Why Choose an Electric Vehicle?

Currently, there is no real comparison between the number of gas stations vs charging stations. For many who might charge at home every night and don't regularly need access to other charges this is only a minor factor. There has been a rapid increase in the number of charging stations across the country in the last 5 years. According to statista.com, the US had over 40k charging stations as of Feb 2021. This number will only go up as adoption of EV increases. There has also been a big push from automakers to help accelerate the growth of charging stations which should help alleviate this issue in the years to come. One example is the recent GM partnership with EVgo (the largest public fast-charging network in the US) to add more than 2,700 more stations in public venues over the next five years.  

One thing gas has over electricity is how quickly you can refill the tank. Filling up at a gas station takes two to three minutes. Recharging an electric car can take hours to fully charge. The time will vary on the model of the car and the throughput of the charger. Newer fast chargers are rated for a higher wattage and can charge up a battery to around 80% in about 30 minutes. As the technology matures, this time should continue to decrease. For many, this is not a concern as they drive less than the range of their EV most days, but for those who need to drive longer distances regularly this should be a consideration.  

The range of electric cars has increased with battery technology in recent years. It is now not uncommon to see new electric cars with an effective range over 300 miles. The 2022 Bolt EUV is rated for 250 Miles on a full charge, and the 2022 Silverado has a listed 400 mile range on a full charge. For comparison, gas powered cars can typically boast a range around 400 miles per tank of gas. If you do frequent long drives, then the range should absolutely be a consideration in your purchase decision.

While it is true that all electric cars cost less to operate then their gas-powered cousins, the lower ongoing costs typically come at the tradeoff of a higher purchase price. The current price gap between equivalent models seems to be around $10,000, but this gap should continue to decrease as the technology matures. Despite this, EVs tend to cost less over the lifetime of the vehicle when you factor in gas and maintenance. However, there are often state and federal incentives and rebates that can close some/all of this purchase gap. Please contact us for more information as these rebate programs can and do change.