Why Drive Electric - Environment & Sustainability

Why Drive Electric

1 Electric vehicles save you money. ∨

No matter where you plug in across the country, electric vehicles are cheaper to fuel than their gasoline-powered counterparts. Every electricity provider in the 50 largest US cities offers a rate plan that makes filling up on electricity cheaper than gasoline, adding up to a median yearly savings of over $770.

Electric vehicles can also save you on maintenance costs. Battery EVs have no gasoline engine, they do not need oil changes, spark plugs, or timing belts, and unlike gasoline motors, electric motors required no routine maintenance. These reduced maintenance costs can save an EV owner over $1,500 over the life of the vehicle, compared to a gasoline-powered version of their vehicle.

2 Electric vehicles cut your emissions. ∨

Even when the electricity used to fuel an EV comes from the dirtiest coal-dominated grid in the US, EVs still produce less global warming pollution than their conventional counterparts. The average EV in the US today produces the emissions equivalent of a gasoline car that gets 73 miles per gallon. The emissions performance of EVs is set to only improve as wind and solar power displace coal-fired electricity generation. Many EV owners are also choosing to pair their EV with rooftop solar panels and home energy storage units. When powered exclusively by renewable energy, an EV can operate nearly emissions free.

3 Electric vehicles offer you a better driving experience. ∨

An electric engine generates instant torque, which means that electric vehicles zoom off starting lines and provide smooth, responsive acceleration and deceleration. Electric vehicles also have a low center of gravity, which improves handling, responsiveness, and ride comfort.

The driving performance of electric vehicles has been recognized in race series like Formula E or local drag strips and attested to by thousands of electric vehicle drivers across the country.

4 Electric vehicles reduce our dependence on foreign oil. ∨

Electric vehicles are essential to cutting the nation's oil use in half. Using oil causes an array of problems, and transportation remains reliant on oil as the dominant energy source. Electric vehicles offer the potential to disrupt this status quo relationship between transportation and oil, and offer a cleaner, better way to fuel transportation for everyone. Overall, electric vehicles can cut US oil use by 1.5 million barrels a day by 2035.

5 Electric vehicles are convenient. ∨

Instead of searching for a gasoline station with the cheapest prices, you can charge at home at a cheaper and much more predictable cost. And plugging in at home takes only a few seconds and lets you wake up with a “full tank” every morning. EVs also have other convenient advantages. Battery electric vehicles are mechanically much simpler than a conventional gasoline car, so the maintenance requirements are often much simpler and, for this reason, cheaper to maintain. Drivers of electric cars a do not have to change their car’s motor oil every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, and they never have to schedule spark plug changes, timing belt replacements, or other engine tune up items. Depending on your location, EVs have additional benefits, like access to restricted express lanes on highways and bridges, special parking spots, and reduced or free tolls.

Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, Top Five Reasons to Choose an Electric Car, 2018

What is an Electric Vehicle?
	HYBRID (NOT considered an EV) In a hybrid vehicle, a traditional internal combusion engine is the primary energy source. A hybrid cannot be charged via a plug, but it does have an electric motor and a battery that can be recharged through regenerative breaking.
	PLUG-IN ELECTRIC HYBRID (PHEV) PHEVs are powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The vehicle can be plugged into an electric power source to charge the battery. Some can travel up to 100 miles on electricity alone, and all can operate solely on gasoline if needed.
	BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE (BEV) BEVs use a battery to store the electric energy that powers the motor. EV batteries are charged by plugging the vehicle into a power source. Because there is no internal combustion engine, zero tailpipe emissions are produced.

Image Source: Piktochart, Electric Vehicles Powering Australia's Future

Charging Levels

LEVEL 1 - 120V CIRCUIT 2 - 5 miles per hour of charge All electric vehicles should come with a Level 1 cordset so you can charge your vehicle at home.For most vehicles, the port will be a J1772 connector.	LEVEL 2 - 240V CIRCUIT 25 miles per hour of charge The Level 2 port is typically the same as the Level 1 port (J1772). 240V circuits are the same as those used by heavy appliances like dryers. Many BEV owners install these at home; PHEV owners may not.	LEVEL 3 - 480V CIRCUIT 60 - 80 miles per 20 minutes of charge Also known as Direct Current (DC) fast charging, this level engables rapid charging. These stations are typically installed along heavy traffic corridors.
	NOTE: Tesla has a unique port that works with all charging options including their Supercharger stations. Tesla owners can also purchase adapters to use other public charging stations.
Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center, Developing Infrastructure to Charge Plug-In Electric Vehicles
Station Types
Level 1 Cordset	LEVEL 2 Wall Set	Level 2 or 3 Pedastal

Image Source: Drive Clean California, Electric Car Charging is Easy