Before you buy a car during this traditional time of year and make a purchase that will have emissions and environmental consequences for the next two decades (until finally scrapped after multiple owners), please at least consider what is available now in clean renewable energy electric vehicles or EVs. If you buy a gas car today, you are committing us to another average 18 years of carbon and noxious emissions before that car is finally retired as scrap.
In light of the exponential growth in only six years of modern production, EVs are now better, faster, cleaner, cheaper to buy, cheaper to operate and cheaper to maintain for the job they do best (which is commuting and local travel). Does it make sense to buy today a gas car that will still be on the road and adding to our emissions problems through 2034?
Full-size production EVs have been available now for six years, and with over 30 models now on the market in 2016 as well as over five years of EVs on the used market (most having come off lease and been well-maintained), there is probably a model to meet almost every need (with many under $25,000 new and under $7,000 used).
Our cars produce about one-third of our carbon emissions footprint and are the second largest financial energy purchase we make every few years. Do we ignore the long-term consequences? What will be the resale value in five years of a gas car bought today when EVs already this year will have 200-mile daily range and beat gas cars in every respect for local travel?
So much of what we have heard about EVs is obsolete legacy information. Everyone should take a fresh look at this exciting transformational change that is coming fast (and is actually here), but not advertised because car companies make more profit on overpriced big SUVs and trucks than on an EVs which need a bit more explanation in the show room and for which many gasoline auto salesmen are less well prepared. EV misinformation abounds.
Do some homework before your next car purchase commitment, especially if you are the ideal candidate with a place to park at home (or work) and a simple electrical outlet to plug into every evening.
Bob Bruninga, Glen Burnie