ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND CHARGING STATIONS In the early 20th century, electric vehicles made up close to 40 percent of the U.S. vehicle market share. They quietly zipped around cities where driving distances were short and charging stations were readily available. Despite their early popularity, they began to disappear from the streets after just a few years. As roadways improved beyond the city limits, people wanted to get out and explore. With their slower speeds and shorter ranges, electric vehicles were not ideal for this type of travel. At the same time, gasoline cars began to improve and became both accessible and affordable. By 1930, electric vehicles had mostly vanished from roads. Interest in electric vehicles made a bit of a resurgence in the mid to late 1900s, but it wasn’t until recently that a more substantial push for electric vehicles developed. Electric vehicles were reintroduced to the market in 2010, and each year more shoppers are choosing to forgo gasoline models and opt for new all-electric or plug-in hybrid electric models. An all-electric vehicle uses electricity as its primary fuel and a plug-in hybrid uses electricity along with a conventional engine to improve efficiency. Making the switch from a gas pump to an outlet is a big decision, yet around one million drivers across the U.S. have decided to make the switch and purchase an electric vehicle. There are numerous reasons why people choose to drive electric. The top include saving money on fuel and maintenance costs, the car’s driving performance, being environmentally friendly and supporting local energy sources. No matter the reason, most electric drivers will see savings by fueling at the outlet instead of a gas pump. Most major car manufacturers are currently offering electric models, including Chevrolet, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Fiat, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Porsche, Kia, Volvo, Mercedes and Tesla. Many other manufacturers are currently in the planning phase to produce an electric vehicle during the next few years.
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$30 a month $100 a month
Electric convenience Drivers have reported spending about $30 a month to fuel their cars compared to about $100 a month they used to spend on gasoline. Additionally, electric vehicles have less parts and do not need as much maintenance as gasoline vehicles, which saves drivers even more money.