The Drive Change. Drive Electric website is a partnership between auto manufacturers and Northeast states to promote awareness and encourage adoption of electric cars. The site lists facts about the use of electric vehicles (EVs), including convenience, affordability, sustainability, and types of electric cars now available.
All-electric vehicles are zero emissions cars, and they help in the fight against climate change. According to the NRDC, if 60% of cars on the road were EVs, carbon emissions would be lowered by one third. That is equivalent to taking 82.5 million gas-powered cars off the road.
Some may be concerned about the driving range of EVs on a single charge. EVs can handle an average daily commute with several more trips to spare. Ninety-five percent of the daily driving needs of Americans can be met by EVs. The average total that people drive is 36.5 miles per day in urban areas and 48.6 miles per day in rural areas. Battery powered EVs have a range of 80-250 miles on a single charge, and hybrid EVs (electric and gas) have a range of 350-600 miles.
If you are a family with more than one vehicle, consider pledging to change one to an EV. You can save from $2,000 to $4,000 on gas per year, and there are also state and federal rebate programs.
We recommend checking out the Drive Change Drive Electric site, which contains useful information about making the transition, including:
Personal Stories: Hear directly from other people who made the switch to electric and see what else they learned in the process.
Key Facts: Learn why EVs are not just the green option for driving, but can also save you money and time. Learn about charging at home, at night, in public, and while at work. In terms of affordability, EVs can be cheaper if you add in state and federal tax credits, fuel savings, and insurance discounts.
Available Options: Check out what EVs are available right now by browsing options by major manufacturers, drivetrain type, and vehicle model, including hatchback, minivan, sedan, and SUV. Learn about the many different drivetrain types, including battery electric vehicles that run exclusively on an electric motor – no gas needed, with a driving range from 80 miles up to 250 miles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles use a combination of an electric motor and a gasoline engine. They can run on the battery from 15 to 50 miles, then once the battery is depleted, the gas engine continues to power the car to extend the range of the vehicle. The combined range with electric and gas is 350-600 miles. Fuel cell electric vehicles have an electric motor and use a fuel cell to convert hydrogen into electricity. They are not yet available for sale in the Northeast but are expected to be introduced soon.