Other than the battery replacement history of an early EV, the Nissan Leaf, I haven't seen any documented examples where the cost of battery replacement is overly burdensome.
You haven't been ready any customer (real or potential) reviews of people already owning EV's or people considering them then. The 'net is full of disappointed EV (or potential) buyers who find the limitations of an EV battery doesn't, in many cases, contribute to owner satisfaction. Initial cost, battery replacement cost (owners typically lease or sell their expiring EV's before the battery goes boobies up), weather (either too hot or too cold really saps battery strength), inability to perform heavy duty functions (towing mainly). The list goes on.
As I've said many times before the only reason EV's should become popular is to replace the one passenger commuters. In virtually every other instance the EV underperforms and most people cannot afford their limited usefulness to own an EV as a second car. This will not change until EV's become MUCH less expensive.
Personally, I've been eyeing the EV option for a couple years. Like anything, time has allowed for refinement of EV designs to get the purchase cost down, including maintenance and operation.
I don't see it. Most EV's are still WAY too expensive to replace the econobox commuter ICE car. Of course you could consider an EV from China or Vietnam (shades of the Yugo come to mind).
I'm very interested in leasing one of the new VW ID Buzz:
The ID. Buzz from Volkswagen
This from Motorbiscuit: "
The pricing for the 2024 Volkswagen
ID.
Buzz is an estimated guess based on its price in Germany. In Germany, the
ID.
Buzz Pro, which is the passenger model, starts at 64,581.30 euros." The US dollar is essentially equal to the euro these days and you can bet if they sell they will sell at a premium price well above what is advertised today. VW now considers itself a premium brand just like the other German marques.
And I thought I just read on this forum the other day that Germany has rid itself of virtually all commercial AM radio services. In the USA AM radio is declining. If true why would VW put an AM radio in their new EV bus? It doesn't seem to work well in VW's world wide markets either. More likely they'd offer a streaming or satellite radio instead - at least in the American and Canadian markets (thus increasing the cost even more).
And one more thought since you mentioned leasing. With the way purchase costs are going pretty soon the only way you'll be able to get a new passenger vehicle is to lease it. But perhaps, as with homes, we should begin calling it a mortgage.