Which is better, electric or petrol? EVs may win, experts say

Sale of Electric car ready to boom federal policytechnological progress and environmental concerns.

According to a recent survey, 41% of Americans are at least somewhat likely to buy an electric car as their next car. poll From the University of Chicago and Associated Press.

However, many consumers see the high cost as a deterrent, with 60% citing it as the “main reason” for not buying an electric vehicle (EV).

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Most new EVs are luxury models with an average selling price of over $61,000, about $12,000 more than the auto industry average, according to Go to Consumer Reports.

But the initial cost doesn’t tell the whole story.

Electric vehicles are often better economics for the purchaser in the long run compared to their gasoline-only counterparts after factoring in regular costs such as maintenance, repairs and fuel such as gasoline and electricity. There is a possibility that it will become a commercial transaction.

Those costs tend to be lower for EVs, experts say, and can outpace the high initial sticker price over multiple years of ownership.

According to Consumer Reports, a typical EV owner can save $6,000 to $10,000 over the life of most such vehicles compared to gasoline-only models. study From 2020. The study compared cars of similar size and segment (such as luxury cars) and defined a car’s lifespan as 200,000 miles.

Since the study was published, many EVs have gotten cheaper and conventional cars have gotten more expensive, said Chris Harto, senior transportation and energy policy analyst at Consumer Reports.

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in August, federal tax credit This tax incentive, worth up to $7,500 and subject to some eligibility restrictions, aims to make EVs more affordable.

Comparing similar cars in terms of total cost of ownership, “battery electric vehicles tend to take the lead.” [internal combustion engine] On average, it’s a car,” says Debapriya Chakraborty, an economist and assistant professional researcher at the Center for Electric Vehicle Research at the University of California, Davis.

However, she said there are a number of caveats that could change the outcome for individual buyers.

These include local electricity and petrol prices. Availability of home charging and utilities. The latter is usually more expensive. and the cruising range of electric vehicles.

“Yes, EVs [generally] Better deal if you include everything [financial] You can earn incentives and claim primarily at home,” said Maxwell Woody, a research assistant at the University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems.

But there are many variables that could change the calculation, he added.

Consumers can use various online calculators. U.S. Department of Energy or University of California, Davis Electric Vehicle Research Centerestimates the total cost of ownership and carbon footprint of EVs based on different vehicle types and travel habits.

EV sales accounted for They accounted for 5.8% of the nearly 14 million new cars sold in the US last year, according to Kelley Blue Book data. This was up from his 3.1% the year before.

Globally, about 13% of new cars sold in 2022 will be electric, and EVs are “rising in popularity.” according to to the International Energy Agency.

However, potential lifecycle cost savings aren’t the only factor driving purchases.

A University of Chicago-affiliated news agency poll found that 35% of Americans say reducing their personal impact on climate change is the primary reason they buy an electric vehicle. This was cited by 46% as the second reason for saving money on gasoline. .

There are several types of EVs. For example, there are fully electric vehicles that run on batteries only, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that have both a battery and a gasoline engine.

Because they don’t burn fossil fuels, fully electric cars emit no global warming greenhouse gases out their tailpipes.

Some emissions are Created When electric vehicles are built and charged, if the electricity comes from a dirty energy source such as burning coal rather than a clean energy source such as wind or solar.However, for electric vehicles far less impact on the overall climate Even factoring in these lifecycle emissions, according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Electric vehicles are a key technology for decarbonizing road transport,” says International Energy Agency Said.

Only 1.6 million of the 270 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads it’s electricity — Less than 1% of all vehicles, according to the World Economic Forum.

Biden administration on April 12 Proposed Automobile Emissions Regulations EV sales are expected to grow dramatically. The regulation sets stricter pollution standards for cars and trucks, requiring the auto industry to sell more EVs to meet the requirements. The White House predicts that by 2032, 67% of new cars sold in the US will be electric.

This criterion is what the world’s top climate scientists said in their March report. Major trajectory correction required To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more severe floods, droughts and wildfires.

Transportation is the largest annual source of greenhouse gas pollution in the United States, accounting for 28% of total national emissions by 2021. according to to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ingrid Malmgren, Policy Director at Plug In America, said:

many automakers including Tesla and ford, lowered the price of EVs in 2023.Current price trends show EV sticker price at $25,000 not far.

The average new car price will rise by about 5% to $49,507 in 2022, while the average EV price will fall by 0.6% to $61,448. kelly blue book.

According to the University of Michigan, consumers nationwide can save an average of 55 percent on fuel by switching to all-electric vehicles. study Published in January.

Studies have shown that over 90% of homes also reduce the greenhouse gases they produce.

Studies show that the biggest cost savings occur in the South and West. Only 0.1% of households in Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island will see their energy costs rise by switching to all-electric vehicles.

The fuel cost savings brought about by the adoption of all-electric vehicles are “more than twice as low as American households (or more than 80%). [transportation] Low-income households were found to benefit less than high-income households.

Studies have shown that residential charging is more cost-effective than public charging. For renters who can’t install charging stations in their homes, for example, such dynamics can hurt savings and convenience, said Chakraborty of the University of California.

And because electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, they generally require less maintenance, says Plug In America’s Malmgren. EVs often have longer warranties than gasoline vehicles. By law, an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty must be maintained, and more consumer-friendly rules apply in California, she said.

“We break less,” says Malmgren. “I haven’t replaced the brake pads, transmission, belts, hoses or fluids.”

“They are much easier to maintain,” she said.

According to Consumer Reports’ Harto, the average electric SUV owner can save $1,700 a year in combined fuel and maintenance costs. This, he said, is a rough guide to current prices, as he assumes gas prices of $3.50 per gallon.