If you’re living the digital nomad life, you’ve probably faced this dilemma: you want a car for when you’re home base, but it’s going to sit unused for months while you’re exploring Accra, working from an Aburi café, or beach-hopping in Salt Pond and Cape Coast. So, what’s the move – Electric Car or Gas Car?
The Short Answer: Gas Wins for Long Absences
I know EVs are trendy, eco-friendly, and often cheaper to run. But here’s the reality: if your car is sitting idle for months at a time, a gas-powered vehicle is your better bet.
Why EVs Don’t Love Being Abandoned
Electric vehicles have a dirty little secret called “phantom drain.” Even when parked and locked, your EV is slowly bleeding power – about 1-3% per day – to keep the battery management system running, maintain connectivity features, and keep everything in standby mode.
Do the math: after just a month, you could lose 30-90% of your charge. Leave for a 3-month Southeast Asia trip? You might come home to a completely dead battery. And unlike your phone, letting an EV battery sit at extremely low charge can actually cause long-term damage.
The bottom line: You’d need to either leave your EV plugged in the whole time you’re gone (hoping nothing goes wrong), or pay someone to babysit it and charge it periodically. Not exactly the carefree nomad lifestyle.
Gas Cars: Built for Benign Neglect
Gas-powered cars aren’t perfect at sitting idle, but they’re WAY more forgiving. Yes, the 12V starter battery will drain over time, but it’s slower and easier to manage. Here’s what you need to know:
Up to a month? Most modern cars will be totally fine. Just park it and go chase your next adventure.
1-3 months? Take 20 minutes to prep:
- Hook up a battery tender (a $30 device that keeps your battery topped off)
- Fill the gas tank to prevent condensation
- Maybe toss in some fuel stabilizer
- Ideally have a friend start it once a month if possible
3-6 months? You’re in long-term storage mode, but it’s still doable:
- Battery tender is essential
- Fuel stabilizer is a must
- Slightly over-inflate your tires to prevent flat spots
- Consider an oil change before you leave
The beauty is that with minimal prep (seriously, a battery tender and fuel stabilizer is like $50 total), your gas car can sit happily while you’re living your best nomad life.
But What If You Really Want an EV?
Look, we get it. EVs are awesome when you’re actually driving them. Instant torque, low maintenance, cheap “fuel” costs. If you’re determined to go electric despite the long absences, here’s what you need:
- A reliable place to leave it plugged in (your own garage or a very understanding friend)
- Someone local who can check on it periodically
- An EV with good “deep sleep” mode features
- Accept that you’re choosing the harder path
The Digital Nomad’s Real Question
Here’s what it really comes down to: how much do you want to think about your car while you’re supposed to be working from a beach in Ghana?
Gas car: Set it up once, forget about it, come home and it starts.
EV: Worry about charge levels, arrange charging schedules, stress about battery health.
For most digital nomads, the gas-powered car is the path of least resistance. Save the EV dreams for when you’re more settled, or consider just using car-sharing services and rideshares when you’re in town. Sometimes the best car for a nomad is no car at all.
What’s your experience? Drop a comment if you’ve dealt with car storage as a digital nomad – I’d love to hear what’s worked (or hasn’t) for you!
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Business Growth Strategist, Clarity Expert, Retired Stockbroker, Speaker, Pitch Judge, VC, Stock Investor, Board Member, Owner of Bold Vision, Co-Founder of Investing Education Academy (IEA), Start-up Consultant, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
