Your 35 mile commute is well
Your 35 mile commute is well above the national normal commute. NHTSA studies show that 80% or so of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day. Buy the car that's right for you, please. By the way there is an electric car with a similar price tag ($39k) that gets 150 miles electric range .. the Coda Sedan.
The components of a lithium ion battery pack aren't exactly toxic.