Benefits of Electric Vehicles FAQs

Electric vehicles reduce the amount of gasoline we burn and are less costly to maintain, among many other benefits:

• Reduced Operating Emissions: The emissions associated with the electric drivetrain of plug-in electric vehicles come from power plants generating electricity to charge the batteries and not from tailpipe emissions. Additionally, from well to wheel, electric vehicles emit approximately 66 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) compared with internal combustion vehicles. CO2 is the principal gas associated with global warming.
• Water Quality Preservation: Decreased use of petroleum gasoline and motor oil means fewer spills and pollution to oceans, rivers and ground water.
• Reduced Noise: In addition to being cleaner, electric vehicles are quieter than gasoline-powered vehicles, resulting in less noise pollution.

Incentives: The New York State Drive Clean Rebate is open to all New York State residents, the Drive Clean Rebate offers a point-of-sale rebate towards the purchase or lease of a new electric car. Taking advantage of the Drive Clean Rebate is very easy: simply purchase a qualifying electric car from a participating dealer, and a discount of up to $2,000 will be applied when you pay. Combine that with a Federal Tax Credit of up to $7,500 Learn More and Apply

Maintenance: There are less parts to break down in an EV vs. a standard internal combustion engine. In electric cars there are no: oil changes, transmission, exhaust system, turbines. There is only an electric engine (the battery system, and the steering like in a regular car.

Safety: Many electric vehicles receive top National Highway Safety Traffic Administration safety ratings. To date, findings have shown that several electric vehicle features maximize safety. For example, electric vehicles tend to have a lower center of gravity that makes them less likely to roll over, electric vehicles have less potential for major fires or explosions and the body construction and durability of electric vehicles enhance vehicle safety in a collision.

• Lower Operational Costs: The estimated cost of electricity needed to power a plug-in electric vehicle is about one-third of the cost of gasoline.
• Lower Maintenance Costs: The electrical components of plug-in electric vehicles require little to no regular maintenance due to far less moving parts. In hybrids, this leads to less wear and tear of gasoline components.
• Rebates & Tax Credits: Many government agencies and local and regional entities offer rebates and tax credits, up to $7,500, to encourage the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles.

There are certain behaviors that can impact an EV’s battery health and may cause it to lose its range or degrade faster. Here are few examples along with tips on how to pro-long your EV’s battery health:

• Overcharging: Don’t overcharge or fully deplete your EVs charge. EVs are installed with battery management systems that help them avoid being charged or discharged at extreme states. Ideally, you want to keep your charge between 20-80% and only charge it fully for long distance trips.
• Temperature: EV batteries have a built-in temperature control system, but you should try to minimize exposure to extreme heat while your car is parked. Try to find a shaded spot or garage to park on hot days.
• Fast charging: Limit use of fast chargers. It’s best to avoid solely relying on fast chargers to keep your EV charged, as they press a lot of electric current into the battery in a short period of time, which stresses your EV battery and degrades them faster in the long-run. Try to use a Level 2 or Level 1 charger whenever you can for a slower charge.

EV battery issues are luckily rare. EV batteries are designed with various modules which make them safer and easier to switch out if an issue does occur. If a failure occurs under the warranty and the warranty has not been voided, then the automaker is responsible for fixing or replacing the battery. In California, EV batteries (plus related powertrain or drive systems like the electric motor) must be warranted for 10 years/150k miles, whichever comes first. Be sure to check your vehicle’s owners manual for specific warranty coverage.

If a vehicle is older than 10 years or the vehicle is involved in an accident, the owner (or insurance) would need to pay for a battery replacement. Battery costs depend on the automaker and battery size but can be a costly fix – they are the most important part of the EV. The biggest factor of battery price is the cost per kWh. The range for this cost is between $100 to $300 per kWh, depending on the manufacturer.