The Dumbest Things New EV Owners Do (And How to Avoid Them)

Switching to an electric vehicle is exciting, but it comes with a learning curve. Unfortunately, many new owners learn the hard way—burning cash on depreciation, ruining their battery health, or finding themselves stranded in the cold.

Here are the absolute dumbest things new EV owners do, so you don’t have to be one of them.

1. Buying New (Unless You Hate Money)

Let’s start with the biggest financial mistake: Buying a brand-new EV.

Unless you have money to burn or simply must have that new car smell, buying a new EV is often a terrible financial move. Why? Depreciation.

EV technology is moving at warp speed. That cutting-edge 2025 model will be “old tech” by 2027. We’ve seen massive price cuts from manufacturers like Tesla and Ford, which instantly tank the resale value of existing cars.

The Smart Move:

• Lease: If you want the latest tech, lease it. You’re protected from the depreciation cliff. When better battery tech arrives in 3 years, you can just hand the keys back.
• Buy Used: Let the first owner take the depreciation hit. You can pick up gently used EVs for a fraction of their original MSRP.

2. The “Always Full” Mentality

New owners often treat their EV like a phone, plugging it in every single night and charging it to 100%.

Stop doing this.

Unless your car has an LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery (like the base Model 3 or Rivian Gen 2 Standard Pack), charging to 100% daily stresses the battery cells and accelerates degradation.

The Smart Move:

• Know Your Chemistry: If you have an LFP battery, charge to 100% at least once a week to prevent the BMS from “drifting” and losing track of your actual range.
• NMC Rule: For everyone else (NMC/NCA), set your daily limit to 80%. Storing it at 100% in the heat is the fastest way to degrade your battery.

3. Fast Charging for Groceries

We see it all the time: someone plugging into a 350kW DC Fast Charger at the grocery store just to top up from 75% to 85% while they shop.

This is dumb for two reasons:

1. It’s Expensive: Home charging costs ~$0.16/kWh. Peak fast charging is $0.48 - $0.60+. You are literally burning money.

2. It Kills Your Battery: Frequent DC fast charging generates heat and stress.
3. The Math: A full charge at home costs ~$12. At a peak fast charger? $45. Do that weekly, and you’re spending more than a gas car.

The Smart Move:

• Treat DC fast chargers like emergency stops—use them only when you need to on road trips.
• Do 90% of your charging at home. It’s cheaper, healthier, and you wake up with a “full tank” every day.

4. Ignoring the Tires

EVs are heavy and have instant torque. This combination eats tires for breakfast. New owners often drive their EV like a sports car (because it’s fun!) and then are shocked when they need a new set of tires at 15,000 miles.

The Smart Move:

• Rotate your tires religiously (every 6,000-8,000 miles).
• Go easy on the “launch mode” starts if you want your rubber to last.

5. The Cold Weather Shock

“Why did my range drop by 30%?”

Welcome to winter. Batteries hate cold. Chemical reactions slow down, and heating the cabin takes a massive amount of energy. New owners often plan a winter trip based on their summer range and end up sweating bullets (figuratively) looking for a charger.

The Smart Move:

• Precondition: While your car is still plugged in at home, tell it to warm up the battery and cabin. This uses wall power instead of battery power.
• Plan Conservatively: Assume you have 30% less range in freezing temps.

6. Buying a Cheap Adapter (The “Dongle Danger”)

With NACS opening up to everyone in 2025, the market is flooded with cheap $50 adapters.

This is a fire hazard.

DC Fast Charging pushes 400-800 volts and hundreds of amps through that little piece of plastic. A cheap, loose connection creates resistance, which creates heat, which melts your charge port.

The Smart Move:

• Buy Official: Only use the adapter provided by your manufacturer (Ford, Rivian, GM).
• Buy Certified: If you must go third-party, stick to UL-certified brands like A2Z or Lectron. Never buy the unbranded “no-name” special.

7. Ignoring the Clock (Time of Use)

Plugging in the moment you get home at 6 PM is a rookie mistake. That is “Peak Time” for the grid, and many utilities charge double or triple the rate.

The Smart Move:

• Schedule It: Set your car (or charger) to start charging at midnight.
• Save Big: Off-peak rates can be as low as $0.08/kWh. Peak rates can be $0.30+. Over a year, this simple setting saves you hundreds of dollars.

Summary

Owning an EV is fantastic, but it requires a shift in mindset. Don’t buy new if you can avoid it, treat your battery with respect, and understand that physics (and weather) still apply. Drive smart!