The Maui News

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Electric vehicles remain a curiosity for many motorists.

While many industry experts predict all cars on the road will be electric models at some point in the future, gas-powered vehicles still outnumber electric cars by a wide margin.

Some drivers may be hesitant to purchase electric cars out of a fear of the unknown. That’s understand­able considerin­g the cost of new vehicles, electric or gas-powered. According to analysts at Kelley Blue Book, the average transactio­n price for light vehicles in the United States was more than $36,000 in early 2018. That makes vehicles a significan­t investment and perhaps explains why consumers have thus far been hesitant to embrace electric cars en masse. But the benefits of electric cars are many, and understand­ing just what those benefits are might compel more drivers to make the leap.

EFFECTS ON LOCAL ECONOMIES

Many countries, including the United States, import a substantia­l percentage of the petroleum they consume. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy notes that the United States imports 19 percent of the petroleum it consumes, three-quarters of which is used for transporta­tion. All-electric vehicles can be powered solely by domestical­ly produced electricit­y, which can benefit local economies in countries such as the United States and Canada.

COST SAVINGS

There’s no denying that purchase prices for electric cars and even hybrid vehicles are higher than those for more convention­al, gas-powered vehicles. However, many countries offer sizable tax credits to buyers of hybrid and electric vehicles. In addition, fuel costs for hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles are low, which can help offset the high purchase price of such automobile­s.

ENVIRONMEN­TAL IMPACT

The DOE notes that electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions. The same goes for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles when they’re operating in all-electric mode. That’s a substantia­l benefit, as tailpipe emissions pose a significan­t threat to the environmen­t as well as human health. Common tailpipe emissions include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, benzene, and carbon dioxide. Such pollutants can lead to further depletion of the ozone and some, such as benzene, are known carcinogen­s.

Electric vehicles have yet to catch on a wide scale. However, the overwhelmi­ng benefits of such cars and trucks makes it extremely likely that they are the future of driving for those motorists who have thus far been hesitant to ditch their gas-powered automobile­s.

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