Electric vehicles have gone from niche curiosity to driveway staple, but some of the people who know cars best are still not sold. A mechanic saying he would never buy an EV hits a nerve because it sounds like insider knowledge, not just internet chatter. To sort out whether that warning is a red flag or just one perspective, it helps to line up his concerns against what other experts, data, and the used car market are actually showing.
Under the hood, the EV debate is less about politics and more about batteries, repair bills, and how quickly the technology is changing. Mechanics see the worst-case scenarios roll into their bays, while researchers and market analysts are tracking long term costs and resale values. Put together, their views paint a more nuanced picture than a simple “never” or “always” verdict.
Why some mechanics say they would never own an EV
When a working technician says he would never park an electric car in his own garage, he is usually not talking about hating quiet motors or missing the smell of gasoline. The hesitation tends to come from what he sees on the job: expensive battery failures, tricky diagnostics, and customers stranded when something goes wrong far from a specialized shop. In one widely shared account, a mechanic described how his reluctance to own an EV himself is rooted in watching owners struggle with out-of-warranty repairs and limited local support, a concern echoed in reporting on why Jan, Mechanic Said framed the issue as more than simple brand preference.
Another layer is professional comfort. Many independent garages are built around internal combustion work, from oil changes to exhaust systems, and a sudden shift to high voltage systems can feel like starting over. One technician, identified in coverage of Why Gelfand and, worried out loud about being responsible for complex electrical faults that require specialized tools and training he does not yet have. That kind of anxiety about liability and learning curves naturally spills over into personal buying decisions, especially for people who plan to keep a car long past the warranty window.
The battery problem that keeps coming up
Underneath almost every skeptical comment from a mechanic is the same core fear: the battery. Unlike a starter or alternator, the main pack in an EV is not a few hundred dollars and an afternoon in the shop. One technician, quoted in a piece about why some professionals refuse to go electric, put it bluntly, saying, “The battery is the biggest concern,” and warning that replacement can cost a small fortune once the original one starts fading. That worry, highlighted in coverage of Jan, Mechanic, Here,, is not abstract for someone who has watched owners get blindsided by a five-figure estimate.
Battery life also intersects with how long people keep their cars. A driver who trades in a gasoline SUV every four or five years may never see a major engine failure, but someone who runs a compact sedan to 200,000 miles knows exactly what long term wear looks like. Mechanics tend to fall into that second camp, stretching their own vehicles as far as possible, which makes them especially sensitive to any component that might age poorly. When they look at an EV, they see a giant, expensive part that is still relatively new in the real world, and they are not convinced that every pack will age as gracefully as early marketing promised.
What the numbers say about maintenance and repairs
Set against those shop floor stories is a growing pile of data that suggests electric cars can actually be cheaper to keep on the road. One major analysis found that electric vehicles have lower lifetime maintenance and repair costs than comparable gasoline models, with total maintenance spending coming in at roughly 50% less than gas powered cars. That gap reflects the basic mechanical reality that EVs do not need oil changes, timing belts, or complex exhaust systems, and they tend to use regenerative braking that stretches pad and rotor life.
Those numbers do not erase the risk of a big battery bill, but they do show why many owners report lower day to day costs. For drivers who lease or who plan to sell before the warranty expires, the odds of ever paying for a full pack replacement are relatively low, while the savings on routine service show up almost immediately. That is the flip side of the mechanic’s experience: he sees the rare, ugly failures, while the data captures the quieter reality of thousands of EVs that simply need tires, cabin filters, and the occasional software update.
How the used EV market is shifting the equation
Even if a new electric car still feels like a gamble, the used market is starting to look very different. Analysts tracking resale trends have pointed out that earlier this year, used electric vehicles were shaping up to be some of the most compelling deals in two decades, with prices dropping to the point where they undercut many comparable gasoline models. One report on the broader market noted that if 2026 is the year a buyer plans to replace a car, the timing could be ideal because used EV prices are so attractive, a point underscored in coverage of how Feb experts framed them as the best car deal in 20 years.
Lower upfront prices change the risk calculus. A driver who picks up a used Chevrolet Bolt EUV or Nissan Leaf at a steep discount may be more willing to accept the possibility of a shorter remaining battery life, especially if the car still carries some warranty coverage on the pack. For budget conscious shoppers, the chance to get modern safety tech, instant torque, and low running costs at a used car price can outweigh the fear of a hypothetical future repair. That is a very different mindset from a mechanic who is thinking in terms of keeping a vehicle for 15 years and handling every repair personally.
Why EVs feel so different to work on
Part of the disconnect between mechanics and other experts comes down to how different electric cars are to service. Traditional car mechanics revolve around the internal combustion engine, or ICE, with its fuel delivery, exhaust, cooling, and lubrication systems. Their training, tools, and shop layouts are built around that world. Guides that walk through the shift to electric explain that working on high voltage drivetrains requires new safety protocols, different diagnostic gear, and a comfort level with electronics that not every veteran technician has, a contrast laid out in resources that compare Jan, About Electric, service work.
For younger techs who grew up with laptops and scan tools, that transition can feel like an opportunity. For others, it can feel like a threat to a hard earned skill set. When a mechanic says he would never buy an EV, he may be signaling not just a judgment about the cars themselves, but a discomfort with a rapidly changing industry that is asking him to retrain mid career. That is understandable, but it also means his personal buying advice is colored by professional upheaval in a way that does not necessarily apply to every driver weighing a lease on a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or a used Tesla Model 3.
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