I think what you’re saying is really important to the overall discussion. The initial cost is only one factor when considering cost of ownership.

You might be able to buy an EV for about the same price as a similarly equipped gas-powered car. But instead of oil changes and mechanical upkeep of the engine, now you have a whole new set of systems to maintain and repair. There aren’t a ton of repair shops out there yet for EVs. Even though there might be fewer mechanical problems overall with EVs, the cost and difficulty of getting a repair can be much higher.

Then there’s the battery issue. A gas car engine will remain mostly the same in terms of mpg and overall power output throughout the life of the vehicle. Sure, there will be deterioration, but it could be much worse with batteries. I’d be somewhat hesitant to buy a used EV because it can be difficult to know what state the batteries are in or how much longer they will last.