Driving electric is about climate, exploring future
There’s an electric car in your future.
Driving electric is more than the great feeling of a clean, quiet and responsive ride. I’ve been driving all-electric cars for five years because I want clean air and to do my bit to mitigate the effects of climate change.
We can’t continue to put toxic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through a tailpipe.
The typical internal combustion engine car emits almost five metric tons— yes, tons — of carbon dioxide per year plus methane and nitrous oxide, some of the most damaging greenhouse gases.
According to the EPA and the Union of Concerned Scientists, our cars and trucks emit about a fifth of all emissions in the United States. It’s time to stop now that driving electric is doable and totally normal. And change is coming.
California’s governor recently announced that no new internal combustion vehicles will be sold in that state starting in 2035. Maryland’s goal is to have 300,000 plug-in vehicles on the road by 2025 — we’re at about 10 percent of that now.
Carmakers see the writing on the wall. Several have announced that in the next few decades they will make no more fossil fuel-powered vehicles. And yet, many carmakers continue to advertise and sell them as if therewere no tomorrow.
But there is a tomorrow. If we don’t cut emissions and drawdown greenhouse gases from the atmosphere our planet will be unrecognizable in our lifetimes and we won’t be able to reverse the damage already done. Climate change effects are happening faster than anticipated. Proof is in the wildfires out west, stronger and more frequent storms, and warming temperatures almost everywhere.
Think driving electric is not for you? Let me bust some myths.
My electricity bill will go way up if I charge an EV at home. Itmay go up a little bit but it will be offset by what you’ll save by not buying gasoline. For every 15,000 miles you’ll spend about $2,206 on gas compared to $580 for electricity to charge an EV.
EVs are too expensive. There are over a dozen models priced belowthe average cost of an ICE car ($35,000) – all with over 100 miles of range. And the used EV market offers great deals.
EVs don’t have enough range for me. The average American drives less than 40 miles a day and even less now with the pandemic. Most EVs have over 100 miles of range and some over 250 miles.
There aren’t enough charging stations. Most EV drivers charge at home. I plug my car into a household outlet. Faster charging is widely available. More locations are being continually added nationwide. There are several apps to help you locate charging and some will even help you plan a route for a long trip.
I don’t want to wait while my car charges. Fast chargers can provide 100 miles to most EVs in 30 minutes or less and some are even faster. Driving electric requires a bit of planning which is more than worth it for a cleaner environment.
EVs are really fueled by coal. The electric grid is getting cleaner all the time as governments, like Maryland, require utilities to continually increase the amount of renewable energy they supply. EVs reduce emissions on the road – right where you live, work, and play.
National Drive Electric Week is going on through Monday. In this pandemic year we at Annapolis Green are marking it with a Kick Gas!, a fun and informative virtual event on Thursday and two small EV displays – Wednesday on Maryland Avenue and Friday on Inner West Street. Attend these and ask questions of people like me who are driving electric. Visit annapolisgreen.com/drive- electric for more information.