EV Mythbusting
Over the last decade, broad awareness of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) has dramatically increased. However, many questions still remain. We’re on a mission to bust the myths around electric vehicles and educate the public about all the benefits of driving electric. Discover the facts below.
FACT:
An electric vehicle costs significantly less than a gas-powered vehicle over the vehicle’s lifetime.
Upfront costs are dropping for all electric vehicles, with many new EVs already being cost-competitive with new gas vehicles. And, an increasing number of used EVs are becoming available with even more affordable price tags.
Because EVs require far lower fuel and maintenance costs, you can save significantly by driving electric over the lifetime of your EVs compared to the higher lifetime costs of buying, operating and maintaining a gas-powered vehicle.
- According to Consumer Reports, owning an EV will save the owner $6000 to $12,000 over the life of the vehicle.
- Once you include fuel and maintenance cost savings, which are significant, it costs much less to buy, own and operate an EV than a gas powered vehicle today. A Harvard Kennedy School Study found: At $200 per kWh, the EV is cheaper to buy, own and operate than the internal combustion (ICE) vehicle in every scenario by up to $4,300. Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds EVs are significantly cheaper.
- According to Energy.gov all-electric vehicles have the lowest estimated annual fuel cost of all light-duty vehicles.
FACT:
EVs can meet — and often exceed — your average daily driving needs.
Americans drive an average of 40 miles daily. With most EVs equipped with a 200 mile driving range, and some newer models boasting over 400 mile ranges, EVs are more than able to meet your daily driving needs. Plus, unlike gas vehicles, the majority of refueling for EVs can be done right at home. When home charging isn’t an option, DC fast chargers across the nation’s traffic corridors offer full EV recharging in 30 minutes or less to keep you on the road and moving forward with ease.
- Over the past decade, the electric vehicle market has grown to more than 100 different cars. The best electric cars all get more than 200 miles on a charge.
- In 2023, the highest top range for an EV was 516 miles on a single charge (Lucid Air.)
- According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, EVs have an average range between 110 and over 300 miles.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that the average American drives 40 miles per day. The 200-plus miles per battery charge offered by many of today’s electric cars provides all the driving range that commuters need. Actually, they provide five times the required distance.
- The time it takes to charge an electric car can be as little as 30 minutes or more than 12 hours. This depends on the size of the battery and the speed of the charging point.
FACT:
The U.S. is on track to ensure everyone can charge when and where they need to charge.
The Biden administration’s $5 billion NEVI program, which aims to build over 500,000 chargers across 79,000 miles of highway and roads, is fast tracking the necessary charging infrastructure to meet the demand of more and more drivers going electric. The rapid growth suggests that public EV chargers could outnumber gas stations within eight years, driven by a projected $6.1 billion investment in charging infrastructure in 2024. California is leading the nation, with California Governor Gavin Newsom announcing in March 2024 that the state surpassed 100,000 public and shared private electric vehicle chargers.
- In Q2 2024, 704 EV charging stations came online nationwide — bringing the total number of public fast-charging sites to nearly 9,000. At this rate, they will outnumber U.S. gas stations inside a decade.
- The California Energy Commission is putting a “down payment” of $384 million over the next three years on the electric-vehicle charging and zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
- Find alternative fueling stations in the U.S. and Canada from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) describes how EVs “have the potential to help balance loads and improve the resiliency of our nation’s electricity infrastructure. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology makes it possible to store surplus electricity generated from intermittent renewable solar and wind sources in EV batteries during non-peak periods and feed power back to the grid when needed, enhancing grid stability and reducing electricity costs at peak hours.”
- California surpasses 150,000 electric vehicle chargers.
FACT:
The electrical grid benefits from electric vehicles.
Not only can the electrical grid handle the minimal increase in energy demand caused by electric vehicles, electric vehicles actually present a net benefit to the grid by helping to store and manage energy more efficiently, ultimately driving average electricity rates down for users.
- According to Consumer Reports, electrifying the entire light-duty fleet by 2050 will require less than 1% growth per year in overall electricity generation. Additionally, complying with EPA GHG light-duty vehicle standards will create a minimal 6% increase in electricity demand by 2032.
- EVs are driving electricity rates down. This isn’t down the road. This is happening now. (Synapse Energy Report)
- In California, today, our electricity grid is powered by over 34% renewables, with a total of 77% powered by low to no carbon energy.
- Some smart charging and time-of-use pricing will be needed to prevent localized constraints, but overall the power market can comfortably integrate the additional demand. (BNEF)
- Batteries and electric vehicles (EVs), can be central to protecting reliability, according to a new Southern California Edison (SCE) paper, Reimagining the Grid, describing the evolution of tomorrow’s grid
- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) describes how EVs “have the potential to help balance loads and improve the resiliency of our nation’s electricity infrastructure. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology makes it possible to store surplus electricity generated from intermittent renewable solar and wind sources in EV batteries during non-peak periods and feed power back to the grid when needed, enhancing grid stability and reducing electricity costs at peak hours.”
- Learn more about V2G pilot programs and how utilities are harnessing clean energy.
FACT:
EVs are already offsetting the demand for oil by 1 million barrels per day globally.
And, as the electrical grid shifts to more renewable energy sources, the carbon footprint from EVs shrinks even further. From factory to road, with zero tailpipe emissions, electric vehicles emit a fraction of global warming pollutants that gas-powered vehicles produce over the lifetime of the vehicle.
- A new study conducted in July 2021 by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) shows from manufacturing to fueling to driving, EVs produce less pollution than gas-powered vehicles.
- U.S. Department of Energy has developed a Beyond Tailpipe Calculator to estimate the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for your EV or PHEV. You can enter your zip code and calculate the tailpipe emissions for your car. The calculator includes upstream emissions to produce the car and battery.
- Union of Concerned Scientists undertook a comprehensive, two-year review of the climate emissions from vehicle production, operation, and disposal. They found that battery electric cars generate half the emissions of the average comparable gasoline car, even when pollution from battery manufacturing is accounted for.
- Just published, the Union of Concerned Scientists discuss critical materials in battery electric vehicles and battery recycling in this report.
- The need for electrification in the medium- and heavy-duty segment is urgent. EPA reports that the medium- and heavy-duty segment was responsible for 23 percent of the GHG emissions – over half of the transportation emissions in the U.S. – and accounted for 26 percent of the transportation sector’s fuel consumption in 2018.
FACT:
There are 100+ different electric vehicle models available today to meet the unique needs for more and more EV drivers.
Plus, manufacturers are debuting more makes and models every year. With instant acceleration, driving electric is fun, fast and powerful.
- Most EVs on the market today go from 0-60 mph in less than 8 seconds, some in less than 3. They are among the speediest on the market, and far faster than most gas-powered vehicles. (Motortrend)
- Dozens of new passenger EV models will hit the US market in the next two to three years. These are finally addressing the light truck, SUV, and crossover markets in large numbers. (Car and Driver) (BNEF)
- There are 108 light-duty EV models available in California, according to the Quarterly EV Market report.
FACT:
Electric vehicle sales are growing exponentially as upfront costs drop dramatically.
Meanwhile, gas-powered vehicle sales have been steadily declining since 2018, showing that demand for electric vehicles is rapidly outpacing the demand for traditional combustion engine vehicles.
- Despite total light-duty vehicle sales decreasing by 2.7% from 2022 to 2023, EVs remain the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. auto market.
- Nationally, over 1.2 million EVs were sold in 2023, with internal combustion engine vehicles continuing to lose market share.
- Global sales volume of gas cars peaked in 2017. Since then, global sales volume of internal combustion engine vehicles has already dropped 23%.
FACT:
Electric vehicles make up California’s biggest export.
California is home to 55 different electric vehicle manufacturers. Electric vehicles are one of the state’s top exports with over 25% of the market share as of July 2024. Across the U.S. EV and battery manufacturing is increasing as well. As of August 2024, investments in U.S. EV and battery manufacturing facilities have reached $199 billion, with an 184% increase between 2021 and 2023. The global EV industry is a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity with one of the fastest-growing job markets.
- Electric vehicles are one of the state’s largest exports. This is the next big global industry – a multi-trillion dollar opportunity for California, and anyone else who leads the electric vehicle market.
- Zero-Emission Vehicle Related Manufacturing page (CEC)
- CA stands out in market opportunity for EVs, and accounted for half of EV sales from 2010-17. (ICCT)
- The fifth annual Clean Jobs America report from E2 shows that from 2017-2020, U.S. clean energy was one of the fastest-growing jobs, employing 3.4 million before the COVID crisis hit. Led by EVs, clean vehicles are leading overall job growth: since June, clean vehicle employment in the United States has risen 26 percent.
- EVs make up 25.7% of California’s market share as of Q2 2024.
- A new report by Environmental Defense Fund and WSP USA shows that electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing investments over the last nine years has now reached $199 billion.