We drive electric in rural Wisconsin—and the range anxiety everyone warns about? It’s not real.
The Story
When we tell people we drive two EVs in rural Wisconsin, we get the same questions every time:
“Where do you charge?” “What about when it’s cold?” “Can you actually drive anywhere?” “How long does it take to charge?”
After 30,000+ miles a year between our two cars, I can answer all of these. The short version: it works better than we expected, costs less than gas, and the “problems” people imagine aren’t problems at all.
We have a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E and a 2023 Toyota BZ4X. I drive the Mach-E—I’ve always wanted a Mustang, and friends who had rented multiple EVs specifically recommended this one. The range and features sealed the deal. Scott drives the BZ4X because he wanted a Toyota and the range met his daily needs. When he needs more range or faster charging for a longer trip, we swap cars.
Between the two of us, we’ve driven to Chicago, to Fargo, and everywhere in between. No gas stations. No range anxiety. Just driving.
Key Details
Vehicles: 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2023 Toyota BZ4X | Annual Miles: 30,000+ combined | Primary Charging: Home (Level 2)
Sustainability Note: Over 30,000 miles, we avoid roughly 1,200 gallons of gasoline per year. That’s about $4,000 in fuel savings and 10+ tons of CO2 not released into the atmosphere.
How We Actually Charge
This is the question everyone asks first, and the answer surprises people: we charge at home, overnight, just like our phones.
We installed a Level 2 (240V) charger in our garage. It cost about $2,500 total—electrical work plus the charger itself. Every night, we plug in. Every morning, we have a full “tank.” That’s it.
For 95% of our driving, we never think about charging. The car is always full when we leave the house. Compare that to gas cars, where you have to make a special trip to a gas station, stand outside in the cold, and pay $60-80 to fill up.
The Math
Our Mach-E has roughly 300 miles of range. Our BZ4X has about 250 miles. My longest regular trip is under 50 miles one-way. Scott’s is similar. We could drive for days on a single charge if we had to.
Our preferred grocery store (Woodman’s) is 23 miles away. Round trip: 46 miles. That’s about 15% of the Mach-E’s range. I could drive to Woodman’s and back six times before needing to plug in—and I plug in every night anyway.
Road Trips
For longer trips, we use DC fast charging networks. The Mach-E can use Ford’s network, Electrify America, and Tesla Superchargers (with an adapter). A 15-20 minute stop adds 100+ miles of range—about the same time it takes to use the restroom and grab a coffee.
Chicago from Galesville is about 280 miles. Fargo is about 300 miles. Both are comfortable one-day drives with a single charging stop. We plan our stops using Apple Maps, which shows charger locations along the route. For longer or less familiar trips, Scott uses A Better Route Planner (ABRP)—a free app that factors in your specific car’s range, weather, and charging speed to plan the optimal stops.
The Cold Weather Question
Wisconsin winters are real. When it’s -10°F outside, battery range decreases—this is physics, not a flaw. Here’s what we actually see:
Our real-world numbers:
- Summer efficiency: 3.9-4.2 mi/kWh
- Winter efficiency: 2.7 mi/kWh
- Range reduction: ~30-35% in cold weather
That means our Mach-E drops from ~300 miles of range in summer to ~200 miles in winter. The BZ4X goes from ~250 to ~165. Is that annoying? A little. Is it a dealbreaker? Not even close.
We’ve never been stranded. We’ve never had a trip we couldn’t make. The key is knowing your range is reduced in cold weather and planning accordingly. The car tells you its estimated range based on current conditions, and a route planner like ABRP factors in temperature to show you exactly where you’ll need to stop—no surprises.
For daily driving, winter range reduction doesn’t matter. We have far more range than we need even on the coldest days—our longest regular trips are well under 100 miles round-trip. For road trips in winter, we just plan one extra charging stop. Our 260-mile round-trip to Minneapolis requires one charging stop in warmer months; in winter, we stop twice (once each way). That’s an extra 15-20 minutes per direction. Annoying? Slightly. Dealbreaker? No.
What EVs Actually Cost Us
Upfront
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | $52,000 |
| Toyota BZ4X | $53,000 |
| Federal tax credits | -$7,500 |
| Home charger + installation | ~$3,275 |
| Total investment | ~$100,775 |
For comparison, two comparable gas SUVs would have cost around $84,000. So our “EV premium” is about $17,000—but that premium is offset by fuel savings over time.
Ongoing
Fuel cost comparison:
- Gas: ~1,200 gallons/year × $3.20/gallon = $3,840/year
- Electricity: ~10,000 kWh/year × $0.14/kWh = $1,400/year
- Annual savings: ~$2,400
That $20,000 premium pays back in about 8 years through fuel savings alone—and that’s before accounting for lower maintenance costs (no oil changes, no transmission fluid, fewer brake replacements due to regenerative braking).
The Questions People Really Ask
“How long does it take to charge?”
At home: I don’t know, because I’m asleep. I plug in when I get home, and it’s full by morning. Call it zero minutes of my actual time.
On road trips: 15-30 minutes at a DC fast charger, depending on how much range I need. That’s about the same as a gas station stop when you add in bathroom and snacks.
“What if you run out of charge?”
What if you run out of gas? Same answer: you plan ahead. The difference is my car tells me exactly how many miles I have left, and Apple Maps shows me every charger along my route. The only time I get low is when I’m almost home anyway—and then I just plug in.
“Isn’t the grid powered by coal anyway?”
Wisconsin’s grid is getting cleaner every year, but even on a coal-heavy grid, EVs are more efficient than gas cars. The power plant is more efficient than thousands of individual combustion engines. And our solar panels generate more electricity than our cars consume annually—so we’re actually grid-positive.
“What about battery replacement?”
EV batteries are warrantied for 8 years/100,000 miles minimum. Studies show most batteries retain 80%+ capacity after 200,000 miles. We’ll likely sell these cars long before battery replacement is relevant.
“Can you tow anything?”
The Mach-E can tow up to 2,000 lbs. We don’t tow regularly, but it handles a small trailer fine. If you need to tow heavy loads frequently, EVs aren’t there yet for everyone—though electric trucks are changing this.
Why We Made the Switch
It Just Makes Sense
We did the math. Over 10 years, EVs cost less than gas cars when you factor in fuel, maintenance, and tax credits. The upfront price is higher, but the total cost of ownership is lower.
Home Charging Changes Everything
If you can charge at home, range anxiety evaporates. You start every day with a full charge. You never go to a gas station for regular driving. The car is just… ready.
Rural Works Better Than You’d Think
Counterintuitively, rural driving is often easier for EVs than urban. Our trips are predictable. We have a garage to charge in. We don’t deal with apartment charging complications. And our daily driving rarely exceeds 100 miles—well within any EV’s range.
The Environmental Case
Yes, we care about emissions. But we didn’t buy EVs to feel virtuous—we bought them because they’re better cars for our situation. The fact that they’re also better for the planet is a bonus.
Is an EV Right for You?
EVs work well if you:
- Can charge at home (garage with 240V outlet)
- Drive predictable daily distances under 200 miles
- Want lower fuel and maintenance costs
- Like the driving experience (instant torque, quiet, smooth)
- Appreciate climate comfort (interior warms up quickly in winter and cools quickly in summer)
EVs might not work if you:
- Can’t charge at home and have no workplace charging
- Regularly drive 300+ miles in a day without stopping
- Need to tow heavy loads frequently
- Live somewhere with no DC fast charging infrastructure
Our recommendation:
Test drive one. Rent one for a weekend. The driving experience sells itself. The practical concerns people worry about—range, charging, winter—are manageable once you understand how it actually works.
Quick Reference
Our Setup:
- 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E (~300 mile range)
- 2023 Toyota BZ4X (~250 mile range)
- Level 2 home charger ($3,275 installed)
- Annual miles: 30,000+ combined
- Annual fuel savings: ~$2,400
Charging Reality:
- Daily driving: Home charging overnight, always full
- Road trips: DC fast charging, 15-30 minute stops
- Winter: Range reduced, but still plenty for daily use
Common Concerns:
| Concern | Reality |
|---|---|
| “Can’t drive far” | 250-300 mile range covers 95%+ of trips |
| “Nowhere to charge” | Home charging handles daily; fast chargers for trips |
| “Too long to charge” | Home: 0 minutes of your time. Road trip: same as gas stop |
| “Doesn’t work in winter” | Range reduced but manageable; never stranded |
Links & References
- More Wednesday Wisdom: Why We Preserve | Zero-Emissions Home Overview
- Related: ROI analysis of our full zero-emissions home coming soon
Range anxiety is fear of the unknown. Once you drive electric for a month, you realize the “problems” everyone warns about aren’t problems at all—they’re just unfamiliar. And unfamiliar becomes normal faster than you’d think.