The market for electric vehicles is growing rapidly, with more than 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads in 2020! Electric vehicles are very similar to gasoline vehicles, but are different in the way that they receive energy to power the vehicle. Read on to explore EVs in greater detail as we highlight the pros and cons of electric vehicles, mileage range, charging, and more.
An Introduction to Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are very similar to gasoline-powered vehicles, with the main difference being that electric vehicles are powered by electricity that powers a battery while gasoline vehicles are powered by gas that makes the engine run. EVs and gasoline vehicles both need to be fueled, with the EVs batteries needing to be recharged and gasoline vehicles needing to be refueled with gasoline.
Electric Vehicles - The Pros and Cons
When looking at electric vehicles versus gasoline-powered vehicles, there are various different benefits and potential disadvantages of owning an electric vehicle.
Benefits of Owning an Electric Vehicle
1. EVs Save Money on Gas
Charging an electric vehicle is significantly cheaper than gasoline. Owners will still need to pay for their electricity, either if they recharge their EV at home or elsewhere, but this is significantly cheaper than filling up a gas tank. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, charging an electric vehicle is $14,500 cheaper than fueling a gas vehicle over a vehicles’ 15-year timespan. The cost of charging an EV can be much lower for homeowners who have solar.
2. Easier to Maintain
Electric vehicles don’t require an oil change every 3,000-5,000 miles, making them easier to maintain and resulting in fewer trips to the mechanic. EVs also have fewer parts that wear down and no engine to maintain when compared to an internal combustion car.
3. Environmentally-friendly Option
Since EV’s don’t have tailpipe emissions, the environmental impact of driving an EV is significantly lower than gas vehicles. The carbon footprint of driving an EV can vary on the energy source used to produce the energy. If you have solar on your home and charge your vehicle at home, the carbon footprint of driving an EV is very low. This is the same for utilities that produce most of their electricity from renewable sources.
Even if you charge your car from electricity generated by coal or natural gas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that EV’s are “typically responsible for lower levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) than an average new gasoline car. To the extent that more renewable energy sources like wind and solar are used to generate electricity, the total GHGs associated with EVs could be even lower.”
4. More Vehicle Options Are Available
EVs have been on the market in the United States since the early 2010s. As of January 2021, there were 26 EV models available in the USA from Tesla, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Nissan, Kia, BMW, Ford, and more. Vehicles range from trucks to SUVs and compact cars, making them more accessible depending on the needs of your vehicle. Many car companies are currently making plans to rapidly grow the number of EVs they offer within their fleet, including Toyota who’s committed to producing 30 EV models by 2030.
Disadvantages of Electric Vehicles
1. Mileage Range
The average range for an EV can range from 100-250 miles, depending on the model of the vehicle. Currently, on the market, the longest mileage range of an EV is a Tesla Model S that has a range of 402 miles, while the longest range for a non-Tesla EV at 259 miles. Since EVs can’t be fueled as quickly as gasoline-powered vehicles, mileage range is something to consider.
If your daily commute and other normal driving patterns fall within the mileage range of the EV you're looking for, owners should be able to drive their car similarly to a gasoline-powered vehicle for daily trips.
2. Longer Fueling Time
Charging an EV takes much longer than filling up a gas tank. For a typical EV, charging a 60 kWh battery will take about 8-hours to go from empty to full using a 7kW charger, the strength of a typical at-home charger. However, many electric cars can charge 100 miles in approximately 35 minutes with a rapid charger.
Many owners tend to charge their vehicle nightly when they get home, at the office when they are at work, or at stores while running errands to reduce charging length and keep the batteries charged. For longer trips, planning might need to be done to identify rapid chargers that can be utilized throughout your trip.
3. Barriers for Renters & Apartments
Homeowners with EVs can typically install their own charger at home. Individuals that rent or live in condos typically can not install their own charger, which can be a barrier to entry. Some apartment complexes, offices, and stores do have chargers but this might not be as convenient as having a charger at home.
4. Smaller Selection
Although there are 25+ models of EVs out on the market, the selection for EVs is still much smaller than that of gasoline-powered vehicles. Some car models have an EV or hybrid option, but many models currently are not offered as electric, resulting in fewer options to choose from when car shopping.
How Outside Temperature Affects Range
When looking at the mileage range of your EV, one item to consider is the weather. Cold weather can temporarily reduce the range of an EV battery, as the cold is shown to slow the reaction that makes the batteries operate. Cold weather can also reduce an EV battery range between 10-20% and could also triple the charging length.
How to Charge an EV - Consider Your EV Charging Plan
When considering purchasing an EV, one of the most important items to consider is your charging plan. If you are considering having a home charging system, researching and installing a charging station in your home prior to purchasing your EV would be a great idea, since you’ll need to charge your EV often.
If you don’t plan on having an EV charging station in your home, doing research on nearby charging stations is important to ensure you’ll be able to charge your vehicle conveniently near your home or work. PlugShare can help find charging stations near your home or office and can also be helpful when planning long-distance trips to identify charging stations along your route. Whether you’ll be charging your vehicle at home, at your office, or at a store nearby, identifying your charging plan prior to purchasing an EV is essential to ensure you’ll be able to easily charge your new vehicle.
