Month: September 2023

Great Questions about Electric Vehicles: Part 4

We had a local resident email us with some AMAZING questions about electric vehicles. They were so good, we decided to share them with you on our web page. This is Part 4, talking about vehicle costs, and charging with solar power.
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Q: Will electric cars ever be affordable for those on fixed income?

While EVs tend to be more expensive at purchase, there are a few factors that help make that initial purchase less painful. The main one is something called “total cost of ownership.” That means while EVs tend to cost more when you purchase them, the money you save from reduced maintenance and fuel costs more than make up for the initial expense.  Imagine no oil changes, no radiator flushes, no belts and timing chains to replace, and far less wear to your brakes.

The second one has to do with federal incentives available starting in 2023.  There is a program for tax incentives for new AND used EVs as part of the IRA infrastructure bill that tries to offset some of that initial expense of going electric. For new EVs that qualify, you can receive up to a $7,500 tax credit; used EVs that qualify can receive up to a $4,000 credit. But what if you don’t owe that much in taxes?  Here’s a little secret: if you lease ANY new electric vehicle, you can get $7,500 off the initial price! 

The third idea: consider a used electric vehicle. Due to the fact that many EV enthusiasts lease an EV for three years, in order to get the newest and latest technology, that means a large number of used EVs in great shape are available every year. And as we mentioned in the previous post, even used EVs can qualify for a tax credit – as long as they fall within the parameters, like being more than two years old, and less than $25,000 sale price.

Q: What should one know before assuming they can charge their EV with a solar panel? How many solar panels are needed for one EV? How long does charging take with solar panels?

While many EV drivers use solar panels, it’s not exactly a cut-and-dried solution. Typically, these two things are done separately – solar panels to power your home, and an EV that is powered from the grid.  A solar system that also uses batteries can be used to charge the vehicle, directly but these will vary widely, depending on the company and your local utility’s energy program.

Most people who install solar do it primarily to handle the home’s energy needs, which will also “help” charge the car. Again, a battery system can be used for this, but everyone’s situation is different. If you want a system to power your entire home, as well as your vehicle, it will determine how many panels your home would need.

Another alternative is to use what’s known as community energy. Companies like Arcadia Power allow you to sign up, link to your utility, and use wind or solar energy to power your entire home. It requires no installation or complicated home electrical wiring. Arcadia claims renewable credits on your behalf, and you can truly say your home AND car are 100 percent powered by renewables.

Q: What if the sun isn’t shining? What if power goes out during charging, will it harm the battery in any way? Will it automatically restart charging when the power comes back on?

No harm will come to the EV’s battery if the power goes out – happens at my home more than I care to admit, due to local utility outages. It’s literally just like your cell phone – charging will typically resume as soon as the power comes back on.  However, if your home had some kind of battery storage, the charge may not be interrupted at all. It would depend on what type of system you install on your home.

And if you do decide to install solar on your home, we cannot stress this enough: hire a reputable, licensed contractor. Ask for references, and talk to other clients. Here in Las Vegas, we like to recommend Robco Electric. Their company has done countless solar AND electric vehicle charging installations, and they’re good friends of NVEVA. Ask for Krystal, and tell her the NVEVA sent you!

NOTE: NVEVA does NOT use affiliate links at this time.

Great Questions about Electric Vehicles: Part 3

We had a local resident email us with some AMAZING questions about electric vehicles. They were so good, we decided to share them with you on our web page. This is Part 3, talking about end of battery life.
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Q: What happens when the battery can no longer be charged? Is there fair warning in advance, or does one end up surprised and stranded with a dead vehicle — and what options does one have to fix or replace it? 

If you’ve owned anything else, like a cell phone, you know batteries lose their charge.  And just like your cell phone, the battery doesn’t die immediately.  Typically, you will observe a slow decline in how many hours the phone will work until you need to charge it again.  Same goes for EVs – in fact, the current battery technology is the same as your cell phone. So you would start to notice you don’t seem to get as many miles per charge as you used to.  In the case of EVs with battery degradation, the issue is observed over months or even years.  So it definitely doesn’t happen “on the spot.”

Repair options will depend a lot on the brand of vehicle – frankly, some do better than others in the service department. This is where certain brands get higher ratings than others.  We would always recommend to do your homework – check with other owners, check publications like Consumer Reports, etc. – before making a purchase.

Of course, all of this is dependent on if you even need to replace the battery at all. A recent long-term study shows that Tesla Model S and X batteries have only degraded about 12 percent on average after 200k miles. Here’s the link.

Q: I’ve heard when the battery dies you basically end up paying nearly the same as for a new vehicle. How is that ever going to be affordable on a modest, or a fixed income?

In the earliest days of current electric vehicles (circa 2005), the batteries could be incredibly expensive.  However, these costs have lowered due to economies of scale (basically, the more you make, the cheaper each one becomes to make). And in those earlier days, the batteries suffered from greater reliability issues.  However, now that EVs have become more mainstream, and more companies are making them, the costs have continued to go down.  Now, it is typical if your battery did have to be replaced it would fall under the vehicle warranty.  If it exceeded those miles, the current estimate would be to cost about the same as a new engine in an ICE car.

As electric vehicles become more mainstream, costs of production will continue to fall.  The EV incentives portion of the IRA bill is designed to offset the difference between an EV and a comparable gas car.  The incentives are also designed to go away after a few years, as it’s expected EVs and gas cars will be roughly the same price by then.  So if you need to watch your pennies (as I do), your best options will probably be either: 1) leasing a new EV, or 2) purchasing a used EV that qualifies for the $4,000 credit.

These rules can and will change over time, so it’s best to check the IRS website for the official vehicle lists and qualifications to get the credit. And don’t forget: leasing instead of buying may work better for your situation.  Be sure to check with your accountant or tax advisor to see what works best for you.

In our next post, we’ll talk about charging with solar.

Great Questions about Electric Vehicles: Part 2

We had a local resident email us with some AMAZING questions about electric vehicles. They were so good, we decided to share them with you on our web page. This is Part 2, talking about battery life, and used EVs.
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Q: How long should one expect an EV battery to last? I’ve heard 15-20 years, but how much life can one really expect if the vehicle is kept in an extreme climate?

Every new all electric vehicle in the US comes with a 100,000 mile warranty on the main battery – some are even more. And typically battery life is based on miles, not years.  While the technology is still advancing, the current accepted standard for an EV battery is somewhere over 200,000 miles – some claim much higher.

While heat can definitely be an issue, most EVs made today have a liquid temperature management system – basically a radiator for your battery, which keeps its temperature cooler in summer, and warm in winter. 

If the battery temperature is moderated properly, there’s no reason to think the battery can last hundreds of thousands of miles. Liquid temperature management helps a lot. For cars without a liquid system, things like parking in a garage or covered parking may help the long-term life of the battery.

Q: Is it ever worthwhile to purchase a used EV? How does one evaluate the remaining life of the battery? Does the mileage matter? Does one need to know where the vehicle came from (extreme climate, rental agency, etc)?

Buying a used vehicle – gas or electric – requires the same type of homework, with just a few more steps.  Like any car, you’ll want to check for any remaining warranty available, damage or repair report (like a CarFax), and the like. 

For an EV, it’s best to ask for what’s called a State of Health report.  This can tell you if the battery has suffered any degradation over time, and is typically expressed in percentage of new (i.e., 92 percent). A reputable dealer will be able to get that report for you. 

And don’t forget – there may be tax advantages to getting an EV – new or used – if the vehicle you choose makes the qualifications (See our blog on Tax Incentives for details.)

Next: let’s talk end of battery life