What’s the deal with EVs?
At least since the introduction of the Prius, electric vehicles have become increasingly practical, affordable, powerful and, if you will, cool. However, for a variety of reasons, in the United States, known worldwide for its big cars and big roads, a substantial portion of the population remains skeptical of the utility of electric vehicles. Whether this is for reasons of price, practicality or politics, the EV-holdouts have been hesitant to hop on the bandwagon, even though some electricity companies in Texas on Home Energy Club are offering electric vehicle energy rates.
Are EVs really worth it?
For many, this is the fundamental question. If people can get better value out of an electric vehicle than a gas-powered vehicle, then widespread adoption would seemingly be a hop, skip and a jump away. Since most people still do not drive electric vehicles, then, it could be presumed, electric vehicles do not offer the value of gas powered cars – but is this actually true?
Are EVs practical?
One argument that EV-skeptics like to marshal is that electric vehicles are impractical – the battery range is too limiting, or they take too long to charge. These arguments may have been more convincing a decade ago, but in 2022 fast-charging battery technology exists, allowing you to charge the battery of an electric vehicle to 80% in a mere 15 or 20 minutes, which would provide around 200 miles of travel depending on the vehicle. This performance is especially impressive when you consider the fact that you can charge an electric vehicle for a fraction of the cost of filling up a gas guzzler. If you are interested in charging your EV at home, be sure to visit our page on EV home charging electricity rates. Or, you can visit out cities page to find EV charging stations in your area.
Are EVs too expensive?
Electric vehicles are sometimes represented as being too expensive for the average American. However, this depiction does not stand up to scrutiny. According to the Kelley Blue Book, the average price of a new vehicle, as of September 2021, is around $45,000. However, there are a wide variety of electric vehicles that are far cheaper than that.
There are 2022 models, like the Hyundai Kona, the Mazda MX-30 and the Chevrolet Bolt that retail for under $35,000. The Nissan Leaf is a mere $28,000. You can even get a luxury (Audi Q4) or sports (Ford Mustang Mach-E) car for less than the price of an average new car. On top of that, thanks to federal tax incentives, everyone who buys a new electric vehicle is eligible for a tax credit of $2500-$7500.
Are EVs truly good for the environment?
A more substantial criticism of electric vehicles is that, even though they don’t burn gas, the power that they use is often generated by power plants that are not quite so environmentally friendly. The increased use of the dirty power plants, so the argument goes, would offset any benefit that might be gleaned from driving an electric vehicle.
There is some truth to this – many power plants do indeed produce a lot of emissions. However, mirroring the rapid growth of electric vehicles is the broader trend in green energy. The US Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy recounts that since 2008, solar energy production ballooned from a mere 0.34 gigawatts (GW) to over 97 GW today, while costs for photovoltaic panels has plunged by 70%, making solar energy economically competitive with traditional power sources. It seems then that the environmental value of driving an electric vehicle is improving all the time along with the economical value.
Consider the big picture
Electric vehicles, to many, represent the future of transportation. Fossil fuels, after all, are of a finite nature – no matter how fuel efficient gasoline-powered automobiles become, they are still eating into a supply that is not being replenished.
Despite this, there is still a large contingent of naysayers who insist that electric vehicles are a flash in the pan. After all, they argue, US oil production was at an all-time high before the global pandemic hit and gas prices have dropped precipitously since their peak around 2008 (they are climbing again, but we’ll spot the skeptics this one anyway).
All of these pro-fossil fuel statements can be true, and yet the adoption of electric vehicles is still ultimately a necessary endeavor. It’s difficult to reconcile the notion that electric vehicles are a flash in the pan with the eventuality that is the impending end of fossil fuels. Eventually when fossil fuel scarcity becomes a reality, humanity will need to have invested its confidence in the development of electric vehicles to avoid disastrous consequences and disruption of society.
If you were waiting for EVs to become a good investment, the time is now
In Texas, we have long been recognized as an oil state. However, according to the US Energy Information Administration, Texas is also leading the nation in green energy production. The reality is, green energy is here to stay because it beats fossil fuels at its own game – producing economical energy. The narrative is just lagging behind the reality a bit for some.
Similarly, electric vehicles are now beating gas guzzlers at their own game. Someday in the future, we may look at today’s EV skeptics the same as we look at Horace Rackham who, in 1903, told Henry Ford that, “The horse is here to stay, but the automobile is only a novelty — a fad.” If you are interested in purchasing an EV, you can visit our cities page, where you can find links to EV manufacturers and dealers located in your area, whether that is Houston, Dallas, Corpus Christi or elsewhere in Texas.
