Owning an electric car
Surprise! Electric cars are fun to drive
Here are some quick facts you may not know about electric cars:
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Electric cars can produce near-instant torqueElectric motors generate near-instant torque. This means electric cars can have extremely fast acceleration and a “light” or “zippy” feel compared to conventional cars. |
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An electric car's battery recharges as you brakeElectric cars pull off an ingenious feat called "regenerative braking" (or regen). When you accelerate an electric vehicle, the battery sends energy to the wheels, moving the vehicle forward. When braking, electric cars send energy from the wheels to the battery via the motor, which functions in this scenario as an electric generator. Electric cars do a great job of not wasting any energy. |
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Electric cars are quietElectric cars almost entirely eliminate engine noise. And because of their ergonomic design, they also tend to have lower coefficients of drag, which can reduce wind passage noise at higher speeds. |
PSE is investigating different electric car charging options for our customers. For more info, or general questions, please talk with one of our Energy Advisors.
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Electric cars cost less to fuel
One of the best parts about electric car ownership is that you'll never pay for gasoline again.
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Electric cars require less maintenance
Electric cars have fewer parts to maintain than a traditional combustion engine. Maintenance savings are one of the main reasons to buy electric.
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Electric cars are healthier
Electric cars are healthier because they don't produce tailpipe emissions. One major difference between an electric car and a conventional one is the tailpipe – there isn't one on an electric car. Electric cars omit them because they don't burn fossil fuel (gasoline) to power the engine. Therefore, they do not produce any exhaust.
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Electric car batteries are proven and safe
A common question about electric car ownership is, "Am I going to have to replace the battery?" The simple answer is, "Probably not." But that will depend on how and where you drive your vehicle, and the dealer warranty. Currently, most manufacturers are offering eight-year/100,000- mile warranties for their batteries.
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Electric cars must undergo the same rigorous safety testing
Electric cars must undergo the same rigorous safety testing and meet the same safety standards required for conventional vehicles sold in the United States. They also have to meet specific standards for limiting chemical spillage from batteries, securing batteries during a crash, and isolating the chassis from the high-voltage system to prevent electric shock.
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Electric cars may increase your home's electricity bill
When you charge an electric car at home, you may see an increase in your monthly electricity bill. Some customers notice that home charging pushes them past our Tier 1 600 kilowatt hour (kWh) limit into the higher priced Tier 2. Our current rate schedule charges about 9 cents per kWh for the first 600 kWh consumed by your household. Once you exceed that limit, the kWh rate increases to about 11 cents in Tier 2 for any additional kWh used. An electric car can drive about 3 miles on each kWh of electricity used, or around 3 cents per mile. Compare that to the price of a gallon of gas, which is over 10 cents per mile!
PSE is investigating different electric car charging options for our customers. For more info, or general questions about our rate schedules, please talk with one our Energy Advisors.
Fun fact: Electric-car technology has been in existence since the 1800s!
Anyone who says electric-car technology is unproven probably doesn’t know that inventors and manufacturers have been tweaking the batteries for over 100 years.
Here is fascinating technology timeline from Energy.gov. Electric cars are here to stay.
