Frequently Asked Questions

Why would anyone want to drive an electric car?

Those who drive electric vehicles (EVs) appreciate the benefits of:

• Never having to stop at a gas station. Just plug in when you get home, and you’ll have a full charge in the morning.

• Driving pennies per mile. In Memphis, TN; the cost of electricity is less than $0.13/kWh. Roughly, this translates to about $25-30 on your utility bill a month for someone with about a 25 mile daily round-trip commute.

• Super fun to drive, very zippy!

• Very quiet driving experience.

• Very low maintenance:

  • • No oil changes

    • No complicated transmission. EV's typically have a single gear used for both forward and reverse motion.

    • Due to regenerative breaking; very infrequent break work is needed

How efficient is it to drive an EV?

Electric cars are generally up to three times as efficient as internal-combustion engine (ICE) cars. That’s because electric motors are approximately 90% efficient at converting energy into motion. Conventional ICE or hybrid vehicles expel most of the energy they get from burning fuel in the form of heat which results in 30-40% efficiency at best.

How far can I drive an EV on a single charge?

Some of the more affordable 100% electric cars manufactured before 2018 like the Nissan LEAF or VW e-Golf have a nominal range between 80-100 miles on a single charge. Newer EVs have a typical range anywhere between 225-300 miles. According to a recent article published by Kelley Blue Book, the average commute distance for motorists in the US in 2019 was 39 miles per day. So, even if you have an older model EV with limited range, it likely has plenty of range to get you where you want to go on a daily basis.

What about road trips? Can one drive an EV long distance?

Yes. There are electric cars available today with ranges that make road trips sensible. And, while it does take an electric car longer to charge than it does for a gas car to fill/fuel up, many EV owners have found this to be a practical and enjoyable way to travel. Most EVs (especially newer models) have nifty technology to help find charging stations along a planned route. There are also many mobile apps like “PlugShare” and “A Better Route Planner” to help find charging stations. Some can even tell you if they are busy or out of order and to help find alternative locations. There are over 45,000 charging stations across the US and more and more are being installed every day. Before too long, they will be so prevalent; you’ll likely see them at every grocery store, mall, or corporate office parking lot.

Doesn’t the advent of EV’s just shift power production to dirty coal plants? How is that any better for the environment?

Not exactly. Yes, driving an EV vs a conventional gas car means you’re likely to use electricity produced by coal, natural gas, or some other less-than environmentally-friendly source. But, sense EV’s are so much more efficient than ICE vehicles, the power an electrical grid would need to provide EV’s is much less than what is produced by a gasoline vehicle. Plus, production of electricity is centralized. This has a couple different advantages. For one, it’s much easier for a power plant to be regulated and to maintain/minimize pollution away from densely populated areas, than it is for an infinite number of motorists on the road with varying degrees of will and fortitude. Another advantage is that even if one’s power is coming from coal, the energy source can become cleaner by introducing wind/solar/hydro power technologies. Making EV’s the only option that becomes more and more environmentally-friendly over time.

Isn’t the production of electric vehicles worse than gas cars?

The greenhouse gas emissions associated with an electric vehicle over its lifetime are typically lower than those from an average gasoline-powered vehicle, even when accounting for manufacturing. And, while new material sources necessary to build lithium-ion batteries must be mined, the recycling technology for car, laptop, and mobile device batteries have been improving for many years. Recycling EV batteries can reduce the emissions associated with making an EV by reducing the need for new materials.  While some challenges exist today, research is ongoing to improve the process and rate of EV battery recycling. See the U.S. Department of Energy’s ReCell Center for more information.

How much would I need to spend on charging equipment at home?

Well, that depends. If you don’t have far of a daily commute, you’d probably do just fine by plugging your car into an existing 110v outlet using the portable charger that comes with your car. The longer you take to charge your car, the better it is for the traction battery. So, this isn’t a bad option. But, if you’d prefer to have the convenience of charging more quickly with an additional charger, you can expect to spend anywhere between $500 to $1,500 depending on if your existing electrical panel and service have the available capacity to add a 40A breaker. Or, if you just happen to have an existing 220v outlet in your garage not currently in use. Also, it may depend on how far your electrical panel is from where you normally park your car. But, the good news is, this is something you’d only need to spend money on once and if you get a charger with a standard SAE J1772 connector; compatibility shouldn’t be an issue for EV’s you buy in the future. Plus, the federal government provides a tax credit for alternative fuel infrastructure that covers 30% of the cost of equipment and installation up to $1,000.

How much more would I expect to see on my utility bill from charging an electric vehicle?

The cost of the electricity for an EV is far cheaper than the fuel for a comparable car that runs on gasoline. In Memphis, TN, we're charged less than $0.13 per kWh as residential customers. For someone with a daily commute of around 30 miles a day in something like a Nissan LEAF or Volkswagen e-Golf, this would amount to an additional $34/month on their MLGW (utility) bill. Compare that to what you currently spend on fuel. Here's a handy tool to help calculate your energy usage for an EV: https://www.chargevc.org/ev-calculator