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Is an Electric Vehicle Right for You?

Is an Electric Vehicle Right for You?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common, especially in Connecticut.  Each year, more manufacturers offer at least one EV model and dozens more models are expected to hit the market in the next several years.  Demand from the market is surely there.  Only 1,919 EVs were sold to U.S. buyers in 2010.  Just eight short years later, U.S. sales of EVs exceeded 230,000!  Is an electric vehicle the right choice for you?  Keep reading to see if an EV purchase should be a consideration for you.

The Basics

Consumer Reports, an independent, nonprofit member organization works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace.  One of the services offered is to provide consumer information on a variety of products and services.  Following are highlights from the Electric Vehicle (EV) Checklist from Consumer Reports.

Home Charging:  You will need access to a standard 120V wall outlet located within 25 feet of your home parking location for charging.

Public Charging:  Consider the use of your vehicle and determine the availability of public charging convenient for you.  Sites such as PlugShare.com can assist in planning for EV vehicle charging support.

Tax Incentives: Your purchase of an EV may qualify for federal tax credits.  State and local incentives will vary depending on date and locale.  It is best to check near your purchase date to confirm expected savings and incentives.

Savings Calculations:  There are a variety of tools available online to help calculate the cost of ownership of an EV and additionally compare that cost to gasoline powered vehicles.  The U.S. Department of Energy website is a good place to begin.

“Range Anxiety” Needn’t Be a Concern

Today, the median per-charge range of an EV is 154 miles which should ease your mind about being stranded with a dead vehicle.  With a constant and reliable home-charging spot, most trips should be accommodated.  For charging on-the-go, there are numerous websites to consult and, additionally, Google Maps has added a locator feature to its smartphone app which includes information about where to find he nearest charging station.

EV infrastructure is also evolving.  2018 marked a significant increase in state-authorized utility investments in transportation electrification.  Many U.S. cities, including Boston, have passed ordinances requiring EV-ready parking spaces.

Connecticut EVs

EVs have definitely caught on in Connecticut.  Just seven years ago, EVs were rare in the state.  Now there are an estimated 6,500 to 7,000 electric vehicles in the state including pure battery EVs and plug-in hybrids. The State of Connecticut proudly announced in August that it is a “range confident state”.  This means that no matter where you are traveling in the state, a charging station is nearby.  To date, Connecticut has 346 public charging stations with 842 charging outlets.

Connecticut EV Incentives

The Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) offers incentives of up to $5,000 for state residents who purchase or lease a new eligible battery electric, fuel cell electric, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.  The highest incentive is available for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and the incentive level varies for other EVs based on range as rated by the vehicle’s manufacturer.  For more information about EV incentives in Connecticut, click here.

2020 EV Choices

You may be surprised to know that there are over a dozen fully battery-electric models on sale in the U.S. today.  Following are some of the choices you can look forward to in 2020 should you decide to consider and EV purchase.

• Audi E-Tron
• BMW i3
• Chevrolet Bolt
• Honda Clarity Electric
• Hyundai Ioniq Electric
• Hyundai Kona Electric
• Jaguar I-Pace
• Kia Niro EV
• Kia Soul EV
• Nissan Leaf
• Porsche Taycan
• Tesla Model 3, S & X
• Volkswagen e-Golf

If you are in need of major collision repair or minor collision repair for your vehicle, contact us online, visit one of our convenient Gold Coast locations or call us Monday – Friday, 8a – 5:00p.

Towne Body Shop      HBM Auto Body, LLC
1298 Stratford Ave.      10 Evergreen Street
Stratford, CT 06615      Bridgeport, CT  06606
203.375.5288                203.549.9395