There Are Both Pros & Cons Associated With Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Here are a few things to consider, when determining if an EV is right for you.
State Fees
As of September 1, Texas became one of 33 states that will bill EV drivers every year. Texans will have to pony up $200 a year. The rationale at the Texas legislature: Electric vehicle drivers don't use gasoline, which is taxed. Those taxes help fund the state's road maintenance programs.
Electric Cars Reduce Emissions
The amount by which they reduce emissions depends, in large part, on the fuel sources used for the generation of electricity, according to the US Department of Energy. “All-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) typically produce lower tailpipe emissions than conventional vehicles do, and zero tailpipe emissions when running only on electricity. Tailpipe emissions are only 1 factor in considering a vehicle’s life cycle emissions; gasoline and electricity fuel pathways also have upstream emissions to consider, which include extracting, refining, producing, and transporting the fuel. Estimating cradle-to-grave emissions must account for both fuel-cycle emissions (also known as “well to wheels”) and vehicle-cycle emissions (material and vehicle production as well as end of life). The combined emissions from vehicle and fuel production through vehicle decommissioning (i.e., recycling or scrapping) are referred to as life cycle or cradle-to-grave emissions.“
They Do Not Perform Well in the Heat
According to Consumer Reports, “most EVs perform optimally on 80-degree Fahrenheit days. It’s only when the temperature climbs into the high 80s and beyond that EV range loss and battery damage become an issue.” Running the air conditioning is also said to cause battery drain. You will have to consider whether an EV is likely to perform well in the 100-plus-degree temperatures of a Co-op Country summer.
They May Not Perform Well in the Cold
Estimates vary, but according to a study from the American Automobile Association (AAA), EVs can lose about 40% of their range when the temperature drops from 75 degrees to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. “A Tesla owner said he was left stranded on Christmas Eve after his car wouldn’t charge in the cold. Domenick Nati, 44, said it was 19 degrees when he plugged his Tesla into a supercharger. 15 hours later the battery still showed a 19-mile range, forcing him to cancel Christmas plans”, according to Business Insider.
Higher Initial Purchase Price
According to Money Magazine, “Despite EV price cuts in 2023, new electric vehicles are still much more expensive than gas-powered cars. The average price of an electric vehicle was $53,469 in July compared to the average new vehicle price of $48,334, according to Kelley Blue Book.”
RGEC Survey Results
To examine the potential impact EV charging could have on Rio Grande’s distribution system and power requirements, a survey was conducted in July/August. A total of 641 responses were received. This includes electronic and paper responses. Thank you to those who participated.
RGEC Electric Vehicle Member Survey Results:
- 17 members currently own EVs (excluding golf carts and bicycles)
- 57 said they plan to purchase an EV within the next 5 years.
Findings: EV charging is not expected to substantially affect RGEC’s power requirements within the next 5 years.