Electric New Era

The high price of gasoline last year influenced their decision to take the plunge and buy an electric vehicle (EV).

United member Ronald McKenzie, a cyber software engineer in Glen Rose, and his wife, Casey, said the higher price of gasoline was stressing their budget. They couldn’t afford nearly $5 a gallon they experienced last year in their area.

While Casey completed her clinical work in Waco, Ronald said she put an extra 120 miles on the odometer with each trip. The economics of an electric vehicle made sense to the McKenzies, so the couple purchased a Hyundai Kona in May 2022, because of its 250-mile range between charges.

Since that time, Ronald said the car has reduced the overall travel costs. Unlike mechanical engines, EVs have fewer moving parts, and Ronald said maintenance is almost non-existent. Tire rotations and topping off fluids complete the list of items needing attention.

“The car just goes,” he said. “The power the vehicle provides at the touch of the pedal and the sense of freedom from the volatility of gas prices are great. We have invested in solar, so sun helps reduce our charging cost. It’s a great combo.”

The McKenzies are not alone in this move to EVs, although America is in the infancy stage compared to other places in Asia and Europe. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization that provides policy recommendations, analysis and data on the entire global energy sector. One of its recent studies stated, “The U.S. EV sales have increased 55 percent relative to 2021 according to the IEA, with projected EV sales growth of 60 percent year over year in 2023.”

The Big Drive:

American interest in electric vehicles has grown by leaps and bounds in the last decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this February that the number of EVs on American roads jumped from 22,000 in 2011 to more than 2 million in 2021. A nationally representative survey conducted in 2022 by Consumer Reports found that seven out of 10 Americans consider climate change important to them, and three out of four believe human activity is responsible. Many consumers, the report stated, are considering EVs as a way of reducing their environmental impact as well as overall transportation costs. EVs are attractive to some new car buyers looking for lower maintenance and possibly lower charging costs compared to maintenance and fuel on a gas-powered vehicle. Comparing fuel cost (charging vs. gasoline) can be tricky because electricity costs, and gasoline cost vary regionally. However, an April article at Kelley Blue Book’s website states that it typically costs less per month to charge an EV or hybrid than to buy fuel for a traditional vehicle.

These benefits, along with greater availability of lower-priced vehicles and increased vehicle battery range from better battery technology, have encouraged more Americans to reconsider buying a standard internal-combustion vehicle. The Consumer Reports study reported that a third of Americans would “seriously consider” or “definitely” purchase or lease an electric-only vehicle if they were to purchase a car today.

Being Held Back:

While interest grows in EVs, the actual number on the road is still small. Less than 1 percent of the more than 250 million cars, trucks and SUVs on America’s highways are electric, according to a Reuters graphic from 2022. Charging station availability frustrates many EV consumers. Forbes magazine states, “One of the biggest issues is the lack of charging stations, which could limit EV growth.” The Consumer Report study echoed that concern, listing charging logistics (61 percent) as the top barrier to buying for Americans who do not already plan to buy or lease an EV.

These same people listed distance on a full charge, (55 percent) and cost of purchase, owning and maintenance (52 percent) as the second- and third-largest barrier for them in buying an EV.

Along with lack of availability, charging a vehicle takes time. Kelly Blue Book estimates that most new electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge using a Level 2 charger. The timeframe of the charge depends on depth of the discharge or depletion of the battery.  

EV drivers must map out their trips carefully to make sure they can locate available charging stations, and that reduces travel flexibility. However, that may improve soon in Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation introduced the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan in September 2022. The grant program provides incentives to large companies to build charging stations along the major corridors in the state. The plan calls for a charging facility every 50 miles to help provide the most flexible drive for EV owners.

How Energy Is Used:  

EVs convert energy to mechanical power more efficiently than gas-powered vehicles. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy states that a gas-powered vehicle will convert only 12-30 percent of fuel to usable mechanical energy, compared to an electric vehicle that converts 77 percent of the electrical power from the grid to mechanical energy.  

Standard vehicles emit about 350 grams of carbon dioxide per mile over the vehicle’s lifetime.  Hybrids scored about 260 grams per mile, and all-electric scored about 200 grams. The report cited similar statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy. The DOE estimates EVs create about 3,900 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, compared to 5,772 for plug-in hybrids, 6,258 for typical hybrids and 11,435 for gasoline-powered vehicles.

Charging an EV requires plugging into a charger connected to the electric grid, also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). There are three major categories of chargers, based on the maximum amount of power the charger provides to the battery from the grid:

• Level 1: Provides charging through a 120 V AC plug and does not require the installation of additional charging equipment. Can deliver 3 to 5 miles of range per hour of charging. Most often used in homes, but sometimes used at workplaces.
• Level 2: Provides charging through a 240 V (for residential) or 208 V (for commercial) plug and requires installation of additional charging equipment.  Can deliver 12 to 80 miles of range per hour of charging. Used in homes, workplaces, and for public charging.
• Level 3/DC Fast/Ultrafast Charger: Provides charging through 480 V AC input and requires highly specialized, high-powered equipment as well as special equipment in the vehicle itself.  (Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles typically do not have fast charging capabilities.) Can deliver 3-20 miles range per minute. Used most often in public charging stations, especially along heavy traffic corridors.

Like the McKenzie family, many consumers are looking for ways to reduce cost and exposure to volatile fuel market. Electric vehicles could potentially be a solution and are an option for those looking for a commuter vehicle to run daily errands. The adoption rate is increasing and more EV’s are showing up in rural America.

With most of the charging taking place at home. Purchasing and installation of a charging station is imperative.  United has a rebate to offset some of the upfront cost.

For more information about our rebate please visit our website (www.ucs.net/rebate-programs).  As  always, United’s team of energy solutions specialists are ready to assist and answer any questions.