EV
CURIOUS?
What I Learned from Seven EVs
by Gregory Wilson
The practical guide to electric vehicle ownership from someone who's been there, done that, and made all the mistakes so you don't have to.
About the Book
After ten years and seven different electric vehicles—from our first Tesla Model X to our current Volvo EX90 and Porsche Macan EV—I've learned that most EV advice out there is either overly technical or frustratingly vague. This book cuts through the noise to share what matters when you're living with an electric car every day.
I wrote this because I kept seeing the same questions pop up in online forums and Facebook groups—questions I remember asking myself when we were starting out. How does regenerative braking really work? Why are there three different ways to measure efficiency (kWh/100mi vs miles/kWh vs MPGe), and why do different cars display them differently? And why does everyone obsess over range when my friend happily drives his BMW i3 with an 80-mile range all over town?
This isn't about convincing you to buy an EV or diving deep into battery chemistry. It's about the practical stuff: charging strategies that work, what efficiency means in the real world, how to plan your first road trip without stress, and why you probably don't need all those expensive adapters everyone says are "essential."
You'll also discover some surprising EV history along the way—like how electric cars were cruising New York City streets in 1897, why NASA's lunar rovers were the first EVs to leave tire tracks on another world, and how Norway went from zero to nearly 90% of new car sales being electric in just a few years.
Whether you're EV curious, recently switched, or just want to understand what all the fuss is about, this book will help you navigate the electric driving experience with confidence. Fair warning though—once you've felt that smooth, silent acceleration, going back to gas is harder than you'd think.
What's in the book
Twelve chapters, three appendices, and a ⚡ Fun Fact ⚡ at the end of every chapter — surprising EV history scattered throughout. Six chapters also have substantial free excerpts on this site, marked with Read excerpt → links below.
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Ch 1. Just Drive It—It's Not That Different. What an EV actually feels like to drive — silence, instant torque, regen on lift-off.Read excerpt →
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Ch 2. Understanding Regenerative Braking. Why lifting off the accelerator puts energy back in the battery, and what one-pedal driving really feels like.Read excerpt →
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Ch 3. The Big Battery. Pack size, the underrated heat pump, why daily charging to 80–90% extends battery life, and the small 12V battery that can leave you stranded.
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Ch 4. EV Efficiency. kWh/100mi vs miles/kWh vs MPGe, why a 5 mph speed change costs ~15% range, and why your range estimator doesn't match simple math.Read excerpt →
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Ch 5. Charging Your Battery. Level 1, 2, and 3 explained, home setup with smart load balancing, public DC fast charging, and the new Plug & Charge standard.
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Ch 6. Plugs, Adapters, and Compatibility. NACS, J1772, CCS, CHAdeMO, and which adapters you actually need for your specific car.Read excerpt →
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Ch 7. EV Quirks and Considerations. Why EVs weigh more, what maintenance you actually need, software updates, connected-services subscriptions, and modern dealer service.
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Ch 8. Charging Etiquette. The unwritten rules of public charging — idle fees, choosing the right speed, why 100% at a fast charger is rude, and ten best-practice rules.
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Ch 9. Busting the Top 10 EV Myths. Cold weather, charging time, range, battery life, road trips, reliability, recycling — answered with real numbers.Read excerpt →
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Ch 10. Road Trip! How to Plan. Six concrete steps for a long-distance EV trip, what to do when plans go sideways, and why forced stops can be a feature.Read excerpt →
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Ch 11. My Seven EVs. A personal tour of every car I've owned, from the 2017 Tesla Model X 100D to the 2025 Volvo EX90 and Porsche Macan 4S EV.
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Ch 12. The Future of EVs. LFP vs NMC chemistry, where solid-state really stands, 800V architectures, vehicle-to-home, and the next wave of fast-charging deployments.
Plus three appendices — A. Recommended mobile apps · B. Recommended YouTube channels · C. Glossary of EV terms.
One of twelve Fun Facts in the book.
Recommended YouTube Channels from the book
In the book, I share my favorite YouTube channels for staying up-to-date with the latest EV developments, reviews, and real-world testing. Here are the channels I recommend:
Ben Sullins
Data-driven EV analysis, ownership experiences, and sustainability lifestyle content.
Visit ChannelOut of Spec Reviews
Comprehensive EV testing, road trips, towing tests, and charging infrastructure analysis.
Visit ChannelBjørn Nyland
Methodical range testing, charging analysis, and long-distance EV challenges from Norway.
Visit ChannelMKBHD
Tech-focused EV reviews, charging infrastructure insights, and cutting-edge technology coverage.
Visit ChannelAuto Focus
Marques Brownlee's automotive channel covering EVs, hybrids, and traditional cars with detailed reviews.
Visit ChannelDoug DeMuro
Mainstream car reviews featuring his famous "Quirks and Features" format, covering EVs and traditional vehicles.
Visit ChannelFully Charged Show
Clean energy ecosystem coverage, EV industry news, and renewable energy developments.
Visit ChannelSandy Munro
EV teardowns, engineering analysis, and manufacturing insights from an industry expert.
Visit ChannelTransport Evolved
Independent EV news, weekly roundups, and comprehensive multi-manufacturer coverage.
Visit ChannelThese channels provide frequent updates on new vehicle launches, charging infrastructure improvements, battery technology advances, and real-world testing. I'll be adding new channel recommendations and additional resources here to augment the book as the EV landscape evolves.