Electric vehicles have come far in the last decade. What started as a novelty car available only to the wealthy and most environmentally conscious, has become the daily car of choice for a continuously growing segment of the traveling public.
If you’ve thought about buying an electric car in the past, but stopped short, it’s time to seriously reconsider.
“Clark County is a great place to own an electric vehicle,” said Matt Babbitts, Energy Services Project Manager at Clark Public Utilities. “To name a few reasons: Our low energy rates make them comparable to a car that gets about 96 miles per gallon; the majority of our power we supply is produced by carbon-free sources; and our mild climate is considerably easier on electric batteries than other, more extreme regions of the country.”
Electric vehicle, EVs for short, is a catchall term that includes cars that are fully electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles — nonplug-in hybrids don’t count.
Pretty much every manufacturer offers at least one fully electric or plug-in electric model. In 2020, EVs will be an option in virtually every vehicle class, from the three-wheeled Electra Meccanica Solo to the Volvo XC40 crossover SUV. Tesla is also expected to release a pickup truck by the end of the year.
Most new EVs also have price points within reach of the average consumer, which drops even further after state and federal incentives. New electric vehicles may also qualify for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits. Those costing $45,000 or less are exempt from Washington sales tax.
Used EVs typically have lower mileage ranges, but can be purchased for surprisingly low prices. Plus, those at $30,000 or less are sales tax exempt.
Across the board, car companies have considerably increased range and lowered charging times. New lower-priced models can get about 200 miles on a single charge.
Charge at home
Charging at home doesn’t necessarily require any special electrical equipment, but it can speed things up.
Level 1 chargers plug into a regular outlet, but they only add about 5 miles of range per hour. A full charge can take an entire day. However, using one overnight likely will give you plenty of miles for your commute, plus it’s easier on the grid.
“Unlike other power companies we don’t use time-of-use rates. Our customers can enjoy low electricity costs for their EV around the clock,” Babbitts said. “However, there is less stress on the grid during the late evening hours and we appreciate customers who do the bulk of their charging overnight.”
Level 2 chargers require as much power as a clothes dryer and need to be installed by an electrician. But they add between 20-40 miles of range per charge hour.
DC fast chargers are for commercial applications only because of the level of power required. However, they offer up to 200 miles of range per hour. Organizations considering them need to contact Clark Public Utilities first.
But charge times are likely to shorten further in the next few years. On Oct. 30, scientists announced a new type of battery that can take a 200-mile charge in just 10 minutes.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
