Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is increasing rapidly, thanks to their higher performance, convenience and ease of ownership, and the fraction of lifecycle emissions they produce compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
CarbonCounter.com, created by MIT Trancik Lab, is an excellent resource that compares the lifecycle emissions and overall cost of ownership for a large variety of car and truck models. The site shows that no ICE vehicle can meet our goals for emissions reductions by 2030, while most current EV models meet and exceed 2040 emissions goals, including emissions from vehicle and battery production, and electricity generation.
When comparing the most popular vehicle in the US, the Ford F-150, to its all electric counterpart, the Ford F-150 Lightning, it shows a similar cost of lifetime ownership, but the electric model will produce a third of the emissions over its lifecycle. The electric model also has 66% more torque and 32% greater horsepower.
A majority of drivers can plug in their car at night and start each day with a full battery, which is more than enough to cover daily commutes and travel, with most vehicles having over 200 miles of range. For non-local travel, DC fast chargers that can top up a battery in 20 minutes are available along major travel routes in Maine from Bangor south, and more are slated to be installed soon in Ellsworth, Machias and Calais.
Lee Foster and Laurie Stuart of Eastport recently upgraded to a Hyundai Ioniq 5. "When it came to shopping for a new car, we opted for an EV in order to help reduce our carbon footprint. With strategically placed EV chargers along or near Route 1 in Maine, like the ones at Cobscook Institute, we are able to continue exploring the Bold Coast without range anxiety. We have also found that our range anxiety has declined, especially when taking longer trips to and from home, such as from Eastport, ME to Boston, MA!"
Learn more about EVs, including federal and state tax incentives and rebates, on our website: cobscookinstitute.org/electrify