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Myth 1: Switching to
an electric vehicle will just mean that the same amount of pollution
comes from the electricity generation rather than from the tailpipe
— I'll just be switching from oil to coal.
Reality: According to a range of studies, an electric car leads to 35
to 60% less carbon dioxide pollution from electricity than the CO2
pollution from the oil of a conventional car with an internal
combustion engine.[1][2][3] In some areas, like many on the West Coast
that rely largely on wind or hydro power, the emissions are
significantly lower for EVs. And that's today. As we retire more coal
plants and bring cleaner sources of power online, the emissions from
electric vehicle charging drop even further. Additionally, in some
areas, night-time charging will increase the opportunity to take
advantage of wind power -another way to reduce emissions.
A caveat to
consider, according to some studies, is that when coal plants supply
the majority of the power mix in a given area, electric vehicles may
emit more CO2 and SO2 pollution than hybrid electric vehicles.[4]
Learn where your electricity comes from, what plans your state or
community has for shifting to renewables, and whether you have options
for switching to greener power.
The new all-electric Nissan Leaf. Photo by Darrell Clarke.
Myth 2: Plug-in cars
will lead to the production of more coal and nuclear plants.
Reality: Even if the majority of drivers switched to electric, the
existing electrical grid's off-peak/nighttime capacity for power
generation is sufficient without building a single new power plant.
Studies have shown that electric vehicle owners will largely charge
their vehicles at night when there is plenty of capacity on the grid.
In some areas, new "smart charging" allows you and the
utility to set up a system by which you and other electricity users
distribute the load evenly during charging so that the system is not
overwhelmed by increased demand.
Myth 3: Electric car
batteries pose a recycling problem.
Reality: Internal combustion engine vehicles use lead-acid batteries,
and their recycle rate is about 98% in the US. The newer batteries for
electric vehicles, such as those made of lithium-ion, include even
more valuable and recyclable metals and will have a life well beyond
the vehicle. In fact, a Belgian company plans to use Tesla Motor's
electric vehicle battery pack material to produce an alloy it can
further refine into cobalt, nickel, and other valuable metals as well
as special grades of concrete. Technology will soon allow for EV
batteries to store energy produced by solar or wind power.
Myth 4: My
electricity bill will go way up.
Reality: While you'll spend more on electricity, the savings on gas
will more than cover it. If you drive a pure battery electric vehicle
12,000 miles a year at current electricity rates (assuming $.12 per
kilowatt hour though rates vary throughout the country), you'll pay
about $389 per year for the electricity to charge your battery, but
you'll save about $1200 in gas (assuming $3 per gallon, a 30 miles per
gallon vehicle, and 12,000 miles driven). So $1200 minus $389 equals
$811 in savings -a 68% reduction in fueling costs. Some utilities are
offering EV owners lower off-peak/nighttime rates. The more we
successfully advocate for these off-peak incentives, the lower your
electricity payments will go.
Myth 5: Electric
vehicles will just fail again like they did before.
Reality: Manufacturers are serious this time -rolling out more than a
dozen new plug-in models in the next couple of years, starting now.
With higher gas prices and climate change worrying many consumers,
stricter fuel economy standards for new vehicles required of auto
manufacturers, and billions of public and corporate dollars being
spent on an EV infrastructure and research in the US, EVs are here to
stay.
Myth 6: My battery
will run out of juice.
Reality: The majority of drivers in the US drive less than 35 miles
each day, sufficient for a fully charged pure electric vehicle (most
can go 80 to 140 miles on one charge), and an extended range electric
vehicle (that drives about 35 miles on electric and then the gasoline
power kicks in). Using a 220-volt outlet and charging station, a
plug-in hybrid recharges in about 100 minutes, an extended range
plug-in electric in about four hours, and a pure electric in six to
eight hours. A regular 110-volt outlet will mean significantly longer
charging times, but for plug-in hybrids and extended range electrics,
this outlet may be sufficient. Most of the time, the battery will not
be empty when you plug in, thus reducing charging time.
Most people will
charge at home. However, some businesses and public entities are
beginning to install 220-volt public chargers. Some are installing
fast-charging stations along highways and in public places that can
re-charge a car to 80% of battery capacity in less than 30 minutes.
Myth 7: Electric
vehicles are much more expensive than traditional vehicles.
Reality: While the initial sticker price of EVs is higher than
traditional vehicles, you need to do the math to account for a variety
of factors. For individual consumers, there is currently a federal tax
credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of an electric vehicle, as
well as a partial federal credit for the charging unit. Several states
have additional tax credits on top of the federal ones. Additionally,
the average EV driver will save more than $800 a year in fuel (the
cost of electricity compared to gasoline). Due to a cleaner, more
streamlined system under the hood, an EV may save the average driver
about 46% in annual maintenance costs, according to one federal
government study.[5]
Myth 8: Electric
vehicles are only available in California.
Reality: While EVs are not yet available for purchase in every state,
they are quickly becoming available in many. The fully electric Nissan
Leaf is being sold to customers in California, Washington, Oregon,
Arizona, and Tennessee. The Chevy Volt, an extended range plug-in
hybrid electric vehicle, is currently being sold at select dealerships
in California, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and
Washington, DC. Customers in nearly all states are expected to be able
to purchase or lease a Leaf, Volt, or Plug-in Toyota Prius by late
2011 or early 2012. The Tesla Roadster, a fully electric luxury
sportscar, is available in several locations throughout the country.
By 2012, many other models will become available nationwide, including
the Ford Focus EV, Tesla Model S, and the Mitsubishi iMiev.
Myth 9: Charging an
EV on solar power is a futuristic dream.
Reality: The technology to power your EV with solar power is already
available. The investment in solar panels pays off faster when the
solar power is not only replacing grid electricity, but replacing much
more expensive gasoline. According to Plug-In America, EVs typically
travel three to four miles (or more) per kWh (kilowatt hour) of
electricity. If you drive 12,000 miles per year, you will need
3,000-4,000 kWh. Depending on where you live, you will need a
1.5kW-3kW photovoltaic (PV) system to generate that much power using
about 150-300 square feet of space on your roof. Utility credits for
the daytime solar power can offset the cost of charging the car at
night. If solar PV isn't feasible at your home, find out if your
utility offers a green energy option.
There
are no more excuses.
Mr.
Green
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