[Deschodt]

I'm leasing a polestar actually...not for $299 sadly, the dual motor performance one... I did this as an experiment after 2x $100/mo E-golf leases that were totally adequate but "yawn" (but hey, cheap)

I wanted to experience the 480 hp AWD take off, the instant teleportation in traffic, the free power from my solar panels, the pre-heating of my seats and steering wheel on those cold mornings, but who am I kidding, most of all the power.... Done.

Will I buy the car at lease end? are you crazy? Values are plumetting to 60-70% of buyout. Those things are iPhones... The are really cool but need a monthly reboot, constant OTA upgrades, infortainment restarts... sometimes a feature works, sometimes "better luck next time". The tech progresses so fast those things make no sense to purchase. Dealers are few and far between and repairs slow. Luckily I needed none so far and also zero maintenance in 18 mo. It's fast as F. It's unreal...

That said my next car will be a used ICE because those electric things are either affordable and "meh", or super cool but exorbitantly priced. And not having a home charger is just not a usable model for people... charging outside on a 100F day in a parking lot is a no go for me. I have a real 240 mi range (using it like a race car) so that is 120mi to and back... Not enough yet...

So what was the Q again? Have the electrons lost their gloss? no, it's a "horse for course" situation. For around town or within 120 miles from home, it's great. And you need a second "real" car. But they can be fun. The Polestar2 is super fun when you teleport on an onramp and manages weight very well...No oil changes, no brake pads, no dirty gas station pumps, no "warming it up". No hate, no promoting here, it does the job it's made to do, whether that fits your needs and situation is up to you.

Me, I'd get a good mild hybrid or a regular gas car. This 2035 mandate isn't happening, it cannot (and I say that after 3 electrics in a row and I like them!). The infrastructure to go above and beyond current market saturation of people with home chargers does not exist here. (that said Europe has some interesting things coming up, the new Renault 5 / Alpine version looks like a tasty treat for reasonable $, but I don't want a leaf or Bolt thanks)