I am searching for my next car. The requirements are as follows. It has to last me at least the next 10 years. Be economical. Be Safe.
As we all do these days, I started my car shopping online. So many options. Where do I even start. I think I want an electric car. It is better for the environment. But with changing regulations, is it even affordable? Will there be enough electric charging stations in my area? When will it be delivered? Today it is 5 degrees outside, will an electric car even start?
Electric or Hybrid?
An electric car is any vehicle powered by a battery charged by an external electricity source. All electric vehicles (AEVs) are cars that are powered solely on electricity. Hybrid vehicles on the other hand use both electric and internal combustion engine technology.
What are the advantages of an electric vehicle?
Electric cars are energy efficient in comparison to gas powered vehicles. AEV batteries convert 59%-62% of energy into vehicle movement while gas powered cars only convert between 17%-21%. This means that the AEV’s battery puts more towards powering the vehicle than filling a gas tank.
One byproduct of being more efficient is that electric cars reduce emissions. Because AEV’s rely on a rechargeable battery, driving one does not create tailpipe emissions which are a significant source of pollution, especially in the United States. A rechargeable battery means less money spent on fuel that may need to be imported or transported as the means to charge the battery could be sourced locally.
Today’s light-duty AEVs can drive 100 miles while consuming only 25 to 40 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. The current average rate is $0.16 per kWh. That means that 100 miles costs anywhere from $4-6.40 for an AEV. Compared to a gas vehicle which costs $12.36 for 100 miles assuming an average miles per gallon of 25mpg and an average cost of gas of $3.09. Depending on the specific cars and the costs of energy and gas in that area, an electric car can go nearly four times as far for the same price as a gas powered vehicle.
Another advantage of AEV is their quiet and smooth motors require less maintenance than internal combustion engines, such as no oil changes.
What are the disadvantages of an electric vehicle?
While there are several advantages to electric vehicles they do still come with their drawbacks. First, electric vehicles can travel shorter distances than gas powered cars. Most AEVs average between 60-120 miles per charge, but some luxury brands can reach 300 miles per charge. Compare that to gas powered vehicles which averages around 300 miles on a full gas tank and more fuel-efficient cars can go even further.
This difference used to be larger when taking into consideration the availability of gas stations compared to the availability of charging stations. Currently in the US, there are over 145,000 gas stations and over 140,000 public electric charging stations. Growing quickly, that number was as low as 79,000 public electric charging stations at the beginning of 2020.
The difference in speed at these stations is still a big challenge. It only takes a couple of minutes to fill up a gas tank and then the car is ready to go another 300 miles. Electric vehicles can take up to eight hours to fully recharge and even fast charging stations (DCFC) take 30 minutes to charge to 80% capacity. For these reasons, AEV owners need to plan more carefully when going on long road trips such as planning meals around charging stations where the vehicle can charge while you eat.
The second big disadvantage of electric vehicles is that they can be expensive, just like gas powered cars. In September, the average cost of a new vehicle was just under $48,000, down $360 from the previous year. This is compared to $50,683 for an electric vehicle. While the $2,000 difference may not seem like a lot, keep in mind the cost of electric vehicles is down from over $65,000 just one year ago. There used to be tax incentives for most electric vehicles, but there have been recent changes in regulations that have eliminated some models from qualifying.
Are electric vehicles actually better for the planet?
The short answer to this is yes, electric vehicles are better for the planet but how much better varies from the types of vehicles that you are comparing, the company that makes them and even how your local power is generated. If local energy is generated through renewable sources such as wind or solar, than an electric vehicle will be vastly better for the environment than if the local energy is generated from sources which emit carbon pollution.
However, it is also true that the production of electric vehicles is worse for the environment than the production of gas powered vehicles. This is because the production of electric batteries is far worse for the environment than any part of the production of a gas powered vehicle. This means a large portion of the harm to the environment for electric vehicles is done during the production and disposal of the vehicle as compared to using the vehicle. Depending on how the local energy is generated, an electric vehicle will use somewhere between a third and a half of the energy gas powered vehicle will use in its lifetime.
What about Hybrid Cars?
Hybrid Cars are vehicles that have both a gas powered engine and can be electrically powered. The vehicle is normally powered by electricity on shorter trips while only switching to gas powered on longer trips. This gets around the biggest disadvantage of AEVs that it is harder to use them for longer trips. While this does solve one issue that AEVs have it does come with some drawbacks. First is that they tend to be a little more expensive than gas powered cars. Second is that they still have many of the maintenance issues that gas powered cars have and hybrid cars are less beneficial to the environment than AEVs.
Which vehicle should you choose?
There are many factors that go into deciding which type of vehicle you should choose but if you are concerned about the environment, it makes sense to buy an AEV or hybrid if you can. For local and city drivers an AEV is better for the environment, but if you foresee yourself taking long road trips then maybe a hybrid is better for you. The technology will only get better with time.
Do I need an electric charging station?
Many businesses today are installing electric vehicle charging stations. Parking garages, parking lots, retail centers, hotels, apartment complexes, and many others are increasingly aware of the benefits of having this amenity. Is a charging station right for your business? Give us a call and let’s find out.
Contact Us
"*" indicates required fields
