While traveling to work or just to the grocery store these days, you may have noticed that more and more electric vehicles (EVs) are sharing the road with you. The idea of driving something other than a gas-powered car is no longer an unusual one, and the choice to go electric when purchasing a new vehicle is growing.

In the last member survey conducted by CREC, respondents said that the biggest hurdle to selecting an EV over a conventional gas-powered car was the availability of fast public charging stations, the driving range of the vehicle, and the purchase price. But even in the last few years as technology has progressed, these concerns are becoming less of an obstacle. Drivers are purchasing EVs for all kinds of reasons.

In addition to saving about $700 in gasoline expenses when driving an average of 12,000 miles per year, EVs continue to drop in price and are more appealing considering that they may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500.  EVs also provide quiet, smooth operation and require less maintenance than gasoline engines.

“Range anxiety” is still a worry, despite the fact that the average American drives around 30 miles a day and the majority of trips being manageable on a single charge. But even that concern is being addressed. Throughout the nation, businesses, governments, and utilities have been installing electric vehicle charging stations. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are now more than 18,000 public charging stations across the country, and dozens of convenient phone apps to help you find them.

There are not only different models of EVs but also different types – battery electric vehicles (BEVs or AEVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Many of today’s models have a range of well over 100 miles per charge, with some reaching 300 miles per charge. Selecting the right EV for you will depend on things including the distance of your daily commute, if you take a lot of long trips, and how you plan to charge your vehicle, just to name a few.       

If you’re still unsure but are interested in learning more about EVs, CREC encourages you to visit our website at https://cuivreriver.chooseev.com/ev/home/ or contact our Member Services team at 800-392-3709 with your questions. Remember, if you already own an EV, CREC currently offers a $250 rebate* for a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station at your home or business.

*This rebate is only available for charging stations installed after January 1, 2021.