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Since your daily commute is zero, the EV's main benefit (low daily running cost) is less impactful for you. The key here is those road trips. How often? How far? If it's frequent long hauls to areas with sparse charging, the SUV's convenience might still win despite fuel costs. If trips are occasional or to charger-rich areas, an EV with decent range (300+ miles) could work. Do a cost analysis over 5 years for both, including maintenance (EVs generally lower).
Honestly, if the SUV is paid off and meets your needs for space and road trips, why take on a new car payment right now? Save that money, invest it. The 'tech' in new cars is nice but depreciates fast. Unless your SUV is unreliable or costing a fortune in repairs, the financially prudent move for a remote worker might be to stick with it longer.
Range anxiety is real, but also often overblown IF you plan. Apps like A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) are essential for EV road trips. However, if your hobbies involve very remote, off-grid locations, the SUV's ability to carry extra fuel and not rely on infrastructure might be critical. Also, consider the resale value of your current SUV versus the depreciation on a new EV.
Maybe a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV? Best of both worlds? You get some all-electric range for shorter trips/local errands (if you do any) and the gas engine for long road trips without range anxiety. The tech is usually pretty good too. Might be a good compromise for a remote worker who still wants adventure capability.
Don't forget insurance costs! EVs can sometimes be more expensive to insure. And what about home charging? If you can't install a Level 2 charger at home, relying on public charging for an EV, even if you don't drive daily, could be a pain. The SUV, while thirsty, is a known quantity and paid off. Sometimes the 'devil you know' is better if the new option introduces too many lifestyle changes or hidden costs.
Think about the environmental impact too, if that's a factor for you. The SUV is already built, so its manufacturing emissions are sunk. A new EV has manufacturing emissions to offset. However, over its lifetime, the EV will likely have much lower operational emissions. It's a complex calculation. If your SUV is still reliable, running it for a few more years while EV tech and charging infrastructure improve further might be a pragmatic choice.
I was in a similar boat. Kept my old SUV for the big trips and bought a small, used, cheap EV for around town errands. Might not work for everyone if parking is an issue, but two specialized vehicles can sometimes be better than one compromised one. Since you WFH, the 'around town' car might not even be necessary unless you already have one.
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