In recent years, more and more drivers in the United States have been shifting from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles (EVs). In 2020, EV market hit an all-time high with over $10 million in sales. It seems as though there has been a sudden interest in making the transitioning from traditional forms of energy to energy that’s both sustainable and renewable. Since an EV can also save you money, they appear to be a better investment for many people in spite of their higher initial costs — and federal tax credits and state utility incentives can help with those.
Although gas-powered vehicles may be cheaper to buy, they are much more expensive in terms of fuel consumption. The cost of gasoline for most vehicles averaged about $3.20 per gallon for 2021, and that doesn’t include either state or local taxes. If you own a small vehicle, this could run you $30 per week or more, depending on how often you drive. Plus, gasoline can erode the environment with toxic emissions, which makes it one of the leading contributors to climate change.
Cars that run on both fossil fuel and electricity, known as hybrids, are becoming increasingly popular as we make the shift from gas to electric. During this phase, we are gradually making progress toward our ultimate goal of zero emissions.
The Backstory on Electric vs. Gas-Powered Vehicles
You may have noticed how vigorously electric vehicles are competing with gas-powered cars these days. And there are more reasons for this move to cars that run on electricity.
Although the electric motor was invented in 1828 and some electric vehicles emerged in the 19th century, their high cost, low speed, and short range limited them mostly to public transportation such as rail vehicles. The first modern EV, India’s three-wheeled VIKRAM SAFA, emerged in 1996, when approximately 400 of them were produced and sold. This electric vehicle used zero fossil fuels and soon caught the public eye. In 2000, an Indian 18-seater electric bus became popular, too. Then about 200 electric vans made their trial run in Delhi, but they did not do well in the market because of their batteries’ high cost and short lifespan.
The high purchase prices and limited supply of the early EV limited its appeal to drivers. In spite of their initial fascination with these innovative, eco-friendly vehicles, most people weren’t buying them.
A Surprising Fact About Electric and Gas-Powered Vehicles
A closer look at historical trends in modern transportation yields an astonishing fact about vehicles in general. You might be surprised to know that the earliest cars were powered by electricity. Also known as electric carriages, they were hailed as a mechanical alternative to carriages with actual, equine horsepower.
Yet, it should come as no surprise that these novel inventions were short-lived. Due to the limited speed and the short lifespan of the battery, it wouldn’t be long before such vehicles were scrapped in favor of fuel-consuming modes of transportation, which would serve commuters who drove greater distances for work and errands.
Continuing Trends in Gas vs. Electric Vehicles
The popularity of modern driving had more of us using cars that were powered by fossil fuels throughout the 20th century. As oil companies continued to make a profit from gasoline consumption, oil prices would continue to rise worldwide. Nonetheless, the gasoline-fueled automobile continued to dominate the U.S. landscape. However, Americans’ concerns with environmental toxins would soon have an impact on the way modern vehicles would be designed and used.
The Sudden Interest in Going Electric
Convenience may be another driving force in choosing to go electric when buying a vehicle. More cities across the nation now provide charging stations to power such cars, and you can even buy a charging station of your own. This makes charging your vehicle overnight possible, and you can have it for immediate use the next day.
Such trends may be part of what sparked greater public interest in driving electric vehicles as we moved forward into the 21st century. The convenience of plugging in your vehicle closely resembles that of using other popular devices like computers or smartphones. Statistics for 2021 show about 43,000 public EV charging stations and around 120,000 charging ports in the United States, compared with more than 150,000 gasoline fueling stations, 127,588 of them attached to convenience stores where drivers can find other products they want, often including fast food.
The popularity of electric vehicles is trending upward. But even with the greater demand for EVs, the number of public charging stations pales in comparison to the number of gas stations that are still in business. Based on the latest available data, it appears that we are still a long way from making a complete transition electric-powered cars.
Why Gasoline-Powered Cars Still Dominate the Market
In spite of public interest, the demand for crude oil remains. Progress toward cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy remains slow and steady. The question is, what’s the delay? Could it be that oil companies still need to make a profit? Maybe our hesitancy lies in that need or a sense of trepidation toward embracing new ideas in clean energy.
Nevertheless, there are five primary reasons why so many of us may be leery of making that switch:
- Price: Statistics show that electric vehicles can cost up to $28,620 for something like the Nissan Leaf in some European countries. The cost in the United States ranges from about $30,000 for a compact electric hatchback to $100,000 luxury sport sedans that qualify as true performance autos. The cost can be offset by choosing to lease a battery rather than buy it at the time that you purchase your car. However, you can buy a new gasoline-powered car with good fuel economy for less than $15,000.
- Selection: Car owners still prefer vehicles powered by internal combustion engines by a wide margin. Manufacturers offer only about 30 all-electric models to choose from. Gasoline-powered vehicles still account for nearly 90% of the cars and light trucks on U.S. roads, and some manufacturers are working to develop cleaner internal combustion engines that are friendlier to the environment.
- Convenience: There is still substantial public scrutiny over a lack of chargers or public charging stations. Since electric vehicles are still a bit of a novelty, there could be disadvantages in the area of convenience. The engine may not last as long and may need frequent charges, especially for longer trips. Demand is critical for more public charging stations, and it must be met along with the demand for clean air while driving.
- Quick vs. Fast: Although an EV can reach its peak speed very quickly, most electric vehicles are not as fast as their gasoline-fueled counterparts. Automakers are speedily catching up, though. Some street-legal EVs can go 150 mph or even faster.
- Safety Concerns: There has been a recent concern regarding the safety of EVs’ batteries. For electric vehicles, there is significant scrutiny regarding the possibility of a battery fire from overuse. A car that uses more electric battery charge would provoke a bit of an alarm, but nothing has been reported so far.
Conclusion
Although the future for electric vehicles looks bright, there’s still a long way to go before they become as available and affordable as gasoline-powered ones. To decide which is right for you, you need to take multiple factors into account. How much do you want to spend to buy and maintain your car? How does the cost of gasoline compare with the availability of EV charging stations in your area? Answering these and other questions raised above can help you make an informed decision.
