Why Your Next Vehicle Should Be an Electric Vehicle

There are many valid reasons for switching from your gas-powered, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid vehicle sooner than later.

EVs have a lower fuel cost

The costs of extracting crude oil, refining it to gasoline and transporting the gasoline to the consumer keep rising. With the rise of renewable energy, the cost of electricity is dropping. With this tool from the US Department of Energy, you can compare fuel costs of any combination of vehicles. Electricity is much cheaper than gasoline. Because of this, EVs are consistently lower on fuel costs than ICE vehicles. MPGe stands for the miles per gallon equivalent for an EV.

EVs have a lower maintenance cost

Electric vehicles are the cheapest to maintain. They are more reliable, and keep a higher resale value than ICE vehicles. The electric motor is much more simple and contains much fewer moving parts than an ICE. This means less visits to the mechanic, and great cost savings on maintenance.

Never visit a gas station again

Imagine never having to visit a gas station again! You can charge your vehicle at home, work or out and about. Unless you are driving a whole lot of miles, charging your vehicle at home overnight is more than sufficient to get you through a typical week. If you are taking long trips, charging stations are popping up like crazy.

EVs offer a quiet and relaxing ride

EVs are much quieter than ICEs, providing a calming and relaxing atmosphere for the driver and passengers. Society as a whole also benefits, as many studies have shown the harmful effects of noise on city dwellers.

Reduce dependency on foreign oil

The U.S. currently uses more oil than it extracts domestically every year. Because of this, every new EV on the road reduces the country’s dependency on foreign governments. The oil producing countries take advantage of this dependency by setting gas prices higher and higher.

Do good for the environment

The EPA states that 29% of greenhouse gasses come from emissions in the transportation sector. EVs have no emissions, therefore they are much more eco-friendly vehicles than ICE vehicles. Greenhouse gasses contribute to the climate crisis, which is a pressing and undeniable global concern. Charging your EV using renewable energy is the best for the environment, as the well-to-wheel calculation is the lowest in greenhouse gases (GHG).

Driving electric vehicles provides cleaner air

Everyone benefits from less pollutants in the air. Smog and the related health problems are a serious problem for all people, especially those in vulnerable communities. Since EVs have no emissions they are the best option for the cleanest air.

EVs offer a lot of other benefits, credits and rebates

Many states offer programs for EV owners to enjoy reserved parking spaces, free or reduced tolls, access to HOV lanes, and more. Many tax credits and rebates are available. City and state governments offer a variety of these, as well as the current federal tax credit of up to $7,500 to purchase a new EV.

Used models are available

Since EVs have been on the market for many years, lots of options for used vehicles exist. Some of the most popular used EVs currently are the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, Fiat 500e, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Volkswagen e-Golf, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model X, and the BMW i3.

EVs are just as safe, if not safer than ICE vehicles

Recent research has shown that electric vehicles are as safe as or safer than ICE vehicles. The president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) stated that “we can now say with confidence that making the U.S. fleet more environmentally friendly doesn’t require any compromises in terms of safety.”

More charging stations are becoming available

In December 2021, the White House released the Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan, which details how 500,000 chargers built in the U.S. will be installed across the country. A barrier to EV adoption has been range anxiety, in which drivers are afraid of running out of charge. These new charging stations, combined with the higher ranges that continue to improve every year due to improvements in battery technology, will alleviate that anxiety.

More new EV models are coming out every year

A large selection of EVs are due to be released in 2022. Electric pickups are coming, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and GMC Hummer. The Ford F-150 Lightning has had so many preorders and created so much buzz that Ford decided to double the initial production capacity for the all-electric truck. Every major OEM now has an electric or hybrid option.

Exotic models are available

If your tastes run toward the exotic, there are options for you. Aptera, based in Carlsbad California, is a solar-powered, three-wheeled, futuristic-looking vehicle.