Courtesy: PA Department of Environmental Protection
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PERFORMANCE
Driving an electric vehicle is fun! Whether it’s an on road vehicle, electric scooter or eBike, the torque, acceleration and responsiveness of EV’s make driving a pleasurable experience. Electric motors have a controlled torque of 0 RPM, meaning they have instant acceleration from a standstill stop. EVs also use regenerative braking, which means stepping on the brake can recover up to 10-15% of energy that would have been otherwise wasted in conventional braking system and turns it back into fuel!
AFFORDABILITY
Typically, driving an electric vehicle costs about half as much as a conventional car. PlugIn America (2020) averages that charging your EV is equivalent to filling up for $1 per gallon of gasoline, or like driving a vehicle that gets over 130 miles per gallon (AFDC, 2019). Although initial purchasing costs of electric cars tend to run higher than their conventional counterparts, these prices can be offset by fuel savings, federal tax credits, state and utility incentives. There are also calculators and other resources to help compare annual costs associated with your current vehicle versus going electric.
MAINTENANCE
Spark plugs, transmissions, timing belts, oil filters... the list goes on. Internal combustion engines have many moving parts that require expensive and continuous upkeep. The battery, motor, and other parts of the electrical system requires little to no maintenance, and brake systems have an extended life thanks to regenerative braking. The advanced batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle and can even be recycled after they wear out.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2018), transportation generates the largest share of greenhouse gases at 29%. The largest sources include passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks such as minivans and pickup trucks which account for over half of these emissions. Electric vehicles produce zero tail pipe emissions while driving, meaning they won’t emit harmful gases and can improve air quality as they grow in popularity. While these cars still have a carbon footprint, EVs in Pennsylvania average 65% less emissions than conventional cars. Install a solar panel at you home charging port and you can drop your emissions close to zero.
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CONVENIENCE
Can you imagine the freedom of eliminating your weekly visit to the gas station? The convenience of charging at your own home each day may be easy and inexpensive. Many employers support workplace charging as a benefit of employment, making it free in most places. Destinations like parks, grocery stores and restaurants offer charging to attract customers. As the station count in Pennsylvania continues to grow, finding a place to plug in when you a boost is becoming more prevalent.