“When it is asked how much it will cost to protect the environment, one more question should be asked: how much will it cost our civilization if we do not?” —Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day
Electric Vehicles
Are you thinking about investing in an electric vehicle? Click below for some helpful resources:
What It’s Like to Own an Electric Car (Handout from a Tesla roadster owner)
Advantages and Challenges of EVs vs ICE (Internal Combustion Engines)
Kurt Simon’s EV Presentation
Kurt Simon’s EV Batteries & Geothermal Energy Presentation
PECA’s EV Extravaganzas
10 Myths about EVs
Myth: Electric vehicles (EVs) are too expensive.
Fact: Whereas EVs can have a higher initial cost, they often have lower operational and maintenance costs over time, leading to potential savings over time. Prices of EVs continue to drop, and some models are eligible for subsidies. Check out these articles: Electric vs Gas Cars: Is it Cheaper to Drive and EV? and Costs of Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: What to Consider When Buying.
Myth: Electric vehicles are expensive to maintain.
Fact: Electric car batteries can last 10-20 years. As the EV automobile market moves towards incorporating high performing batteries, this life span may extend to over 20 years. Furthermore, since 1991 the cost of lithium-ion batteries have dropped by 97% and continues to drop. The total maintenance costs of an EV are minimal because they have fewer changing parts, more effective cooling systems, and do not require oil management.
Myth: Electric Vehicles don’t have enough range to handle daily travel demands
Fact: Most households travel under 100 miles on a typical day, whereas most EV models go above 200 miles on a single charge. EV range continues to increase with some now having over 400 miles of range. Additionally, charging infrastructure is rapidly expanding, making long trips more feasible.
Myth: There is nowhere to charge
Fact: Most electric vehicles can be charged with a standard 120 volt outlet (the same type of outlet as your toaster). To charge more quickly you can install a dedicated 240 volt (Level 2) outlet or charging system. If charging on the road, you’ll find over 51,000 stations in the U.S. available to the public, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as ensured that access to EV charging will increase significantly in the coming years.
Myth: EVs are not environmentally friendly because they run on electricity generated from fossil fuels.
Fact: While it's true that some electricity is generated from fossil fuels, EVs are still cleaner than traditional vehicles, running more efficiently and emitting zero tailpipe emissions. Plus, as renewable energy sources like wind and solar power become more prevalent, the environmental benefits of EVs will increase.
Myth: There won’t be enough minerals for all the EV batteries.
Fact: Mineral demand for batteries is growing. However, if you consider oil and gas extraction, mineral use by EV’s is much lower than that of gas-powered cars. That oil and gas creates carbon emissions whereas the majority of the minerals in an EV battery are likely to be recyled and reused. California has enough lithium to meet future US demands. There is a cobalt surplus and batteries are being produced without using rare earth minerals. In addition, 90-95% of the minerals in EV batteries can be recycled at the end of their life (click here for a complete fact sheet about EV battery recycling from the Union of Concerned Scientists)
Myth: The increase in electric vehicles entering the market will collapse the U.S. power grid
Fact: Electric vehicles have charging strategies that can prevent overloading the grid (such as charging EVs overnight rather than during peak use), and, in some cases, support grid reliability (such Vehicle-to-Grid charging, which uses EVs as a power source - charging them when demand is low and drawing on them when demand is high)
Myth: Electric vehicles are not as safe as gas-powered vehicles
Fact: Electric vehicles must meet the same safety standards as conventional vehicles. In addition, EV battery packs must meet their own testing standards. Finally, the risk of fire is far greater in a gas powered car than in an EV.
Myth: Electric vehicles don’t perform well in cold weather.
Fact: Both gas and electric vehicles are less efficient in extreme weather. Current EVs do work in cold climates and new models will be even better at dealing with cold weather. However, there is some validity behind the concerns that extreme weather can impact how well electric vehicles perform, possibly limiting the range and charging time. There are useful tips for EV owners to follow to maximize range and efficiency.
Some MORE Facts
Burning just 1 gallon of gasoline, emits approximately 20 lbs of CO2.
Californians spend about $60 billion on gasoline each year. Wouldn’t you want to spend that on something else?
Gas-powered cars emit more CO2 than EVs, even accounting for materials and manufacturing.
Battery electric vehicles are more energy efficient
