Did you know the two biggest emission sources impacting our air quality and the environment are electricity generation and transportation?
If you’re a Green Mountain customer, hooray! You’re already minimizing your environmental impact by using renewable, clean energy (from wind and solar power).
If you’re considering leveling up your clean game, an electric vehicle (EV) might be the answer. Making that switch means you’d be conquering the two biggest contributors of CO2 emissions, and you’d be plugging in to a cleaner transportation landscape (and using clean electricity to power an EV doubles your impact!).
To see just how that landscape has changed since you last heard about EVs, check out the latest in savings, charging, range and vehicle models.
Savings
According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, nearly one-fifth of a household’s expenditures is spent on transportation. Driving an electric vehicle can cut your costs by about half. For the long-term savings potential of driving an EV, check out a comparison tool from ChooseEV. The savings calculator is customizable with vehicle brand, model and year.
Charging
Charging your EV often maximizes the driving range. And it’s easier than you may think. Many drivers just take the cord that comes with the car, plug it into an outlet and are ready to go whenever they need it. Just imagine not having to stop at a gas station again.
Charging can take anywhere from 30 minutes to more than 8 hours depending on your battery type, charging speed, how much of a charge your vehicle needs and the type of electric vehicle supply equipment located on the chargers. There are three types: Level 1, Level 2 and DC Fast Charge.
You’ll do most of your charging overnight at home, so it’s important you have an electricity provider that helps your clean vehicle stay clean. Green Mountain supports those who live greener and commute cleaner with EVs. Our 100% renewable electricity options, like the Solar All Nighter for EVs plan and the Solar with Green Mountain Driver plan, support your sustainable choices and keep you charged up for the adventures ahead.
For charging on the go, PlugShare can help. Map out your route to see where charging stations are along your way or filter by network to find the one that’s right for you.
Range
When it comes to how far your vehicle can travel on a single charge, the answer is that it keeps getting farther and farther. Right now, most EVs can travel more than 200 miles on a single charge. Kelly Blue Book lists the 10 Longest-Range Electric Cars of 2023.
Models
There are more than 44 EV models in the U.S. with varying sizes, colors and styles. In 2020, 19 new models are expected to be released and most major car brands offer EVs known as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs).
BEVs are fully electric vehicles with rechargeable batteries and no gasoline engine. They are normally able to travel 200 miles on a single charge.
PHEVs have a battery and an electric motor, along with a gasoline tank and internal combustion engine. They can handle short trips (approximately 50 miles) before needing a charge.
EVgo has a listing of BEVs and PHEVs by maker to help you see the available options.
Start cruisin’ clean
Driving an EV is a big-league move for living sustainably. Personally, EVs can help you save money (and reduce your footprint), but the environmental benefits can help us all. EVs diversify fuel options for transportation, reducing our dependence on petroleum. And they lessen the amount of harmful emissions released in the air (which contribute to climate change and poor air quality). It’s no surprise why there’s a surge in the electric vehicle market.
If making the move to an EV isn’t the right choice for you now, you can still contribute to the clean transportation landscape. By purchasing Green Mountain Carbon Offsets, you can counteract what’s emitted during your commute to help reduce your carbon impact. Carbon offsets are investments in projects that reduce or avoid CO2 emissions to combat climate change.
