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Big spread in utility rates reduces environmental benefits of electric vehicles

GasBuddy Blog -- In fairness to the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt, and other plug-in vehicles, we've got to cut them some slack and recognize that the first-generation of almost any major innovation often has plenty of room for improvement.

With plug-ins, we've got a class of vehicles that can help reduce greenhouse gases and protect the atmosphere. By driving these vehicles, the incentive for consumers is supposed to be that we will save all that money we would have been spending on gasoline.

The problem, of course, is that the plug-ins generally cost $8,000 to $20,000 more than comparable gasoline versions, according to the Detroit News, and it can take years or decades to recoup the higher initial cost.

Consequently, the...

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Submitted Apr 18, 2012 By: PD

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eye-spy Champion Author Quebec Posts:4,583 Points:2,416,870 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 10:05:56 AM Ignore eye-spy Report Abuse I believe that this was posted yesterday.
Cheepo Champion Author Tampa Posts:9,889 Points:3,128,005 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 10:05:46 AM Ignore Cheepo Report Abuse Plenty of room alright!!! Electricity is NOT GREEN!!!!!!!!!!
peanutsMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,678 Points:384,935 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 10:05:23 AM Ignore peanutsMN Report Abuse OK
gasper Champion Author Edmonton Posts:4,485 Points:1,368,310 Joined:Mar 2002	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 10:05:04 AM Ignore gasper Report Abuse Power prices are already too high and that is one reason people are not buying them.
MRHONEST Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,212 Points:1,675,680 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 10:04:44 AM Ignore MRHONEST Report Abuse How true
wang91554 Champion Author San Jose Posts:3,165 Points:1,200,830 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 10:04:23 AM Ignore wang91554 Report Abuse so? big spread in gasoline prices, too.
EVBuddy Champion Author Nevada Posts:16,685 Points:3,030,620 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:57:56 AM Ignore EVBuddy Report Abuse I drove been in of my cars since 1967
19sheldon43 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,979 Points:843,010 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:57:49 AM Ignore 19sheldon43 Report Abuse I would not cut them any slack. Slack is just a code word for Gov. subsidy. Been there done that
greenfog Champion Author Illinois Posts:6,485 Points:1,638,045 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:56:26 AM Ignore greenfog Report Abuse true EVs are still decades away.
jtfftj Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:2,176 Points:1,247,305 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:52:53 AM Ignore jtfftj Report Abuse "Cut them some slack"??? Cut them into tiny little pieces and throw them away.
pulpwood Champion Author Mississippi Posts:7,379 Points:1,859,605 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:52:39 AM Ignore pulpwood Report Abuse that and curly bulbs!
jimbo1867 Champion Author Arizona Posts:5,372 Points:2,054,550 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:51:08 AM Ignore jimbo1867 Report Abuse uhuh
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,417 Points:1,471,620 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:50:08 AM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse Technology will march forward. Remember the first cell phones - big, bulky, and expensive. Cars, like cell phones, will evolve and improve.
5Golfer8 Champion Author Tucson Posts:2,138 Points:300,650 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:48:56 AM Ignore 5Golfer8 Report Abuse If their such a good product than Obama and his ilk should be using them.
uptherefiners Champion Author Chicago Posts:5,048 Points:1,002,000 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:46:53 AM Ignore uptherefiners Report Abuse old 'news'
Lerxst17 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,025 Points:396,925 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:46:26 AM Ignore Lerxst17 Report Abuse Electric vehicles are beyond overrated.
mageetp Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,205 Points:625,655 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:46:18 AM Ignore mageetp Report Abuse Not for me yet.
checkitnow Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,031 Points:571,345 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:45:22 AM Ignore checkitnow Report Abuse EVs just shift demand upstream...
amearly Champion Author Michigan Posts:12,114 Points:2,466,635 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:44:16 AM Ignore amearly Report Abuse So why is is lately the same article are repeated day after day?
Zeke33 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:5,568 Points:1,614,185 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:43:35 AM Ignore Zeke33 Report Abuse There are several factors which plague the electic vehicle. Vehicle cost, recharging infastructure, too short distance between recharges, just to name a few.
seahawks Champion Author Washington Posts:3,227 Points:1,963,745 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:42:02 AM Ignore seahawks Report Abuse interesting!!!
oldiesman Champion Author New York Posts:6,427 Points:2,193,960 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:41:45 AM Ignore oldiesman Report Abuse Not for me too EXPENSIVE!
BrucePen Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,596 Points:1,360,865 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:40:55 AM Ignore BrucePen Report Abuse They have to have an economical value before they will hit main stream.
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,014 Points:1,486,655 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:40:54 AM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Headline is just as wrong today as it was wrong yesterday! Big spread in utility rates affects ECONOMIC benefits, electricity SOURCE affects environmental benefits.
pecos Champion Author Columbus Posts:7,720 Points:2,111,310 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:40:14 AM Ignore pecos Report Abuse They won't take off until they are the same or less than regular cars.
RangerTrainer Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,453 Points:608,470 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:39:38 AM Ignore RangerTrainer Report Abuse Don't sell the farm yet.
ultm8opie Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,194 Points:532,880 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:39:06 AM Ignore ultm8opie Report Abuse once they are more economical than gas, they will take off
RedskinGas Champion Author Tennessee Posts:2,008 Points:1,129,085 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:36:40 AM Ignore RedskinGas Report Abuse CNG!!!
memo81 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,343 Points:443,525 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:35:44 AM Ignore memo81 Report Abuse Alternatives are good. Keep trying
BWALL2700 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,174 Points:195,735 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:35:27 AM Ignore BWALL2700 Report Abuse Next thing the speculators will be buying electricity.
Bhmf4 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,014 Points:1,232,820 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:35:12 AM Ignore Bhmf4 Report Abuse This technology is 50 years away from being economic, unless we tax the oil well past European levels.
TopGunn Champion Author Baltimore Posts:9,181 Points:2,615,305 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:33:03 AM Ignore TopGunn Report Abuse As I have said since the beginning of 'EV's', there won't be one in my driveway.
vjs3 Champion Author Denver Posts:2,531 Points:648,715 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:31:40 AM Ignore vjs3 Report Abuse Haven't heard some of this information before. Thanks for the article PD.
etop8222 Veteran Author Reading Posts:429 Points:58,330 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:28:22 AM Ignore etop8222 Report Abuse Very interesting. Guess my thought of buying a EV are out the window.
matthwbar Champion Author Toledo Posts:4,058 Points:1,016,830 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:27:12 AM Ignore matthwbar Report Abuse LoL...another reason for bigger government...
Virgin55 Veteran Author Ocala Posts:313 Points:888,340 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:27:02 AM Ignore Virgin55 Report Abuse ok
idigau22 Champion Author Washington Posts:23,404 Points:3,201,010 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:26:56 AM Ignore idigau22 Report Abuse Double the utility rates for EV drivers!!
honkerman Champion Author San Jose Posts:44,237 Points:2,396,120 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:25:40 AM Ignore honkerman Report Abuse Buying two propulsion and fuel systems makes hybrids too expensive, and batteries alone won't do the needed range. It's not for me yet.
Beboper Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,722 Points:2,162,815 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:25:33 AM Ignore Beboper Report Abuse the cars are to much anyway
firechief Champion Author New York Posts:3,441 Points:2,065,400 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:24:11 AM Ignore firechief Report Abuse lol
dchiou Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,821 Points:792,240 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:23:43 AM Ignore dchiou Report Abuse I'm glad I didn't get a plug in
DandyDapple All-Star Author North Dakota Posts:715 Points:309,320 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:20:19 AM Ignore DandyDapple Report Abuse OMG 2012 ...
passin_gas2011 All-Star Author Ohio Posts:750 Points:141,595 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:20:10 AM Ignore passin_gas2011 Report Abuse well,,,ok....they save on greenhouse gasses,,but why cant they be a little more affordable??..the engineering is there,,but still makes it harder for some of us to purchase them. if something helps the environment, why not make them easier to afford
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,324 Points:1,531,150 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:18:53 AM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Electrics are environmentally friendly in name ONLY!
TRAIN RIDER Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:9,077 Points:2,756,845 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:16:46 AM Ignore TRAIN RIDER Report Abuse It is actually less expensive to drive a regular vehicle than the same one that is electric or hybrid.
crusader1975 Champion Author Louisiana Posts:1,134 Points:308,475 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:16:15 AM Ignore crusader1975 Report Abuse These electric vehicles isn't the end all solution to the energy problems.
GryphonX Champion Author Nevada Posts:6,100 Points:1,587,350 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:12:24 AM Ignore GryphonX Report Abuse I'm fine with all that, just quit GIVING my money away as rebates so someone else can have a nice vehicle!
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:16,200 Points:1,596,570 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:12:15 AM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse Well, Obama is forcing us to buy health insurance. Can't he force everybody making over half a mil a year to buy a Volt?
papakoca All-Star Author Texas Posts:649 Points:529,660 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:10:23 AM Ignore papakoca Report Abuse The increased demand for electricity for some will impact the rates for all; and not in a good way.
dinomen Champion Author Arkansas Posts:1,882 Points:718,685 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:09:18 AM Ignore dinomen Report Abuse Ok.
Red7002011 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:3,327 Points:667,745 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:08:54 AM Ignore Red7002011 Report Abuse Really!
ss70 Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,653 Points:1,869,125 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 19, 2012 9:07:25 AM Ignore ss70 Report Abuse Without big imports of Crude Dollar would be better off. Control the Chinese conversion rate Dollar would be even better.