From SCOCO volunteer Jimmy Weir:
Recently, my wife and I determined it was time to buy a new car. Our research confirmed an
electric vehicle (EV) would serve our transportation needs. We found the website plugincars.com
useful, with general information on electric and hybrid cars, including a list of the prices,
features, and ranges of the current models. A factor for most buyers of an EV is what the
industry labels “range anxiety”, that is concern about the distance an EV can go between
charges.
Online research brought us to test-driving the Chevy Bolt (238-mile range), Nissan Leaf (151-mile range), and Volkswagen E-Golf (125-mile range). We were between the Leaf and E-Golf when we went to a second Nissan dealer, this time in Antioch. After this dealer offered $5000 off manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Leaf and a 0 % interest loan, we were sold.
Two weeks later I’d say an EV is like phone, when you get home at night you charge it. From a typical 120-volt source, a full change can take 12 hours or longer. We plan to install a 240-volt Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) - this is often referred to as a charger, but technically the charger is located in the car - at an estimated cost of between $750 to $1250. This should halve our charging time.
Federal and state rebates influenced our decision. The IRS provides a tax rebate of up to $7500, but this can vary depending on an individual’s tax circumstances and will eventually be phased out. California offers a $2,500 rebate. With plans to install solar soon, we make these costly investments today confident in meaningful savings and a lighter carbon footprint tomorrow.
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