Electric Vehicles

About Electric Vehicles

The Future of Electricfied Transportation is upon us! Electric Vehicles are hitting the streets more every year and many car companies are focusing on pure electric vehicles in their future. EV's have been around since the mid-19th century and were among the preferred methods for motor vehicle propulsion. The internal combustion engine has been the dominant propulsion method for motor vehicles for 100 years, but electric power has remained commonplace in other vehicle types, such as trains and smaller vehicles like golf cars. EV's are not only common place but they are fast, high tech, reduce your carbon footprint, and help fight climate change. 

Plug-in electric vehicles are now viable for most lifestyles and budgets. With 50 models now commercially available, over one million Americans have switched to driving electric. Begin driving electric by exploring vehicles, incentives, charging, and more on PlugStar by Plug In America.

Affordability / Lower Cost of Ownership

On average, fueling a car with electricity is roughly the same as gas at $1/gallon of fueling with gasoline, thanks to EV’s performance efficiency and the lower cost of electricity. Electricity prices are also far more stable than gasoline prices, allowing drivers to avoid the risk of future price spikes. You can also offset your electricity usage in your home and EV by installing solar panels to power your home and vehicle with the sun! 

Environmentally Friendly 

EV's don't use oil and other toxic fluids used in modern cars today. EVs powered by the grid currently produce 54 percent less (lifetime) carbon pollution than gasoline cars, which could grow to 71 percent by 2050 as our power supply gets cleaner. Even better, installing solar panels on your roof drops your car’s carbon pollution close to zero. Wouldn’t you rather get your fuel from your roof than ship it on tankers from halfway around the world?

Performance

Plug-in vehicles offer a quiet, smooth and powerful ride. An electric motor provides full torque from a standstill and completely changes the experience of getting onto a fast-moving highway.

Convenient

EVs never require a trip to the gas station, tune-ups, transmission repairs, spark plugs or oil changes. Your hands will never smell like toxic petrochemicals. EVs have far fewer moving parts than gasoline cars. There’s no engine, transmission, spark plugs, valves, fuel tank, tailpipe, distributor, starter, clutch, muffler, or catalytic converter. There are a lot fewer things to break down, so maintenance costs are much lower.

National Security

Our addiction to imported oil has huge national security implications. The U.S. spends nearly a half billion dollars on foreign oil every day, mostly for transportation. Every time you fill up your car, you’re sending a check to foreign countries to pay for their oil. Why not send your money to the local electric utility or neighborhood solar installer instead?

Improve Public Health

Despite continued improvement, too many people in the U.S. live where the air is unhealthy for them to breathe. EVs have no tailpipe and therefore no emissions – imagine how clean the air could be around you with everyone driving an EV!

Advanced Technology

EV's now have phone apps, websites, and auto updates over wi-fi. EV's typically use large touchscreens to control most of the features of your vehicle, sort of like an iPad for your car. Some vehicles can get battery, performance, and luxury updates all over the internet when you are at home. Almost all of the technology in an EV is updated compared to modern oil based vehicles today. 

Types of Electric Vehicles

There are two types of EVs available for purchase. EVs are classified by the degree that electricity is used as their energy source—either fully electric or hybrid. Each type offers different features to accommodate your travel needs.

Fully Electric (EVs):

• Run exclusively on electricity.
• Have a travel range of 75 to over 300 miles depending on model.
• Zero tailpipe emissions.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs):

• Run on electricity and switch to a gasoline backup once the battery charge is depleted.
• Lower tailpipe emissions than conventional gas-only vehicles.

Incentives for Texas & New Mexico

When purchasing an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, you may qualify for several financial incentives, including tax credits, for lowering the up-front costs. Learn More and see how you may qualify in Texas or New Mexico. 

EV Charging

While there are several ways to charge your EV, charging at home is often the lowest cost and most convenient option. There are two kinds of at home charging: Level 1 and Level 2.  Which one is right for you?

Level 1 Charging: 

Uses the charge cord that came with your EV and plugs in to a 120-volt outlet. To avoid tripping a circuit breaker, the charger should not be plugged in the same outlet as any other major appliances (refrigerator, A/C, washing machine). The Level 1 charge rate is approximately 5 miles of range per hour of charge – or roughly 60 miles of recharge each night. No separate charging station is required, which avoids the expense of a dedicated 240-volt circuit and more expensive equipment.

Level 2 Charging: 

Requires installation of a charging station connected to a 240-volt outlet. Charging at Level 2 can add roughly 10 to 30 miles of range per hour, depending on the vehicle. While the faster recharge time may be more desirable, in some instances, a panel upgrade and service upgrade from El Paso Electric may be required. A licensed electrician should be consulted to determine if the home’s existing panel can accommodate Level 2 charging, as well as the related costs to install a 240-volt outlet in the garage.

EV efficiency varies by model; you can find ratings for different models at www.fueleconomy.gov.