EV Buying Guide: Father-in-Law's Rural WA/OR Commute

Related: staff-engineer-job-market-2026 Informs: Projects/tech-blog

The Situation

Polly's dad — 6'2", large build, plumber/electrician who maintains multiple properties on the Oregon side while living on the Washington side near The Dalles. Currently spending ~$200/week on gas running trucks back and forth across the gorge. Has trucks for heavy days but wants something smaller (Forester-sized), electric, easy to drive for the regular commute. His wife already drives a RAV4 Hybrid that knocked $50+/week off gas costs.

Budget: Under $30–35K (used market — this is where the value is) Must-haves: Good range (long rural commute), fits a big guy, safety systems, serviceable at local dealerships (Chevy/Ford/Toyota near The Dalles) Nice-to-haves: AWD (rural WA winters), cargo for tools on lighter days

Why Used EVs Right Now

The used EV market in 2026 is a buyer's paradise. Three forces are crushing prices:

1. Federal tax credit expiration (Sept 2025) — new EV demand softened, pushing more inventory to used
2. Massive lease returns — 2022–2024 EVs coming off lease are flooding dealer lots
3. EV depreciation is brutal — EVs lose 50–60% of value in 3 years vs ~40% for ICE. Early adopters absorbed the hit, used buyers reap the benefit.

A vehicle that stickered at $45–55K new is now $20–28K used with 2–3 years and 20–40K miles. That's the sweet spot.

Used EV tax credit: Also expired Sept 30, 2025. No federal credit for used EVs in 2026. Price is price.

Tier 1: The Top Picks (Used)

Chevy Equinox EV (2024–2025 Used) — Still the Pick

Why it wins even harder used:

• A 2024 Equinox EV for ~$22–24K is absurd value. 315 miles range for the price of a used Corolla.
• 656 listings on CarGurus right now — inventory is deep, negotiating leverage is real
• 53% depreciation means someone else ate the new-car premium
• Same flat floor, same roomy interior, same Chevy dealer service network
• GM Ultium platform issues were mostly on the Blazer, not the Equinox — it launched cleaner
• 2025 models add NACS (Tesla Supercharger access). 2024 models may need an adapter or dealer retrofit.

What to watch for: Check if a 2024 model has the NACS port or CCS. If CCS-only, Tesla Supercharger access requires an adapter (free from GM in many cases). Not a dealbreaker but worth confirming.

Ford Mustang Mach-E (2023–2024 Used) — Strong #2

Why it's compelling used:

• A 2023 Select with extended range battery for ~$22–25K = 300+ miles range, Ford dealer service, good safety tech
• Ford has been selling EVs longer than GM — more dealer familiarity with EV service
• BlueCruise is solid highway assist for gorge commuting
• Interior is nicer than you'd expect, good cargo space
• AWD models available in the $25–30K range used

The catch: "Mustang" branding is weird for a truck guy. Just tell him it's a Ford SUV. Also 38.6" headroom is slightly less than the Equinox — he should test sit.

Tier 2: Worth a Test Drive

Chevy Blazer EV (2024 Used) — The Sleeper Deal

Why it's interesting now: The Blazer EV was a disaster at launch — software bugs, recalls, paused sales. That's exactly why used prices are in the toilet. A $55K vehicle for $24K. If the 2024 he's looking at was built after May 2024 (when GM fixed most issues), it's actually a solid vehicle. Bigger than the Equinox — more room for a big guy, more cargo.

The risk: Early 2024 builds are unreliable. Consumer Reports still flags it. He needs to check the build date and confirm recall work was completed. Higher risk, higher reward.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2023–2024 Used) — Best Tech, Wrong Dealer Network

The good: Best fast-charging in the segment bar none. 800V architecture means 10–80% in under 20 minutes. Fantastic interior, great headroom (39.8"), retro-futuristic design. Arguably the best-driving EV in this class.

The dealbreaker: No Hyundai dealer near The Dalles. Closest is Portland area (~80 miles). Same service access problem as Tesla. If he lived in a metro area this would be the pick. Out here, it's risky.

Nissan Ariya (2023–2024 Used) — Deepest Discount, Most Risk

The Ariya is discontinued in the US starting 2026, which is why prices are cratering. A $44K vehicle for $16–20K. The range on the higher trims is solid. But discontinued = parts/service uncertainty long-term, and no Nissan dealer super close to The Dalles either. Pass unless the price is just too good to ignore.

Tier 3: Skip

Used Tesla Model Y (2022–2024) — ~$18K–30K

Still has the service problem. A used Model Y for $22K is tempting on paper, but the nearest Tesla service center is Portland or Kennewick (80–100+ miles). Five NHTSA recalls on the 2026 model. Worst reliability rating in a decade per Consumer Reports. Rural owners report 60-car queues. The used Equinox EV is cheaper AND serviceable locally.

Used Toyota bZ4X (2023–2024)

Pre-refresh models had mediocre range (~220 mi), slow charging, and the infamous wheel-bolt recall. The 2026 refresh (now just "bZ") is much better but not available used yet. Wait for used 2026 bZ models to hit the market in 2027–2028.

Used Subaru Solterra (2023–2024)

Same platform as the old bZ4X with the same problems. 220 mi range, slow charging. The 2026 is better but not available used yet.

The Tesla Model Y Question (Used Edition)

He's looking at it because used Model Ys are ~$20–25K and everyone talks about Tesla. Honest assessment:

The appeal is real: A 2022 Model Y Long Range for ~$22K with 300 miles of range is objectively a lot of car for the money. Supercharger network is still the best.

But the same dealbreakers apply, maybe worse:

• No local service. Used Teslas need more service, not less. Out of warranty = expensive.
• Battery degradation. A 2022 with 40–60K miles may have lost 5–10% range. Still fine, but check.
• No independent shops nearby. Rural WA has no Tesla-certified independents.
• Software lock-in. Tesla can (and does) remotely disable features on resold vehicles. Check if Full Self-Driving transferred.

Bottom line: A used Equinox EV at $22–24K beats a used Model Y at $22–24K in every way that matters for his situation: local service, better range, no Tesla service drama.

Charging in the Gorge

The Columbia Gorge charging situation is improving:

• Home charging is the real play. A Level 2 charger ($300–$600 installed) on a 240V outlet charges ~25–30 miles/hour overnight. With 300+ mile range, he charges at home and commutes all week. Federal tax credit covers up to $1,000 for home charger installation.
• SR-14 corridor (WA side of gorge): Energy Northwest installing DC fast chargers in Bingen, Goldendale, and Stevenson.
• The Dalles/Hood River: Existing charging stations, more coming via Oregon's 370+ new port investment.
• Tesla Supercharger access: 2025+ Equinox EVs have NACS port natively. 2024 models can get a free adapter from GM.

For his use case (home base → properties → home), home charging alone covers 90%+ of his needs.

The Math: Gas vs. Electric

Current gas cost: ~$200/week = ~$10,400/year

Estimated EV electricity cost: At WA residential rates (~$0.10/kWh) and 3.5 mi/kWh efficiency:

• If he drives 300 miles/week: ~$8.50/week = ~$440/year

Annual savings: ~$10,000/year in fuel costs alone

Payback on a used Equinox EV at $24K: ~2.4 years from fuel savings alone. By year 3, the car is essentially free compared to running the truck.

This is one of the clearest EV financial cases out there — $200/week in gas is brutal and electric in WA is dirt cheap.

Used EV Shopping Checklist

For any used EV he looks at:

1. Battery health report — ask the dealer for it. Most EVs can show State of Health (SoH) %. Anything above 90% is fine.
2. Charging port type — CCS or NACS? NACS gives native Tesla Supercharger access. CCS needs an adapter.
3. Recall completion — check NHTSA for open recalls, confirm they've been done
4. Remaining warranty — GM's EV battery warranty is 8 years/100K miles. A 2024 still has 6+ years of battery coverage.
5. Charging at home — does he have a 240V outlet in the garage/carport? If not, electrician install is $200–500 (he's an electrician, so... free?)

Recommendation

1. Search for a used 2024–2025 Chevy Equinox EV in the $20–28K range. Check CarGurus, Edmunds, and local Chevy dealers. 656 listings nationally right now.
2. Also look at a used 2023–2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E with extended range battery in the $22–28K range. Ford dealers in The Dalles can service it.
3. The used Blazer EV at $22–26K is a dark horse if he finds a late-build 2024 with recall work completed. More room than the Equinox.
4. Skip the Tesla Model Y. Even used, the service access problem kills it for rural WA.
5. Get a Level 2 home charger installed. This is 90% of the charging equation. He's an electrician — this is a weekend project.
6. Keep the truck for heavy hauling days. The EV replaces the daily commute grind, not every use case.

Sources

• Used Chevy Equinox EV listings — CarGurus
• Used Equinox EV pricing — KBB
• Used Chevy EV prices are quite low — GM Authority
• Used Ford Mustang Mach-E pricing — Edmunds
• Mach-E how much to offer used — Recharged
• Blazer EV depreciation — CarEdge
• Used Nissan Ariya price drop — InsideEVs
• Tesla Model Y depreciation — CarEdge
• Tesla Model Y reliability — Consumer Reports
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 used pricing — CarGurus
• Best used EVs under $30K — KBB
• SR-14 EV chargers — Energy Northwest
• Used EV tax credit — IRS
• EV tax credits 2026 — KBB
• Equinox EV interior — EV Speedy
• Equinox EV specs — Chevrolet.com