Why Widespread EV Adoption Is Finally Picking Up
Many people don’t realize it, but auto manufacturers have been working on electric vehicles (EVs) for a very long time. In fact, electricity was considered as an alternative to fossil fuel at the dawn of the automotive age, with prototypes dating to the 1880s. Some were even offered for sale in the early 20th Century, before the industry standardized on gasoline.
There was also a resurgence of interest in the 1960s-70s, with a few models such as the Electrovair and CitiCar hitting the market. However, they didn’t make much of an impact.
It was only in the 2010s that EVs seemed to finally become practical – and now adoption is really taking off. What has changed, and why do EVs now finally seem like the car of the future? Here are some of the major factors.
How EVs Have Finally Become a Practical Solution
1. Better batteries have enabled larger ranges
The persistent issue with EVs is the topic of range: how far can they go on a single charge? In turn, this is largely dependent on the batteries being used to store the electricity. Battery technology advanced steadily throughout the 20th Century, finally landing on the Lithium-Ion batteries which are used in modern EVs. These are capable of holding enough electricity to run for hundreds of miles, meeting or beating equivalent gasoline tanks.
2. The rise of home charging
Another serious concern with EVs is how they could be charged because big batteries require a lot of power to fill. Fortunately, engineers were able to adapt to the electrical systems within most homes. Today, EV owners can have an EV charging station at home, typically in their garage. Popular chargers, which run at 240v (as available in most home electrical systems) are capable of recharging an EV in just a few hours, or easily overnight.
This makes EVs easy and convenient, even for people in areas without public chargers. That said…
3. Growing EV charging infrastructure
Businesses are increasingly embracing EV charging stations too so that EV drivers have places to recharge while on the road. Many businesses such as restaurants now have at least a couple of charging stations in their parking lots, providing free or cheap power while a patron is at their shop.
In addition, gas stations are also increasingly adding EV charging ports. There are already tens of thousands of public charging stations around the US, and more are being added every month.
4. Lowered costs
As is true of any new or cutting-edge technology, EVs were originally quite expensive – to the point that they weren’t cost-effective for many buyers. Fortunately, years of research and investment have started bringing those prices down. Today, an EV doesn’t cost significantly more than a gas- or hybrid model, making EVs far more attractive to buyers.
Plus, of course, electricity is far less expensive than gasoline, so EVs are now in a position of potentially saving you money over the years. This is especially true in recent years, with gasoline prices fluctuating wildly in response to a variety of global events. EVs look more and more attractive, every time gas prices hit $3 or more per gallon.
5. Government incentives
While specifics vary greatly between countries, states, and provinces, there are numerous governments looking to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles. This typically comes in the form of incentives, such as tax rebates on new EV purchases, or similar rebates for business owners installing EV charging stations. In some cases, government entities are even contributing to research and development.
Strong government backing makes EVs that much more attractive.
6. Environmental concerns
We seem to have finally hit the point where most people recognize that humanity is doing damage to our planet and need to get serious about reducing the environmental harm we do. While EVs are not perfect in this regard, they are a far better option than running vehicles on fossil fuels. As environmental awareness continues to grow, more and more people are likely to turn to EVs because of the overall beneficial effect that will have on the environment.
RD Matthews Electrical Contracting Can Help You Make the Jump to An Electric Vehicle
If you’re buying an EV, you’ll also need an EV charging station at home to recharge it every day. While slow standard voltage models can simply be plugged into a regular 120v wall socket, most people prefer the more powerful 240v chargers, which can charge an EV in 4 hours or so. These require 240v and are typically wired directly into a home’s electrical system.
You need an electrician with experience installing home EV charging stations in Northern Virginia – like RD Matthews Electrical Contracting! Our expert techs can ensure your home is ready for your new EV, at reasonable rates. Just contact us to learn more.
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