So, I've been doing some more research on the prices for other models of EV (mostly compliance cars sold in CA and OR). It turns out that they are ALL depreciating at truly spectacular rates. At the speed that prices are plummeting, I will be able to pick up a 2014 or newer model year EV for half of what we paid for our 2012-model Leaf last year.
Or to say that in a way that actually makes sense: I will be able to buy a 2 year old EV for less than half of what a 3 year old EV cost me a couple years ago. ($7k vs $14k)
Our aggressive payoff schedule means that the Leaf will be paid off by next May or sooner (paying off a 5 year loan in 2 years). So a second EV is looking like a not-too-unrealistic situation. And if I won't be receiving my Elio until Summer 2018 anyways, then a second EV is almost a certainty.
Hmmm, lemme try some math.
Each month, I pay about 3-4 times as much in Gas than we put into our Leaf in electricity, or about $75/mo more than an EV would cost.
So if we put $1000 down on a $7000 EV, then pay off the rest in the following 7 months, after subtracting gas savings we would be paying about $783/month for a car that is 12+ years newer than my PT Cruiser (well, slightly more $, once you include the small finance charges that go into that).
So by January of 2018 we would be debt free (again) and have two low-cost EV commuters and a Gas car that we drive once or twice a month for the "long" trips. And if I keep putting that $783/mo into a savings account, I'll be able to buy my Elio with CASH or else pay it off in just a few short months.
Considering we're currently paying $876/month on our Leaf payoff schedule, the second EV might not even take 7 months to pay off. I know it doesn't beat paying cash, but it's darn close! And that isn't taking into account any pay raise I may get this January, or the pay bump my wife is getting now that she has a new job, etc.
Guys, I think I just convinced myself to buy another EV this May. Golly!