Electric Vehicles 101: A Comprehensive Guide for Silicon Valley Clean Energy Customers
Commuting in Silicon Valley is no small feat, with thousands of people driving an hour or more each way daily. For many, the drive is costly, slow, and environmentally taxing. Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a smarter, cleaner, and more cost-effective way to get around. Here’s everything you need to know about EVs.
How Do Electric Vehicles Work?
EVs are powered by batteries instead of the internal combustion engine in gas-powered vehicles. These batteries store electricity that is used to power an electric motor(s). Charging an EV simply requires plugging it into a home charger or using one of the many public chargers that are available.
How Much Can You Save with Electric Vehicles?
Tax credits, incentives, and lower operating costs can provide significant cost savings for driving an EV. The Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) EV Finder compares the costs of driving an EV versus a gas vehicle.
- Rebates and tax credits from federal, state, and local programs can save you thousands on the upfront cost of an EV. Use the EV Finder to discover incentives you may be qualified for, including the SVCE $2,000 EV Rebate.
- With fewer moving parts, EV maintenance costs can be up to 50% lower than gas vehicles (Consumer Reports). The battery requires little to no maintenance, and EVs have no engine oil or exhaust system to upkeep, making EVs more cost-effective to own and operate over time.
- EVs can enjoy additional discounts, such as toll discounts on HOV lanes and single occupancy use of express lanes on Bay Area roadways.
The figure above reflects maintenance cost comparison, and is not intended to be exhaustive. Explore cost of ownership in the EV Finder.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle?
Charging is cheaper than fueling up, especially with highly-variable gas prices. EV drivers are paying less per mile when charging at home or using affordable public chargers (Consumer Reports).
This assumes the electricity rate is $0.33871/kWh and the vehicle’s kWh per 100mi Is 22kWh/100 mi. The price of gasoline is $4.45/gal and the vehicle’s MPG is 27mi/gal. Explore how far you can drive on $5.00 in the EV Finder.
How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Vehicle?
Most EV drivers charge conveniently right from their own home — no more weekly trips to the gas station. EV chargers are typically separated into three different categories based on how long they take.
- Level 1: Charges 2 – 5 miles per hour or 3 – 40 miles overnight. Sufficient for most EV drivers with access to overnight or workplace charging and is the most common charging solution.
- Level 2: Charges 10 – 30 miles hour. Requires a professional installed 240V outlet.
- Level 3: Charges 10 – 20 miles per minute. Known as DC (direct current) fast chargers, they are commonly found at commercial retail locations and are perfect for fueling up during a quick errand.
Many municipalities are expanding their public EV charger network. Locate a nearby public charging station and browse home charger solutions in the EV Finder.
Do Electric Vehicles have Long Range?
Yes, many modern EVs offer ranges of 250-350 miles per charge, which equates to around five hours of driving time. Explore the EV Finder to browse different EVs and their electric ranges.
How Do Electric Vehicles Impact the Environment?
EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, meaning less air pollution in our neighborhoods. In comparison, the average gas-powered car emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 annually, which is about 4.7 times more CO2 than an EV over the same distance. Even when accounting for electricity production, EVs produce far fewer greenhouse gas emissions over their lifetime 1 . For instance, driving an EV charged from the California grid “emits” only 0.98 metric tons of CO2 annually. This figure is even lower for SVCE customers who receive cleaner power than the state average. By switching to an EV, commuters can help cut down greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier, cleaner community.
EVs have no tailpipe emissions; however, emissions are created generating the electricity used to charge the car. Visit the Beyond Tailpipe Emissions calculator to view how emissions change regionally.
1 This assumes the typical passenger vehicle drives 22.0 miles per gallon and drives around 11,500 miles per year. Every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 19.6 lbs. of CO2 and the typical passenger vehicle emits about 0.89 lb. of CO2 per mile. To put it in perspective, this means that a typical passenger vehicle emits 5.34 lbs. of CO2 for every 6 miles driven.
Comparing emissions, this assumes the typical EV drives 2.9 miles per kWh and drives around 11,500 miles per year. Based on California’s 2023 average electricity mix, 0.456 lb. of CO2 per kWh is emitted and the typical EV emits about 0.17 lb. of CO2 per mile. To put it in perspective, this means that a typical EV emits 1 lb. of CO2 for every 6 miles driven. This number is less than a pound for SVCE customers.
Environmental and ethical concerns related to lithium mining to produce lithium-ion batteries, such as those used in EVs, are genuine concerns. Fortunately, there are paths to sustainable battery production that better safeguard human lives, create few carbon emissions, and offer smaller environmental impacts. As technology and mining continue to develop more sustainable practices, prioritizing carbon transportation, like buses and trains, and replacing ICE vehicles with EVs is still crucial to hold warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels. The resource extraction that will be needed for technologies that help achieve decarbonization will be significantly smaller than what is required to sustain fossil fuels. We recommend reading more from this Canary Media series.
What Are Your Options for Transitioning to an Electric Vehicle?
Not ready to commit to buying? Leasing an EV can be an excellent choice for first-time EV drivers. Leasing allows you to:
- Experience the latest technology with lower monthly payments.
- Avoid concerns about battery degradation or long-term maintenance.
- Take advantage of incentives that apply to leases, like federal tax credits.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) offer a way to partially transition. PHEVs have rechargeable batteries that allow for all-electric driving for shorter trips (typically 20-50 miles) and a gas engine for longer distances.
Take the Next Step: Explore EVs with Confidence
Electric vehicles are better for your wallet, your commute, and the environment. With fewer emissions, lower maintenance costs, and increasing charging options, there’s never been a better time to switch.
Explore our EV Finder tool to find everything you need to make an informed decision. Compare vehicles, discover incentives, see available EVs at a dealership near you, and find the best options for leasing or buying.
Get expert help from our dedicated Energy Advisors!
Discover the benefits of going electric, explore available incentives, and get personalized advice for your home or determining your future EV. Our team is here to help, free of charge, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT (excluding holidays). Chat Now or call (833) 243-4235.
