A FRUSTRATED driver has aired his complaints after purchasing an electric vehicle.
Dabi Bala of Winnipeg, Canada, spent over $115,000 on his Ford F150 Lightning EV.
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It wasn't long before more expenses began pouring in, he told Fox Business.
Bala had to purchase chargers, one for work and one for home. He also had to upgrade his home's electric panel.
In total, Bala spent around $130,000 to be able to use the vehicle.
The new car owner explained that he intended to use the truck for work, and occasional trips to his cabin.
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He also opted for an electric vehicle because he thought that it was a step towards being a "responsible citizenship these days."
But shortly after buying the truck, Bala got in a small accident. His bumper needed some repairs.
It took the body shop over six months to fix the car, and Bala has claimed that he was not able to get in touch with anyone from Ford for help.
Bala learned that his electric vehicle was not suited for long-distance road trips while on a 1,400-mile journey to Chicago.
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Fast charging stations, which only charge EV’s up to 90 percent, cost more than gas for the same mileage.
Bala struggled to find adequate charging stations along the way. Many were faulty and nobody was able to offer assistance.
"This sheer helplessness was mind-boggling," Bala wrote in an online post. "My kids and wife were really worried and stressed at this point," he explained.
Without any charge in sight, Bala was forced to have the truck towed to a Ford dealership, where he rented a regular gas vehicle to finish the trip.
He's not the only EV driver who's had serious issues.
Others have experienced more substantial tire wear due in part to the extra weight added by an EV's battery.
That's why many are switching back to gas-powered cars, according to one study.
Bala wants to warn people against purchasing electric vehicles.
"It was in [the] shop for 6 months. I can’t take it to my lake cabin. I cannot take it for off-grid camping. I cannot take it for even a road trip," Bala wrote. "I can only drive in the city – biggest scam of modern times."
Bala feels that the government should do more to ensure that people have accurate information about electric vehicles.
"People have to make the right choices. I want to tell everybody to read my story," he said. "Do your research before even thinking about it and make a wiser choice."
Ford provided a statement about the situation to The U.S. Sun.
"We are looking into this individual customer’s case," said a spokesperson for the company.
"There is an urgent need to improve access to reliable public charging across the US and Canada beyond the coastal regions as more people move to EVs.
"Ford's EV-certified dealers will install public-facing DC fast chargers at their dealerships by early 2024, providing alternative charging options to those available today.
"Ford was also the first in the industry to gain access to over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers for Ford drivers."
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Those will be available for Ford EV drivers starting early next year.
In 2025, General Motors will begin using Tesla's charger design so their EV drivers can use a supercharger without an adapter.
