.

But no. Car manufacturers love to overcomplicate things. They load up these vehicles with a ton of useless electronics and deliberately make repairs and upgrades difficult, or even downright impossible.

It’s now standard to find EVs with sealed, non-removable batteries, unrepairable controllers, and so on. And guess what? Right after the warranty and your loan expire, boom 💥, the car breaks down. You take it to the shop, get the quote, and bam, your eyes water and you reach for a tissue. On your mechanic’s so-called “friendly” advice, you realize it’s actually cheaper to take out a new loan and buy a new car. This is outrageous! It’s the same shady business model used for smartphones.

And let’s be honest: not all electric cars are created equal. Some models are actually decent, but many are a joke. Case in point: one evening, a guy was so high he decided to build a car based on a drawing by his 3-year-old. And here’s what came out of that:

Bravo, champ! You made it into the history books as the worst-looking car of all time! 😆 Thanks to you, America just got bigger and better… or maybe you’re just betting on customers from Mars to buy this industrial disaster.

What Should a Good Electric Car Look Like?

OK, jokes aside, let’s break this down seriously. What would a good electric car look like?

First off, enough with the tablet obsession! Double tablets? Seriously? You already have a smartphone that can run GPS and do far more. Adding extra screens only creates distraction for drivers and adds another component that can break.

Give us real buttons! No more touchscreen controls for essential car functions. When the tablet crashes, nothing works. That is just ridiculous. If a physical button breaks, you can often repair it yourself or get it fixed cheaply.

Stop with the useless gadgets! Do you really need automatic headlights? Rain-sensing wipers? Electronic parking brakes? Ventilated heated seats? Come on. Every one of these features is another potential failure point. And no, they are not free. You are paying for them whether you want them or not.

We should demand that manufacturers provide a repairability score. This is crucial if you want a car that is truly durable and reliable. Battery technology is evolving quickly, so batteries should be upgradeable and not locked down.

We should also demand that manufacturers keep spare parts available for at least 10 years. With so many small EV startups on the market, people are going to face serious trouble if a brand disappears overnight.

And you need to check whether the brand has a solid maintenance and repair network. Because if you break down and no one can fix your car, that is a big problem.

Last but not least, as with any other vehicle, check the build quality before buying. Always prioritize simplicity and robustness over fancy looks.

If you follow these seven basic rules, you will end up with a solid electric car that serves you well for many years and still has resale value. It is not easy, but it is definitely doable if you know what to look for.

The Power Is in Our Hands

From the industry’s perspective, selling cars that are not repairable and cannot be upgraded is a jackpot. That means more sales, more waste, and more profit.

But nothing is set in stone. As consumers, we hold real power. By refusing to buy over-engineered, disposable tech-filled junk, we force manufacturers to rethink their strategy. In the end, it is always the customer who has the final say.

If you have stories to share or questions about electric cars, we would love to hear from you. Just drop a comment below 🙂 You will need to sign up to join the conversation. It only takes a minute, and then we are all ears!