A recent study analyzing the cost of running electric vehicles compared to internal combustion engine vehicles has sparked controversy and inspired readers’ questions.
The study found that gasoline-powered cars are slightly cheaper to fuel than some electric vehicles, depending on several factors.
This study is atypical. Several studies show that the opposite is true.
more:Study compares electric vehicle charging costs versus gas — and the results are surprising
However, no single study can explain every car ownership scenario.
There are differences in: personal driving habits, the local cost of gasoline, public charging access, personal charging habits, the fuel economy of an ICE versus the driving range of an EV… to name a few.
The consensus is that most electric vehicle owners charge mostly at home, but the public infrastructure required to support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles still needs to be up and running.
With the growing interest in electric vehicles among buyers, here are some questions and answers to keep in mind from our readers.
more: 4 things to know before buying an electric car
Which is cheaper to own: an electric car or an internal combustion engine?
The consensus is EV.
This is taking into account tax breaks at the time of purchasing a new electric car and lower maintenance costs because electric vehicles have fewer parts and do not need regular care such as an oil change or antifreeze. Many electric vehicle owners also say there is a time savings in not waiting in service halls for routine vehicle maintenance.
Many local utilities offer discounts for charging at home during off-peak hours.
Last year, Consumer Reports did 45 pages Comparing the cost and finding that the TCO savings feature for an electric vehicle is significant in the first few years and continues to improve the longer a person owns the vehicle. It compared nine of the most popular EVs priced under $50,000 with the “bestselling, highest rated, and most efficient vehicles in its class.”
For the electric vehicles analyzed, the study found that fuel savings could be at least $4,700 over the first seven years. Lifetime property cost savings have been estimated at $6000 to $10,000.
According to Forbes, the EV insurance cost It will be slightly higher than a petrol car because it generally costs more to make major repairs on electric vehicles than a petrol car.
How long does an EV battery last and how much should it be replaced?
Batteries are among the most expensive components in electric vehicles. If you need to replace one after the warranty has expired, the average cost is about $5,500, according to auto shopping site TrueCar. The federal government requires an eight-year warranty on electric car batteries. Most automakers offer eight or 10 years.
The good news is that electric car batteries tend to last a long time, although they lose their range with age. The average electric car battery will lose about 2.3% of its initial range annually, TrueCar Books.
Which is cheaper for energy: EV or internal combustion car?
This is a hot topic and depends on a lot of variables.
According to the Ministry of Energy eGallon.comIt costs about half the cost of driving an electric car compared to a petrol car. Based on the average March regular gasoline price of $2.85, a comparable eGallon costs $1.16. The Department of Energy defines an eGallon as the cost of fueling a vehicle compared to a similar gasoline-powered vehicle.
Independent study of 36 pages Released last week by Anderson Business Group I found higher costs when factoring in the cost of a residential charger, the cost of commercial electricity, and the “mileage” cost of finding a fast charger. No other surveys cite so-called “mileage” as a significant cost. Most electric vehicle owners charge primarily at home and use smartphone apps to find available chargers when this is not possible.
Michigan assesses electric vehicle tax $100 per year for cars under 8,000 pounds to offset the drop in gasoline tax income. Electric vehicles weighing more than 8000 pounds will be charged an annual tax of US$200. The upcoming GMC Hummer EV pickup is likely to be the first personal use vehicle subject to the tax.
more:Study compares electric vehicle charging costs versus gas — and the results are surprising
Anderson’s study said a mid-priced internal combustion vehicle with 33 miles per gallon would cost $8.58 in total costs to drive 100 miles at $2.81 per gallon. But a mid-priced electric vehicle, such as a Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf, or Tesla Model 3, will cost $12.95 to drive 100 miles in terms of costs that include recharging the vehicle with mostly a commercial charger.
How much does it cost to install chargers at home?
Electric vehicle drivers do most of the charging at home, during peak hours, saving big.
A level 1 charger is a cord or charging system that usually comes with the vehicle during purchase. Can be plugged into a standard 120V and 20A round wall socket, According to Evocharge. EvoCharge is a hardware provider for electric vehicle charging stations and cable management.
The Level 2 system provides 240V current for faster charging and requires a 208-240V 40A circuit.
The average cost for an L2 charger is between $500 to $2,200, according to EV Love موقعa website created by women for women who want to own electric cars. plug star The shopping site lists L2 home chargers as low as $174.
Various reports say that hiring an electrician to install an L2 charger can cost anywhere from $250 to over $1,000 depending on the home and wall-mounted charger.
A level 2 home charger operates at roughly the same voltage as that used to power household appliances like dryers or electric range stoves, so there’s usually no need for additional insurance coverage for a level 2 charger in the home, according to a report from Kelly Blue Book. KBB writes that some guarantors may require photographs or documentation that the home charging unit has been installed correctly and professionally.
What is the actual charging time for driving an electric car?
Most electricians have access to 2240-volt level chargers at home, at work, or both.
The L2 Charger will get an average of 32 miles of driving range per hour of charge.
Art Cusin, who lives on Long Island, New York, owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3 with a 300-mile range. It recharges it fully overnight using a level 2 charger.
“The charger is programmed to start at 11 p.m. and stop at 7 a.m.,” Cusin said. “My electric company, PSEG LI, gives me a 25% discount on overnight charging. Setting up my home charging was basically free, with the IRS giving me a $500 discount on setting up my home charging.”
Cousin said the only time he uses a commercial charging station is when he’s traveling.
“The Tesla Navigation system plans your trip to direct you to the Tesla Supercharger,” Cousin said. “Charging 250 miles takes 20 minutes. All of the supercharging stations are located near a Starbucks or similar establishment. So on a trip, after four hours of driving, I charge my car, stretch my legs, grab a cup of coffee, go to the bathroom on my way.”
Other automakers and independent companies also offer apps to help plan the route to commercial chargers.
Brian Wheeler, director of media relations, said Consumers Energy is addressing the issue of “shipping inconvenience.”
It has installed 30 Level 3 fast-charging stations across the state that can power an entire EV battery in less than an hour, he said. The current plan for consumers to install 200 public fast-charging stations—plus 2,000 Level 2 chargers in homes and businesses across Michigan through charger discounts and lower electricity prices—over the next three years.
DC fast chargers, sometimes called Level 3, provide faster charging than Level 2. The wide availability of fast DC charging is key to expanding EV usage.
In addition, recently introduced energy consumers Bring your charger A program that offers special charging rates for customers who purchase a home electric vehicle charging system, or use one that came with an EV, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning.
Will the current power grid support widespread use of electric vehicles?
General Motors will spend $35 billion by 2025 on electric vehicles, and bring 30 new electric vehicles to market at that time. It aspires to have its entire line of light vehicles be zero-emissions by 2035 and plans to substantially double revenue by 2030 with new electric vehicles.
Ford Motor Co. said it will invest more than $11 billion in manufacturing a robust and reliable supply of essential parts for electric vehicles, which will create nearly 11,000 jobs along the way.
more: Can Michigan’s Electricity Grid Handle Future Electric Vehicles? Yes, to some extent.
With more electric vehicles planned, there is a need for larger and better charging infrastructure.
In April, General Motors introduced the Ultium Charge 360 to retail car buyers. In June, General Motors expanded the technology to include fleet customers. Ultium Charge 360 is technology that links GM’s in-vehicle mobile apps with other products and services that make it easier for drivers to find charging stations and pay to charge their vehicles.
But many worry that more capacity is still needed for the electrical grid.
2018 Studying the Energy Department It found that increasing electrification in all sectors of the economy will increase energy consumption by up to 38% by 2050, with electric vehicles making up the bulk of it. So the environmental benefit of electric vehicles depends on the electricity generated by renewable energy sources.
This means that utilities and power generators must invest billions of dollars to create additional capacity while finding a way to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. Then, there is the extreme weather factor to meet the challenge. Take the winter storms in Texas earlier this year that knocked out the power grid there.
a Reuters report in March He said a typical utility with 2 to 3 million customers would need to invest $1,700 and $5,800 in network upgrades per EV through 2030 to meet projected demands. Reuters quoted the Boston Consulting Group, adding that if there were 40 million electric vehicles on the road, that investment could reach $200 billion.
But there are others who say the transition to electric vehicles does not pose a threat to the power grid or the electricity supply.
in Op-ed article for Energy News Network by Charlie MichelA retired petroleum engineer, he said, “If managed strategically, electric vehicles can make our network more robust and resilient.”
Michel wrote that countries with spare capacity could export it to other countries.
“Moreover, electric vehicles can help make our grid more stable by storing energy and serving as a back-up source of energy when necessary,” Michel wrote. Vehicle-to-grid technology is being used that allows electric vehicles to provide power to the grid in times of high demand Experimental in North Carolina and the United kingdom. “
Vehicle-to-grid technology is the process of returning energy stored in an electric vehicle’s battery back to the national grid to boost power supply during peak demand.
more:Tesla’s deal with Hertz ‘a major embarrassment for traditional carmakers’
Call Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jillaryuan. read more general motors And subscribe to our site Automotive Newsletter. be a subscriber.
#Electric #Vehicle #Cost #Comparison #Gas #Charging #Deductions #Tax #Credits #Detroit #Free #Press