Optimistic about electric car future

The story on energy and electric cars (Oct. 28) was overly pessimistic about the state goal of having 500,000 EVs on Connecticut roads by 2030. EV sales in Connecticut in 2018 were a little over 1,000, but when you apply the annual 80 percent increase in sales that is being observed nationwide that 1,000 grows to 350,000 by 2030 — not too bad, and that ignores the inevitable improvements in battery efficiency with a concomitant decrease in prices. So, 500,000 might not be unattainable. The above numbers do not take into account other factors in addition to the batteryefficiency improvements, which by the way over the past several years has been accompanied by actual decreased costs and prices. Because Connecticut is a wealthy state and range anxiety is overblown, I am an optimist.

When I purchased my Model S four years ago, there were only four Tesla superchargers in Connecticut (Greenwich and Milford). In the ensuing years, these have been joined by superchargers in Manchester, Waterbury, West Hartford and Old Lyme — and soon Madison will be added to that list along with one off Jennings Road just north of Hartford.

The story’s pessimistic view also ignores the pleasure EV owners have “filling up” in their own garage whenever necessary. When doing lengthy road trips, onboard computers steer me to superchargers along the way. I plan stops over meal times and coffee breaks (and the concomitant bathroom breaks) so that I am not sitting around waiting for the charging to finish.

It is also interesting to go back to 110 years ago when Ford introduced its handcranked Model T. To extend how far they could travel, drivers strapped on extra cans of gasoline because gas stations were so few and far between (get the details at the Henry Ford Museum website). Speaking of Ford, there is more news as the extensive Tesla nationwide Super Charger network is about to be joined by a similar Ford network — who is next? BMW, Mercedes, VW — who knows?

Frank Gasparro Branford