Op-Ed: EVs are Terrible Sports Cars

An EV can be a great choice for daily commuting, but it is lacking in several areas that true car enthusiasts can’t go without.

Two things to make clear up front. First, I am not here to bash EVs as a general concept. A modern EV has its place and offers many advantages over ICE vehicles. They can be great for the daily commute and picking up eggs and milk on the way home. But as a dedicated sports car… They are terrible. Second, I am not delving into the political side of EVs. I am not discussing if they really are better for the environment and so on. It is a worthy discussion, but that is not where I want to focus right now. The point I do want to focus on is that the EV is lacking in several areas that are critical to driving enthusiasts that want a fun sports car. That could change in the future but for now they get a hard pass from me.

I will explain my reasoning for this below. But I can tell you right now that speed has nothing to do with it. Whenever I mention this subject, EV fans are always quick to point out that a Tesla Model S Plaid will demolish whatever car I am in. OK, sure. As I said, the EV has advantages. Blinding acceleration is one of them. A 1967 L88 Corvette, 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, and a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT are just a few of the cars that a Model S Plaid will humiliate in a drag race. And putting value aside would anyone in their right mind choose the Tesla over any of those iconic cars? Of course not. Maybe you would if you could only have one car. But if you want a dedicated sports car, you can’t go with an EV.

Remember when you first fell in love with cars? The shape, sound, performance, and just the overall way they made you feel alive. Non-car enthusiasts don’t feel this way. And that is most of the motoring public. They just want to get from point A to point B. For them an EV is fine. However, you and I are different. We need more. An EV is a terrible sports car and here is why.

EVs are Boring

Obvious right? Sticking with the Tesla for the purposes of this discussion. It is blazingly quick. But it is also as exciting as wallpaper paste. As a technical piece of engineering the Tesla is impressive. But so is the iPhone. Have you ever been interested in getting up early on a Sunday morning to go to an iPhones and Coffee event? Of course not, because no one cares about a parking lot full of iPhones. Just like no one cares about a parking lot full of Tesla’s, no matter how fast they are. Hop into an emissions choked 1975 Corvette with a measly 165 HP, pop out the targa top, slide the 4-speed manual into first gear and you are having a great time. Even if it takes you 8 seconds to get to 60 mph. The car has a style and involvement to it that the EV lacks.

If this was my two-car garage, I would drive the Tesla almost every day. I would take it to work, grocery shopping, the mall, and so on. But if I am getting up early on the weekend to just go for a drive to have FUN. There is no way I am taking the Tesla. Give me that old, slow Corvette every time I want to drive just for the pleasure of the drive. I want to shift my own gears damn it. Give me some REAL engine noise. I want to pull into a parking lot with my buddies and open our hoods and admire the engines underneath. Staring at battery packs and thick orange wires in an EV is not the same.

Wrenching is Fun

EVs require less maintenance, which is a plus for many folks. There are no oil changes or a need to stop at a gas station. But true car enthusiasts actually like to wrench. It is cathartic to spend some time in the garage changing the oil or the spark plugs. It could be a chance to bond with friends or family. Even stopping for gas in your ICE sports car can be a pleasant experience. Folks want to talk to you about it. Ask you how fast it goes. Tell you about the first Corvette they ever rode in. Does anyone really care about the EV parked next to them at the charging port?

It is not just the routine maintenance either, it is the ability to modify your car. Enthusiasts love to do that. Your options are limited on an EV. Wheels, brakes, suspension, a wrap, a body kit maybe? Think about all the Tesla cars you see each day. How many are modified? I have seen two in my life, and I go to a LOT of car events. The owners of these things just don’t care. They are not pleasure cars; they are tools. No one modifies a hammer or a wrench. You just want it to do the job. But go to Corvettes at Carlisle or a similar show, and you will see that no two Corvettes are the same.

Weight is the enemy in a sports car. Even when it is mounted down low. And EVs are almost comically heavy. A Hummer EV weighs over 9,000 pounds! Even a Model S Plaid comes in at an overweight 4,800 pounds. Not only does weight affect handling, but also safety during performance driving.

You need to stop all that poundage. But EVs are often laughably, borderline dangerously, under braked considering their weight and acceleration potential. This poundage also puts more stress on things like the suspension and tires. Think of it this way. No one ever shopped for a Corvette or any other sports car and thought to themselves I really like it, but I just wish it was 1,000 pounds heavier. Colin Chapman is rolling in his grave.

Track Days

You are buying a sports car so it stands to reason you might want to take it to a track day. An EV can be fine for a couple of runs on a drag strip. But all day lapping on a road course? Give me a traditional sports car. As discussed, the EV typically does not have the braking power to hold up to a full day of lapping. To say nothing of the batteries lasting for a full day. Even in Formula E, the pinnacle of EV racing, the races are limited to just 33 laps. Oh, and the National Council of Corvette Clubs currently has a ban on EVs at the track. If you are an enthusiast that likes track days, you simply can’t even consider an EV as your sports car.

Sports Cars are Emotional

A sports car is an irrational purchase in many ways. You don’t buy one because you need it, but because you want it. There is a connection with it on a level that non-car people don’t understand. You buy the sports car for laughs, to blow off steam, to let your hair down and have fun. An EV is your Monday to Friday job selling life insurance policies. A sports car is your Saturday night side gig as a DJ at the local club. A Sports car holds a special place in the family. A parent may let a child borrow it for prom night. Many people pass down their Corvette from generation to generation. The younger generation is inheriting a family heirloom. Inheriting a Tesla is like inheriting a toaster. Useful for sure, but no one is going to talk much about it at family reunions.

Summary

An EV is a poor choice for track days. There is no manual transmission option. They are extremely heavy. An EV completely lacks any sort of thrilling soundtrack. You are extremely limited in what you can work on or modify in an EV. An EV is boring and lacks any emotional connection to the owner. The EVs simply lack most attributes car enthusiasts look for in a dedicated sports car. (Except straight-line acceleration.) So, it is tough to draw any conclusion other than the EV makes for a terrible sports car for enthusiasts. I hope GM figures out how to rectify that before they kill off all the non-EV Corvettes.

Images: Chevrolet; Bring a Trailer

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