- Check out our updated Electric Vehicle Guide.
- Join our Rev Up Electric Vehicles campaign by volunteering to call or visit one or more car dealerships to ask about EVs.
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This month, a group of policymakers introduced the bipartisan Driving America Forward Act, which, if passed, would extend America’s electric vehicle (EV) tax credit. This new legislation comes at a time when the EV tax credit is under attack by the Trump administration and its polluter allies in Congress. They have proposed eliminating the EV tax credit altogether at the behest of their dirty corporate polluter buddies like the Koch brothers, who want to keep American families dependent on oil.
But EVs are in more demand than ever; one in five U.S. drivers want an electric vehicle for their next car, and 42 percent of American households could use an electric vehicle today.
After a towering 80 percent growth in 2018 over the previous year, 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for new EV models. The US market is responding to the demand: There are now over 40 models of EVs -- a huge jump from just two in 2010.
In the spirit of this boom, we’ve upgraded our EV buyer’s guide to help you find your ideal EV.
Our EV guide is a comprehensive one-stop shop. It outlines the specs of different models and allows you to compare the fuel cost and emissions savings your EV offers compared with the best selling gasoline-powered vehicle in its class. Emissions savings are based on how clean your state’s electricity is. EVs are cleaner than conventional vehicles nationwide, but in states with more reliance on renewable sources of power and less reliance on coal, the savings are even more dramatic.
The guide provides an overview of policies and incentives in your state that can return money back to your pockets to achieve significant savings. These include tax credits, vehicle and charging station rebates, and special privileges like unlimited HOV lane access for EV drivers. You may also find additional information and track policy and emissions updates in your state at the US Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.
It also includes a “pick-a-plug-in” quiz that -- based on factors like your budget, family size, and driving habits -- shows you the EVs that might be right for you.
The Sierra Club, Plug In America, and the Electric Auto Association are also hosting Drive Electric Earth Day throughout April, with more than 150 local events across the nation that will allow you to interact with community members, test-drive EVs, and learn more about the infrastructure in place to support EVs. You can find and attend an event near you by going to the event map and registering.
Models on the Rise
The number of more-affordable EVs that offer extended ranges continues to grow. The Tesla Model 3 -- the number-one selling luxury car on the market last year -- is now available at the promised $35,000 price point. Hyundai’s award-winning Kona EV will dip below the $30,000 threshold after the federal tax credit is applied. The Kona is part of an expanding fleet of less-costly electric vehicles that includes the revamped Nissan Leaf Plus and Kia Niro EV, which boast ranges of over 200 miles and sticker prices below $40,000. As the national average new car price rises above $37,000 and increasing numbers of used vehicles become available, EVs have never been more competitive.
EVs took center stage at the Geneva Auto Show this March, with dozens of new models making their debut, including dazzling luxury models. Shortly before the show, Jaguar’s flagship EV, the I-Pace, won car of the year for Europe.
Automakers have historically missed the mark when it comes to promoting electric vehicles. Auto giants, including Volkswagen (VW) and Nissan, that are selling new all-electric models have repeatedly prioritized advertising for gas-powered vehicles while neglecting their EV offerings. Landmark settlements exposing emissions-cheating scandals for both VW and Fiat Chrysler have generated billions in funding for clean transportation, signaling to others that pollution is bad for their bottom line as well as for our climate.
Learning its lesson and responding to heightened public scrutiny, VW has committed to a 50 percent increase in production of all-electric vehicles, with the goal of producing 22 million EVs by 2029. It has also successfully converted existing plants, creating new jobs in the process. This paradigm shift has sent waves through the US market and has amplified criticism against General Motors (GM), which decided to shut down production of the Volt and lay off more than 15,000 workers. Shortly after Ford announced its plans to invest $900 million to produce electric and hybrid vehicles in the Midwest, GM pledged $300 million to jump-start new all-electric model production.
A Pivotal Moment for EVs
With countries like China barreling ahead on electric vehicles, EV deployment and investment are crucial to American leadership, innovation, and competitiveness in the international market.
The current growth presents an opportunity for automakers and businesses in the US to lead on clean transportation in the absence of strong regulatory pressure and federal incentives. Examples of progressive partnerships between companies are setting new standards for the auto industry. Without further private investment and regulation of transportation emissions, the US will be outpaced as the rest of the word electrifies.