Electric vehicles now more expensive to drive than gas-powered vehicles, says study
Electric vehicles (EVs) are now generally more expensive to drive than gas-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles according to a study published last month.
While upfront purchase costs may vary, the study found that ICE vehicle drivers pay on average $11.29 per 100 miles while EV drivers pay around $11.60.
“Typical mid-priced ICE car drivers paid about $11.29 to fuel their vehicles for 100 miles of driving,” said the consulting group. “That cost was around $0.31 cheaper than the amount paid by mid-priced EV drivers charging mostly at home, and over $3 less than the cost borne by comparable EV drivers charging commercially.”
The cost difference becomes even more stark when factoring in EV drivers who need to recharge frequently at charging stations at an estimated cost of $14.40 per 100 miles.
The study does not include added registration fees now being imposed on EV owners by several states that pushed for “sustainable” and “environmentally friendly” alternatives but are now losing millions of dollars in gasoline taxes. Illinois Democrats, for instance, proposed charging EV owners a $1,000 annual registration fee to recoup the loss in gas taxes. After intense backlash, however, the Prairie State settled on charging EV owners a $251 annual registration fee, $100 more than their ICE counterparts.
At least 19 states have imposed an extra annual registration fee for EVs ranging from $50 to $235, with Blue states such as Michigan and Georgia at the higher end.
In addition to the higher costs, EVs are less equipped for extreme weather.
Winter’s cold has been known to affect an electric vehicle’s driving range between 20%–41%, reports Axios. According to University of Michigan’s Energy Institute Director Anna Stefanopoulou, EVs “prefer the same sort of temperature range that people do. Anything below 40 or above 115 degrees Fahrenheit and they’re not going to deliver their peak performance.”
The Wall Street Journal also notes that EVs are severely hampered by extreme weather.
“When temperatures drop to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, the cars achieve only 54% of their quoted range,” writes the WSJ. “A vehicle that’s supposed to be able to go 250 miles between charges will make it only 135 miles on average. At 32 degrees—a typical winter day in much of the country—a Tesla Model 3 that in ideal conditions can go 282 miles between charges will make it only 173 miles.”
New York City recently found this out when it realized that its plan to convert its fleet of 6,000 garbage trucks to electric trucks — each coming with a $523,000 price tag — can only plow for four hours before running out of battery. With approximately 19,000 miles of road requiring plowing every winter, this might mean some communities would have to manually clear their own roads.
But it’s not just winter; summer heat waves can also affect EV owners. This past August, California state officials asked EV owners to refrain from charging their vehicles to conserve electricity needed to deal with the expected heat wave.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that auto manufacturers are questioning the massive push by globalist elements towards EVs, though these carmakers are afraid to speak out for fear of backlash.
"People involved in the auto industry are largely a silent majority," Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda told reporters during a trip to Thailand in December. "That silent majority is wondering whether EVs are really OK to have as a single option. But they think it’s the trend so they can’t speak out loudly."
“I don’t think the market is ready. I don’t think the infrastructure is ready. And even if you were ready to purchase one, and if you could afford it . . . they’re still too high,” said Toyota Motor North America Executive Vice President Jack Hollis in August.
