Electric vehicle batteries are proving to be surprisingly durable after years and hundreds of thousands of miles on the road -- and readers have a lot to say about it.

More than 1,600 readers wrote back with their own stories of successful EV ownership, their reasons for avoiding electric cars altogether and their predictions for where consumer preferences are heading. Here are some of their responses, edited for length and clarity.

Leonard Zuga, 82, a retired Navy veteran and government intelligence worker in Delaware, Ohio, who drives a 2023 Tesla Model Y

Charging may require a bit more time than gassing up, but it's a chance to catch up on news and email. Charging stations are generally co-located with restaurants and other conveniences to take advantage of while charging.

The rest stop duration may require a bit more time than gassing up, and that is an added safety factor on a road trip. Rarely is a fully charged car left unattended and plugged in. EV drivers share a mutual respect for others that may be in the queue. Occasionally a driver might fall asleep, but another will soon open up.

Looks like the charging infrastructure is keeping up with demand.

Plugging in at home or in a rental overnight when juice is cheaper is a no-brainer. No negative in our experience.

David Skudder, 65, a commodity trader in Nashville, Tenn., who drives a 2019 Tesla Model X

Love my Tesla. It is an "around town" car because the first (and only) road trip we took in it was a nightmare. Went from Memphis to Panama City, Fla., and the stops to charge added almost two hours to the drive. No, thank you! Give me a gas car for any serious driving, please.

As long as I can charge in my garage and drive around town, we are good. I will not fight charging lines or broken chargers; my time is too valuable.

The U.S. simply does not have enough chargers and car batteries do not offer enough range for the mass migration to an EV -- at least not yet.

Lee Berger, 69, a retired technical writer in Mountain View, Calif.

My 2018 Tesla Model 3 has about 31,000 miles. (I don't drive much) New, the range was estimated to be 310 miles fully charged.

After eight years, it charges to 286 miles, or about 92% of new. I estimate I've spent less than $1,000 on routine maintenance over those eight years.

Since regenerative braking lets you drive with just the accelerator pedal, I go days without ever touching the brake pedal. Still on the original brakes. For me, an EV was a great choice.

Carlos Tuche, 36, CEO of Puerto Rico Green Transportation in San Juan, Puerto Rico

We just sold our 2018 Tesla Model 3 after 119,000 miles of absolutely trouble-free ownership. The car would still charge to 80% of its original battery capacity (over 210 miles per charge) and just like on day one, it was an absolute blast to drive -- the rare car that puts a smile on your face even during a dull commute.

The best part was that the kid who bought it genuinely loved the car and did all his research about the longevity of these batteries and how best to take care of them.

EVs are here to stay, despite their few shortcomings (that some folks love to blow out of proportion), and I'd argue a high-quality used EV is the modern equivalent of a used Toyota Corolla/Honda Civic -- the perfect starting car for a young person or for someone who wants many years and tens of thousands of trouble-free, low-cost car ownership.

Gary Abraham, 74, a retired contractor in Los Angeles, who drives a 2001 Ford Ranger

In the U.S., 260 miles is not a "road trip" but more like a light weekend getaway to see the kids. Or what some commuters do every couple of days.

Car buyers will know when EVs are a good choice. Some have already chosen them, but for the vast majority, all-electrics have not yet evolved enough to be the right choice.

Terry Bishop, 55, senior vice president and CFO of a credit union in San Antonio

I'm glad to hear that the batteries are performing better than expected. I have a 2022 F-150 Lightning that I love. I have 60,000 miles on it and haven't seen a noticeable drop in battery performance.

I had to take it in for a couple of recalls and they gave me a regular F-150, which I hate. I want my Lightning back. I miss the quiet and quick acceleration. Also, the range thing isn't really an issue.

I drove my truck from the Bay Area to San Antonio back in February. No real issues. I downloaded an app that mapped out my route and where I should charge. The hands-free lane-keeping assist was great for driving across Arizona and West Texas.

Barnaby Dorfman, 58, chief technology officer in residence at a private-equity firm in Bainbridge Island, Wash.

I have a 20-month-old Mustang Mach-E with 18,000 miles. So I'm a relatively low-mileage driver, but I actually drive it more than my prior ICE car because road trips are more fun...yes, road trips! And, zero battery degradation. It has the same capacity as when I bought it.

It's a better car than every other one I've owned in every way: faster acceleration, handling, driving in the snow, electronics, cost to drive, maintenance, cabin heating/cooling, and so on.

Write to Ellie Davis at ellie.davis@wsj.com

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July 12, 2026 05:30 ET (09:30 GMT)

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