People choose to drive electric vehicles for all sorts of reasons. Driving electric saves consumers money on "fuel" and car maintenance costs. Add to list that EVs are incredibly fun to drive, don't pollute our air, and improve our energy security. There are nearly countless benefits to driving an EV, so you can take your pick. Here are our favorites.
EVs cost less to fuel
Powering your ride with electricity costs about 60% less than buying gasoline, roughly the same as paying $1.16/gallon, thanks to EVs' performance efficiency and the lower cost of electricity. Depending on your electric utility, you may save even more money by setting your car to charge at off-peak rates. Electricity prices are also far more stable than gasoline prices, allowing drivers to avoid the risk of future price spikes.
Plus, if you can charge at home, you can't beat the convenience. Like your smartphone, you plug in your EV when you arrive home and forget about it until you wake up to the equivalent of a full tank. You can even plug in an EV to a normal electrical outlet.
More savings: EVs cost less to maintain
EVs have far fewer moving parts than gasoline cars. They have no engines, transmissions, spark plugs, valves, fuel tanks, tailpipes, distributors, starters, clutches, mufflers, or catalytic converters. Since there are a lot fewer things to break down and no need for oil changes, maintenance costs are much lower. You can also say goodbye to that dirty gasoline odor – your hands will never smell like toxic petrochemicals again.
A recent study by Consumer Reports on repair and maintenance data from thousands of drivers shows that EV drivers pay about half of what drivers of gas-powered vehicles pay for maintenance and repairs. Not only does this save you money, but it also saves you time spent waiting for service at the auto shop or a smog check come inspection time.
EVs are eligible for federal, state, and utility incentives
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 extended and expanded federal tax incentives for EVs. Many EV models are eligible for up to $7,500 in income tax credits. Other EV models are eligible for incentives through reduced lease rates.
In addition to new EV incentives, used EVs qualify for a $4,000 tax credit if purchased from a dealer. You can use that money as a down payment or to reduce your monthly payment amount.
In addition to federal incentives, states and utilities offer incentives for EV purchases in the form of cash incentives, HOV lane access, and reduced electricity rates. Depending on where you live, you could get an incentive for a home charger, too.
Be sure to check out our personalized incentive tools based on your ZIP code. Vehicle Incentives identifies incentives for a specific vehicle while All Incentives lists available incentives that you can choose to use. Incentives vary by ZIP code, which is why we created these pages.
EVs are fun to drive
Don't take our word for it – take a test drive! An electric motor provides full torque from a standstill and completely changes the experience of getting onto a fast-moving highway. Whereas much of the power in gas vehicles is lost as heat energy, power in an EV goes directly to the wheels, making EVs more efficient and much faster off the line. Instant torque, smoother acceleration, nearly silent operation, and a lower center of gravity due to battery placement make for a really lovely ride.
EVs improve public health
Transportation emissions are the leading source of air pollution in the U.S. Smog from tailpipes is known to lead to health problems, including asthma in adults and children, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and premature death.
People of color are 64% more likely than white people to live in a community with unhealthy air. The good news is that EVs are starting to make a difference. A recent study looked at ZIP codes and found that as the number of registered EVs increased in those ZIP codes, local air pollution levels and emergency room visits dropped.
EVs are greener than gas-powered vehicles
Throughout its lifetime, an EV generates less than half of the greenhouse gas emissions of a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle. This calculation includes all of the resources used in manufacturing the vehicle and battery, and powering the vehicle. In addition, electricity in the U.S. keeps getting cleaner, meaning that these benefits will continue to grow in future years. Also, recyclers can reuse batteries for other purposes, and recycle EV battery minerals almost infinitely.
EVs have excellent warranties
The average gasoline vehicle has a powertrain warranty of 5 years or 50,000 miles. Thanks to federal regulations, EV batteries must have warranties of 8 years or 100,000 miles. California further requires battery warranties of 10 years or 150,000 miles. Cars are essential for daily living for many people, so it's nice to know your EV is protected.
EVs create good-paying jobs in the U.S.
Recent federal investments in EV infrastructure and deployment have catalyzed U.S. manufacturing investment to the tune of $87 billion since late 2021. This goes hand in hand with the creation of 143,000 new U.S. jobs associated with battery and EV manufacturing, according to an analysis. States like Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, and North and South Carolina are big winners in EV manufacturing investment.
EVs are better for the grid
You read that right. Electric vehicles are mobile power storage that can get us where we need to go. Since most EVs are only in use a small fraction of each day, they can often charge when energy on the grid is clean, cheap, and abundant. They can also store energy for use at a later time if they have vehicle-to-grid or vehicle-to-home capabilities. Even without these benefits, a recent study found that EVs are driving electricity rates down for California's largest utilities by contributing approximately $1.7 billion more in revenues than costs.
EVs improve energy security
The transportation sector is responsible for about 70% of U.S. petroleum consumption. Since EVs don't use gasoline, they reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. Plugging into the U.S. grid diversifies U.S. transportation energy to renewables and other domestic sources. Transitioning away from relying on foreign oil protects markets from embargoes, shortages, and political conflicts. EVs also protect drivers from price volatility at the pump.
Now that you're aware of what EVs have to offer, try out our Shopping Assistant to see which vehicles on the market today are the best for your needs.
