Barnstable Patriot, February 18, 2021
In the decades to come, fuel stops at gas stations may be a thing of the past.
In September 2020, the State of California passed an executive order to ban the sale of internal combustion passenger vehicles and light trucks by 2035. In January of 2021, Massachusetts followed California to become the second state to ban sales of gas-powered vehicles by 2035, part of a broader plan to reduce emissions by 2050, as outlined in the Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap at www.mass.gov.
It’s a lot to think about. Over time, the use of electric vehicles (EVs), by lowering carbon emissions, will change not just our environmental landscape but our cultural landscape as well.
David Anthony, Barnstable’s Chief Procurement Officer, said making the switch to EVs will result in new ways of thinking for both drivers and town services.
“There’s a different mindset for drivers of electric vehicles,” Anthony said. “If you drive a vehicle that has a 200-mile range, you have to plan your travel around that limitation and/or find a charging station in a convenient spot.”
Six years ago, as part of a state grant, Barnstable installed EV charging stations at Town Hall, the North Street Hyannis parking lot and Barnstable High School. ChargePoint charging stations have since been popping up all over town. Plans are in the works to install even more at Cape Cod Gateway Airport in 2022. The town is currently considering how it can place new charging stations in the many public lots around town, Anthony said.
When it comes to making the switch to EVs, Anthony said, the average consumer may not know what’s available around town for charging stations, and this alone can affect how seriously they are considering buying the new technology.
Not to mention, what kind of cars are out there? How much do they cost? We talked with Boston area EV expert Steve Birkett to find out more.
Emerging selection
Birkett loved his first EV – a 2012 Chevy Volt – so much, he’s become somewhat of an EV crusader. A UK native, he’s lived in Boston for five years and is on his second EV, a 2020 Chevy Bolt. He’s an EV specialist for findthebestcarprice.com.
Brace for sticker shock. “The sticker price for an EV can be $5,000 to $10,000 more than its gas equivalent,” Birkett said, although EV models introduced this year are more likely to be very close in price to gas models.
There are incentives, such as the federal government’s tax credit of up to $7,500 for EV models (except for manufacturers Tesla and GM, which Birkett said have used up their allocation). Birkett also said Massachusetts offers a $2,500 rebate for a qualifying purchase or lease. Find out more at: www.greenenergyconsumers.org.
“Over the life of the vehicle, you could save thousands of dollars, “Birkett said. “You’re looking at $9 or $10 to charge up an EV for up to 250-300 miles, as opposed to $20-$25 at the gas station,” he said.
A lot of L2 charging is either free or similarly priced akin to domestic electricity ($0.15 to $0.20 per kWh). Some L2 stations require use of an app or RFID card from the network (like ChargePoint, the most common in Massachusetts).
On Birkett’s YouTube channel, Plug and Play EV, he compares and contrasts three EVs currently on the market from the big-name carmakers. Here are a few of his highlights.
The Nissan Ariya crossover builds on the success of Nissan’s Leaf, the world’s first mass-produced EV of the modern era. Aiming for 300+ miles on a single charge and 130 kilowatts fast charging, Ariya is expected to enter the market at around $40,000.
Just under $40,000, the Volkswagen id-4 has 250 miles of range and three years of free, fast charging on the Electrify America network.
With a style based on the iconic Mustang, the Ford Mustang Mach-E crossover boasts a range of up to 305 miles and DC fast-charging of up to 150 kilowatts.
Compare and contrast with the Chevy Bolt, the first all-electric model to surpass the 200+ miles of range, for less than $40,000. Bolt has been a slow-but-steady seller since its launch in 2016 and now delivers 259 miles on a single charge. Birkett added that GM has just announced that both the 2022 Bolt and Bolt EUV will be priced below $35,000.
EV expenses also depend on how much you drive, as well as the cost of your home electricity, Birkett said. Home charging usually requires a dedicated station with a 220-240-volt outlet, around the same as the plug for your washer or dryer. Power is delivered at around 6 or 7 kilowatts, which is good for a full, overnight charge. Can a car be charged with a regular home outlet? It could take days, Birkett said, as standard outlets of 110-120 volts deliver power at around 1 kilowatt per hour.
Most commercial or municipal charging stations use the 220-240-volt chargers, which run on an alternating current (AC), while some commercial ones use a fast-charging direct current (DC) that can charge a car up to 80% in 30-40 minutes. Fast chargers are harder on a battery and more expensive than charging more slowly, so most drivers typically only use them when they’re on lengthy trips. The EVgo network offers fast and Level 2 charging stations to charge the Nissan LEAF, Chevy Bolt, Tesla Model S/3/X/Y, BMW, Kia Niro, Audi, Jaguar or other EVs.
Fun fact: some EVs connect to WiFi, so we can monitor our usage.
Access is key
Noting that transportation is the second-largest generator of carbon emissions after energy production, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Wendy Northcross said the region’s climate action plan is still so new, there is no position or policy statement yet. She said that studies suggest more retailers are eager to install charging stations, as people will come to charge up and shop.
“The success for EVs to be highly desirable will be an effective and broad array of charging stations available,” Northcross said.
She said the Cape Cod Chamber, along with the Cape Cod Commission, is in the beginning stages of shaping the region’s plan.
“We’ve participated in focus groups to engage businesses in commenting and sharing their ideas,” Northcross said.
Marina Davalos is a freelance writer who lives in Cotuit.
