As Gas Prices Keep Rising, My Electric Car Keeps Saving Me Money
Gasoline prices have surged to their highest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic and it has me feeling pretty good about my electric vehicle purchase. I know that utility prices are also on the rise, but being able to plug my car in at home instead of paying horrid prices at the pump has still saved our family money. Charging an EV at home costs 40%-65% less than refueling a gas-powered car. Plus, driving an EV is a little gentler on the Earth, and that also feels good as we celebrate Earth Day.
Even when factoring in the additional energy required to manufacture an EV's battery, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, over the lifetime of the vehicle, total greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing, charging and driving an EV are lower than the total greenhouse gases associated with a gas-powered car.
When we bought our Ford Mustang Mach-E two years ago, the biggest pushback we heard was rooted in range anxiety -- so much so that when we showed up at the Honda dealership to test-drive their all-electric Prologue, the salesperson told us that EVs weren't realistic for most people. He said he has a 30-minute commute to work and doesn't live in the city, so the lack of charging options was a barrier for him. It felt like he wanted to steer us toward buying a combustion engine vehicle even though the Prologue has a 300-mile battery range. We loved the Prologue, but in the end we chose the Mach-E because it was more in our price range.
We've not had any trouble charging our Mach-E. From Louisville, Kentucky, we frequently drive it the 100 miles to Cincinnati, Ohio, and back. We've taken it to Nashville, Tennessee, and back and found fast chargers along the way. Flying J truck stops and Buc-ee's are reliable places to stop. And for the 30 minutes it takes to charge up, we use the restroom and grab a snack.
Another bonus is free charging offered by some businesses. I attended a conference in Ohio recently, and the hotel I stayed at offered chargers in the parking lot. I was able to charge my car for free while attending conference sessions and then drive home at the end of the weekend without having to stop again to charge.
Lately, the biggest issue we've had traveling is when all the chargers are in use so we have to wait for one to come available. So sure, if you're one of those people who views the ETA on your GPS as the time to beat, you might have to take a deep breath and slow down. It's worth it.
Electric cars are still somewhat of a luxury purchase, but they've been on the market long enough now that preowned models are available if a brand-new car isn't in your budget. If you live in an apartment complex that doesn't offer charging stations or if you don't live in a house with a driveway or garage, the convenience of charging overnight is lost. In urban areas there are enough fast chargers around to make it doable. But if you live in a rural area with long commutes, having a place to plug in at home is a must.
In 2024, Pew Research reported that 64% of Americans live within 2 miles of a public charging station, and that number is only growing. The PlugShare App tells you where charging stations are, but it's not as easy as driving down the highway and just looking for an exit to pull off and fill up when your gas light comes on. But that's changing too.
After two years of driving all electric, I'm happy we made the switch. We see more EV owners on the road these days and the infrastructure is catching up. After we bought an EV, my aunt and uncle took the plunge and so did my mom. I see the tide beginning to turn in favor of electric vehicles. The shift won't happen overnight, and it won't look the same for everyone. But for our family, the choice is reaffirmed every time we skip the gas station and plug in at home. A sustainable future doesn't have to be some far-off promise. For EV owners like us, it's already parked in our driveway.
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