Electric Vehicles (EVs)
come in many shapes, sizes and types
Hybrid vehicles have a small battery that allows them to travel few miles in electric mode before the gas engine turns on. All the energy used comes from fossil fuels.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). PHEVs differ from conventional hybrids in that the batteries are bigger to store energy from the grid when plugged in, and they can operate on electric power for between 15 and 50 miles before switching over to using fossil fuel (electric range depends on the vehicle). As our electrical grid gets greener, these vehicle contribute less to climate change.
A disadvantage of hybrids is that the fossil fuel engine requires maintenance, which can be costly.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV). BEVs are vehicles that use only batteries as their source of energy. They typically have ranges of 80 - 500 miles between charges. Maintenance costs are greatly reduced without a fossil fuel engine.
Why choose an electric vehicle (EV)?
Safety. In government crash tests, the safest vehicles are, in order, the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model S, and Tesla Model X. Because of the low center of gravity the battery pack creates, the impact resistance of the battery pack, and the crumple zones the design allows, these are the safest vehicles you can buy.
They are extremely reliable and require less maintenance. Typically rotating the tires, changing the cabin air filter, and replenishing windshield washer fluid is the only maintenance requird. Brakes last much longer because of regenerative braking. A typical internal combustion engine (ICE) has about 200 moving parts. An electric motor has 1 moving part!
Lower “fuel” costs. At Chelan PUD rates of $0.028/kilowatt hour, our electricity is equivalent to $0.28 per gallon gasoline! Less than a penny a mile compared to about $0.14/mile for a fuel efficient small sedan. Our fuel dollars stay in our local economy. Electric rates are regulated and stable, unlike volatile and unstable gas prices. You can produce your own “fuel” with a home solar, wind, or micro-hydro power system. We saved almost $3,000 in fuel and maintenance costs over the four year lease of a 2012 Nissan Leaf, compared to a similar ICE vehicle. We save about $200 per month on “fuel” for our Tesla Model Y.
Clean. There are no emissions. Although we use clean, renewable hydro power here in Chelan County, even if our electricity came from old coal power plants, studies have concluded that there is less air pollution by driving an electric car. From “cradle to grave” EVs produce less than half the emissions over their lifetime than a comparable ICE car. And, our national electrical grid is getting cleaner all the time as more of our power is produced by solar, wind, and natural gas power plants. Transportation accounts for over 40% of climate changing emissions. The most effective thing each of us can do to have a positive affect on global climate change is to drive an EV instead of an ICE car!
Quiet. EVs are virtually silent. Although there is still a little wind and road noise, driver fatigue is greatly reduced.
Powerful. Electric motors have 100% torque at zero rpm. Even “low performance” EVs go from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds. We don’t drive EVs for that feature, but it’s nice to know it’s there if you need it.
Meets most driving needs. About 80% of us drive less than 40 miles a day. Reasonably priced EVs with 200+ mile range are available. Our 2013 Tesla Model S had over 200 miles range and we used the national network of Tesla SuperChargers on two 4,500+ mile trips to New Mexico and spent less than $50 on “fuel”! Our Tesla Model Y has 326 mile range and can tow our sailboat and utility trailer. It’s our only car.
Charging infrastructure is available. Although most electric vehicles are charged overnight at home, public charging stations are available for longer trips (see plugshare.com).
“Level 1” charging stations are standard 120 volt outlets, available everywhere, and require days to fully recharge. (3 to 4 miles of range per hour of charge). But if that meets your daily needs, nothing more is required.
“Level 2” charging is 240 volt, like a dryer outlet, and takes four to six hours to fully recharge. (30 to 70 miles of range per hour, depending on the charger in the EV). This meets most peoples needs.
“Level 3” charging is 440 volt and takes 30 minutes or less to recharge to 80%. (150 miles of range, or more, per hour) Tesla Superchargers are even more powerful, fully charging a large battery Tesla in as little as 15 minutes. (300 to over 1,000 miles of range per hour).
Public charging stations are available throughout north central WA, over Hwy 2 to Puget Sound and east to Spokane, along Hwy 20 over North Cascades Hwy, and on Hwy 97 to Canada. More are being added.
- Tax credits. These incentives change, so check with an EV dealer or tax expert.