Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Sierra Club released a newly updated electric vehicle (EV) guide at a time of increasing excitement around the expansion of the EV market in the United States. The evidence of growing user demand keeps mounting: 1 in 5 U.S. drivers want an electric vehicle for their next car, 42 percent of American households could use an electric vehicle today, and the number of EV models available has grown from just two in 2010 to over 40 today.
The guide includes a useful “pick-a-plug-in” quiz that suggests an appropriate model based on budget, family size, driving habits, etc. It also outlines the specs of different models and allows users to compare the fuel cost and emissions savings of EVs compared to the best selling gasoline-powered vehicle in its class based, as well as an overview of policies and incentives in each state that can return money back into people’s pockets after purchase.
Emissions savings are calculated based on how clean each 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.
“Consumer education around the benefits of electric vehicles is so important, and we’re excited to have the ‘problem’ of needing to update this guide every few years to reflect the growing EV market and the increasing number of models to choose from,” said Hieu Le, campaign representative for Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign. “There are massive cost and climate savings benefits associated with owning an electric vehicle. We want to offer people information that isn’t always easy to come by -- given the often poor marketing of EVs from the auto industry -- to help them make the right choice for their families and our climate.”
Sierra Club, Plug In America, and the Electric Auto Association are also hosting Drive Electric Earth Day (DEED) throughout April, with more than 150 local events across the nation happening to connect people with community members, test drive EVs, and learn more about the infrastructure in place to support EVs.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.