Posted on 01/22/2015 7:14:12 PM PST by jazusamo
Drivers trying to calculate whether it's practical to own an electric car are facing a new math.
U.S. gas prices have fallen more than $1 per gallon over the last 12 months, to a national average of $2.06, according to AAA. That makes electric cars — with their higher prices tags — a tougher sell.
"Fuel savings are not top of mind to many consumers right now," says John Krafcik, president of the car shopping site TrueCar.com.
Automakers have responded by slashing thousands of dollars off the sticker price of electrics. Incentives averaged $4,159 per electric car last year, up 68 percent from 2013, according to Kelley Blue Book. The average for all vehicles was $2,791.
The discounting, combined with new vehicles such as the BMW i3, the electric Kia Soul and the Mercedes B Class, boosted sales of electrics 35 percent last year, according to Ward's AutoInfoBank. But the gains came before gas prices plunged in the second half.
So the discounting will likely continue. In January, the electric version of the Ford Focus was selling for an average of $25,168, or 16 percent lower than the sticker price of $29,995, according to TrueCar.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It makes sense, esp. as what’s really being sold is urgency. Anyone can charge at home for darned near nothing, or at the $1/hr convenience chargers for $4 per “fill up”. The profit-makers will also have other expenses like location, competing with faster customer rotation at gas stations. Even at a high of $12/charge, that’s at the lowest possible for comparable gas cars ($48/tank).
“So, no, you are not getting 21 cents per gallon equivalent.”
Yes I am and have been for some time. I pay an EV rate which benefits customers charging at home with off-peak rates and super-off peak rates running as low as 2-5¢/kWh.
Plus I plug in at work for FREE (please call me a “moocher”) because of an EV app I have on my phone. If you’re smart enough, you’ll make an EV be as cheap as possible—like me.
You are correct that it’s not for everybody. I imagine if the market decides the need for it an EV truck may be available down the road.
“please call me a “moocher”) “
OK, you’re a moocher.
” I pay an EV rate “
Which is mandated by law and therefore a customer paid tax to those not using EV.
Again, electric vehicles don’t pay off. People are unfairly taxed to subsidize the Luddite liberals that are mandating these things.
LOL!
Mine pays off very nicely—plus I get a $5,000 GA State Tax credit on it. In the end it’s a free car. I’m no tree huger by any means, but I know a deal when I see one.
Here is an article about quick charging costs. Note the date of the article and the cost to charge. I would assume the cost would eventually come down if EV's become more popular.
They have already demonstrated trucks that are run by an electric motor, although the electricity is generated by a fuel cell. The one big problem with fuel cells is that you need to find catalysts that are more common and less expensive. But otherwise, a fuel cell is an interesting concept that allows for chemical storage of electricity and emits water vapor. It is also more efficient at converting chemical to electric than combustion is.
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