All News

Energy Use Coordinator MATT LAMBERT answers questions about energy efficiency, renewables, co-op programs and everything in between. Email Matt your question at askmatt@freestate.coop.


"What kind of consumption rate impact will I see if I plan to purchase an electric vehicle (EV)?"

This is a great question and one that we are hearing more and more from our members. With most of the major auto manufacturers moving much of their future production to electric vehicles (EVs) and the cost of fuel what it is, EVs are worth a look! Online research estimates it will add $30-60 a month to a person’s electric bill. I can imagine some rural Kansas residents with long commutes will exceed this and some city dwellers will be on the lower side.

To Figure Out Your Cost, First You Will Need this Information:

  • Vehicle Type
    • Make, model and year of the vehicle.
  • Average Fuel Economy (Found online or on the window sticker in the dealer lot).
    • Gas cars provide the miles per gallon.
    • For the EV, look for the kWh per 100 miles.
  • Expected Miles you will drive in a month?
    • This is highly variable depending if the vehicle is a daily commuter.
    • Average mileage of monthly trips.
  • Cost of Energy Unit
    • Gallon of gas.
    • Price per kWh estimate is 12 cents a kWh. This considers other pricing variables.

With this information we can figure out what the average cost increase will be to our electric bill. In addition to the savings on the fuel of electric vehicles, there will also be maintenance savings. On average, electric vehicles are about 33% cheaper to maintain. No oil changes, and much less need for brake pads due to regenerative breaking.

Example

Willie lives in Auburn and is employed by a business located in downtown Topeka. Willie’s annual milage averages around 15,000. Willie currently owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, but is considering an upgrade to an electric vehicle. Compared to his Malibu, Willie could save between $127.51 and $163.88 per month by switching to an EV. There are always more factors to consider when looking to purchase a new vehicle, electric or not. Apply these tools to your own situation to find out if an electric vehicle could be financially beneficial for you.If you have any questions about electric vehicles, contact us at 800-794-1989 or by email at customerservice@freestate.coop.

Additional Resources:

Attachments