Don’t get me wrong.
That’s quicker than the time it takes to read this sentence.
It’s a marvel of engineering.
Tesla
Tesla
Except, they shouldn’t.
We’re not hitting the track, we’re commuting to work and heading to the supermarket for groceries.
It’s time to focus on handling, suspension, and range ahead of neck-snapping acceleration.
Mazda
Safety and Experience
Everyone thinks they’re a really good driver.
The reality is a bit more sobering.
Highway driving and cruising around town don’t give you the skill set to handle a high-performance vehicle.
Mazda
Professional drivers, especially race car drivers, have honed their craft since they were little kids.
Before they had a driver’s license, they were tiny helmeted athletes competing on tracks.
We were at a Tesla event, and the company offered launch mode experiences on a closed road.
The acceleration of a high-end EV is exhilarating and extremely foreign to most people.
This individual did everything right until we got underway.
The speed was so overwhelming they didn’t realize how quickly we were approaching the end of the road.
They had blown past the braking zone, and I had to yell at them to stop.
But what happens when that amount of acceleration is met with something appearing on the road?
Without the relevant skill set built over years of experience, things could quickly go sideways.
It’s a gimmick.
A way to sell cars with a number that means nothing outside of bragging to friends.
How often are people at a dead stop on a road with no other traffic in sight?
My second car was a 1990 Honda Civic hatchback.
Apparently, it went fromzero to 60 in 11 seconds.
That’s laughably slow by today’s standards.
Even when the traffic flowed freely, everyone traveled at the same speed.
It’s why the Mazda Miata is such a hit with enthusiasts.
It’s not a powerful roadster.
But it handles like a dream and offers a more engaging experience behind the wheel.
EV owners need to start thinking like Miata owners.
Going really fast in a short amount of time has become almost meaningless in today’s driving environment.
You’re not Lewis Hamilton.
You’re just a regular person that wants a fun EV to get around town.
Blasting down the road in record time puts you and everyone in danger.
Instead, find the joy in learning how to better tackle the roads around your home.
Get better by driving slower and ignoring those zero to 60 times quoted by automakers.
It’s not about how fast it’s possible for you to get down the road.
Want to know more about EVs?
We have awhole section dedicated to electric vehicles!
