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Environmentally-minded people have long been intrigued by the idea of a car that produces no emissions, but it's only been in the last decade that electric cars have become mainstream vehicle options for the average American. And now that they're more affordable than ever, car buyers are likely wondering exactly how buying a Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) could benefit them and whether driving them really make a difference when it comes to air quality and pollution.
Save at the gas pump
Electric vehicles run without gasoline, but you still have to pay for the electricity to charge them. This begs the question: Just how much of a difference it makes to your bank account to use electricity rather than gas? It's all an estimate, since electric cars can't be compared based on miles per gallon, but taking into account current fuel and electricity rates and the distance most electric cars can travel on a single charge, Energy.gov estimates residents of Utah pay an average of $2.23 per gallon of fuel, while owners of electric cars pay about $0.97 to travel the same distance.
Rates for electricity are also more consistent over time, which means your budget isn't dependent on the whims of oil companies or the different rates you find from one gas station to the next.
Save on taxes
In an effort to encourage the use of cleaner fuels, the state of Utah has been offering a tax credit to those who purchase or convert a vehicle to run on natural gas, propane, or electricity. This is an income tax credit that refunds you 35% or up to $1,500 of the purchase price of your clean fuel vehicle. Though the tax credit was set to expire in 2016, House Bill 29 is aiming to extend that credit for another year.
The federal government offers tax credits for clean fuel cars, too, based on the kilowatt-hours capacity of the car's battery. Only certain clean fuel cars, like the Nissan Leaf, qualify for the maximum $7,500 credit offered to car buyers.
Save on emissions
PEVs by their very nature are zero emission vehicles because they do not require the burning of fossil fuels to run. When electricity is generated, however, emissions are necessarily produced, which has caused many consumers to wonder whether emissions are being decreased over the life cycle of the car after all.
The Union of Concerned Scientists issued a report in 2012 computing the emissions produced by electricity grids nationwide finding that "nationwide, EVs charged from the electricity grid produce lower global warming emissions than the average compact gasoline-powered vehicle (with a fuel economy of 27 miles per gallon)—even when the electricity is produced primarily from coal in regions with the 'dirtiest' electricity grids."
In cleaner grids, PEVs contribute even less emissions, equating to a vehicle getting 75 mpg in Utah or 95 mpg in California.
In the case of the Nissan Leaf, Winston Bennion, General Manager over Ken Garff Nissan, says, "I really believe that one of the foremost concerns of people in the Salt Lake area is air quality but aren't aware of the things they can do to help alleviate it. All-electric cars are the perfect commuter cars for those looking to make a difference in their bank accounts, their communities and the world. The Nissan Leaf in particular," Bennion continues, "is an affordable, all-electric vehicle and a great opportunity for everyone to improve Utah's air."
Ready to take the leap into electric car ownership? Visit Ken Garff Nissan to test drive the Nissan Leaf and find out how owning an electric car could change the way you drive.
