Posted on 11/24/2021 3:16:48 PM PST by Jacquerie
Learn more about the experience of going green and the cost of electric vehicle ownership.
Concern for the environment and lower long-term costs has led millions of Americans to say they’d be likely to consider an electric car for their next automotive purchase. But many still have serious questions about how making the switch would impact their routine—and their wallets.
Here are facts to help you better understand how electric vehicles (EVs) can affect your bank account and the environment, and what to consider if you’re thinking about getting one.
How far can an EV go on a charge? Most EVs can run about 200 miles on a single charge. In comparison, a typical gas-powered vehicle has a range of 400 to 500 miles on a tank of gas. However, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, U.S. drivers travel an average of 31 miles per day.
Electric vehicle consideration: Do you plan to use it for commuting or long distances? It’s best to find an electric car with an operating range that exceeds your expected use. EV range is reduced by 41% when temperatures drop to 20 F and the car’s heater is used, and by 17% when they rise to 95 F and the car’s air conditioning is used, according to AAA research.
How long does it take to charge a battery? The short (and unhelpful) answer: It depends. Recharging a depleted battery with household current can take 12 hours or more—a problem if you’re in a hurry but not if you simply charge the vehicle overnight. Many public chargers are faster, with some able to replenish half of the battery’s range in less than an hour.
Electric vehicle consideration: Are you willing to upgrade your electric service at home to support faster charging? And what is the availability of charging stations where you typically drive? There were more than 43,000 EV charging stations in the United States as of summer 2021—but only about 5,000 were fast charging stations, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Availability varies widely by state, but you can find charging station locations through the AAA Mobile app (see them at the Near Me map filter). One other thing to know: AAA Roadside Assistance is beginning to offer charging capability on its vehicles in some cities and states—so a recharge could be as close as your phone.
re EVs affordable to buy? EVs start at a little more than $30,000; high-end EVs can run to six figures. But be sure to check for federal, state and local incentives, which can bring down the price.
Electric vehicle consideration: Think about friends and family who own EVs and talk to them about the experience. AAA surveyed EV owners and found that:
96% of respondents said they would buy or lease another EV. 43% said they drove more now than they did with a gas-powered vehicle. 78% reported also having a gas-powered vehicle in their household, but they said they did most of their driving (87%) in their EV. Are maintenance costs higher for EVs than for gas-powered vehicles? No. AAA research from 2019 indicates that although the overall cost of EV ownership1 is 8% more than gas-powered vehicle ownership (because of higher depreciation and finance costs), some individual expenses are substantially lower.
The cost of electricity to drive 15,000 miles a year averages $546; the cost of gas to drive the same distance is $1,225.
Electric vehicles don’t require oil changes or engine air filter replacements. If an EV is maintained according to automaker recommendations, it costs $949 annually to maintain, $330 less than a gas-powered car.
Are electric vehicles really that green?
Total emissions associated with driving EVs are still typically less than those for gasoline-powered cars.
Although EVs produce zero direct emissions, emissions may be produced by the source of their electrical power, such as a power plant, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Conventional vehicles, on the other hand, produce direct emissions through the tailpipe, through evaporation from the vehicle’s fuel system and during the fueling process.
You can estimate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with charging and driving an electric vehicle where you live by visiting this calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy.
They are worthless for anybody that doesn't live in an urban area. All the bureaucrats think everyone in the country has access to trains, ubers or cabs or recharge stations to "go cross town" for anything they need.
Even moderate distance driving would be almost impossible. A 180 mile drive to Phoenix or San Diego, from Yuma, or LA from Santa Maria California, would take 2-3 recharges (one way) vs a 3 1/2 hour drive conventionally.
Disposing of used batteries is a nightmare. Lithium hydride batteries are just plain dangerous if you don't know how to care for them.
Battery technology isn't up to the task. Hybrids or hydrogen power cells are the only realistic solutions and that technology is being ignored in favor of exclusive all battery power.
“Drive 100 miles. Wait an hour. Drive 100 miles.
There are EV’S with a 500 mile range.
More like 10 minutes.
Consumer Reports just came out with their reliability list. Tesla was at the bottom. As a matter of fact all EVs with the exception of the Ford Mustang were at the bottom of the list.
If the politicians, tree huggers, bureaucrats, and big shots are FOR this BS, it has to be BAD for the people !
Ohio increases it’s annual registration by $100 for a regular hybrid and $200 for a plug in hybrid or all electric. The base rate with county fees is about $60 per year.
Nope, the left isn’t for EVs they are for the Left’s policy. Technology marches on no matter what. What the left is doing is trying to link their policy to Technology in the minds of the public. That way when Technology ultimately wins the Left also appears to win and be in the right. They’re playing a 3d chess game of public perception so it would do the Right some good to not just be dumb and blindly reactive.
thats like saying the first steam powered machines are less reliable than hand labor so machines will never catch on.
If states are having problems with rolling blackouts, especially when you consider that the US has more power outages than any other developed country in the world, then how can they justify increasing the need?
Because the people aren’t being told the truth. Better put some squirrels on the treadmills.
wy69
“Ohio increases it’s annual registration by $100 for a regular hybrid and $200 for a plug in hybrid or all electric. “
Gas tax: $0.58 per gallon.
Gotta give Musk credit for brilliant rent seeking by identifying opportunities in public policy failures, i.e., Banking monopolies, NASA and EV.
That said, since they each depend upon an intrinsic failure or narrow policy, they may be sustainable but not replicable for entire industries or the economy at large.
It’s about targeted opportunities. Brilliant. But not salvation.
Yikes.
“Electric vehicles don’t require oil changes or engine air filter replacements. If an EV is maintained according to automaker recommendations, it costs $949 annually to maintain, $330 less than a gas-powered car.”
$1300.00 To maintain a Gas car is BS. It does not cost anywhere near that unless you have a really bad one or it is really old.
One thing you are no going to find is good used EV’s that are more than 3-4 years old. By then the batteries need to be replaced and that costs thousands of dollars.
And you can’t store them without having them plugged in(Using energy). Especially in the cold. I am told the batteries have heaters of their own to keep them from being damaged.
When you look at the entire picture EV’s are insane given the current technology. The list of issues is massive.
IF you believe that EV will get the advertised range from a charge, if you believe that charging an EV will take the advertised time, I have a question for you: how does your actual mileage compare to the EPA mileage on the window sticker of every new car?
BTW, the article mentioned that people only drive 31 miles a day and that reminds me of the mathematician who drowned while wading a river with an average depth of two feet.
I can understand the hatred many have about EV‘s. Ignorant people hate what they do not understand.
But I saw many of the same blatherings and the same ignorance about hybrid cars some 20 years ago. Ignorant people were wrong then about hybrids and they’re wrong now about EV‘s.
Batteries have advanced significantly. Replacement isn’t really an issue anymore, as they’ll outlive most ICE vehicles.
I agree when it comes to the ignorant people who think the rat push for EVs is benign or good for society.
I have a question for you: how does your actual mileage compare to the EPA mileage on the window sticker of every new car?
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For most people they get better mileage than the EPA estimates. So you’re saying we can also assume we will get more range from an EV than the estimates?
50% of electricity is lost in transmission.
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I believe you need to remove the 0 after the 5 and
you’d be much closer to actual.
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