Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

hebb
Lv 6

Why buy an electric car to save on fuel costs?

When my reality is that electricity costs more that gas. I have read three articles this month that state that the average cost of electricity is ten cents per KW. But my SCEdison average cost is over 25c and my tier 5 (or marginal) cost appears to well over 40c and maybe 50c with taxes and users fees. And there is no discount for "off peak" to use electricity at night. This seems to equal gas at four to five dollars per gallon?

10 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    With the average electric rates (10 cents per kWh), electric cars cost around 2 cents per mile. If your rate is 25 cents per kWh, then it would cost you 5 cents per mile.

    In comparison, a Prius gets around 50 mpg, so if gas costs $3/gallon, that's 6 cents per mile. That's the most fuel efficient car you can get right now, and it's still more expensive than an electric car, plus gas prices are not going to stay down around $3/gallon forever.

  • GABY
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    25c seems very high. In Kentucky we pay about 7c/kwh. Why would anyone live there in southern Cal? SCE can't build any plants in Cal. because of your environmentalists, so they just build them in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico and pollute those states. Maybe that drives their cost up?

    There is a web site that gives all states rates. It shows California avg is about 15c/KWH. In some areas, taxes added can run that up a lot. hat may be why 25c?

    http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/rankings/stateelectric...

    A small car like a Corrola will cost 7-8 cents/mile. That is a lot cheaper than a hybrid or electric when you factor in the high initial cost of the electric and hybrid, and the major limitations of most electrics (Range, size, charging down time) I drive a long way to work, so the electric is a no no for me.

    Even better, get one of those European diesels or the VW Jetta diesel that get 50-60MPG. Better for the environment than both and cost less.

  • 1 decade ago

    I think that your math is wrong, or that you live in a place with extremely high electricity prices/ extremely low gas prices. Running cars on electricity should reduce the fuel costs, since it's more efficient to create the energy at a power plant than in the engine of your car.

    Do you really pay 25 cents per kW-hour? That's a lot. You should call your utility and ask why it's so high.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I'm sorry but I do not believe that you are paying 50c per kwh. If thats the case you ABSOLUTELY must switch to solar panels on your home. It will pay off in 5 years instead of 20 for most people.

    I pay 8c per kwh here, so its a no brainer to get an electric car and save money.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • fred
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    The electric you buy will all get converted to motive force; the infernal combustion engine will be less than 25% efficient, once it has warmed up, once it is running at optimum load (not accelerating or braking)

    the electric car will recover energy when slowing down (regenerative braking), will use no energy stopped in traffic etc. No side journeys to a petrol station, just plug in at home or work.

    An electric car should cost about 5c a mile in electric.

    or install your own photo-voltaics or wind turbine (for less than the cost some people pay for leather seats) and free fuel for life

    plus free parkin in places like Westminster or LAX, often lower taxes, like no London congestion charge, use of California car pool lanes ...

    and lower maintenance costs, no coolant, exaust, fuel system, or transmission, or valves and injectors etc.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    i could actually enjoy a hyperlink touching directly to the potential expenses . I stay in an exceedingly rural portion of my state in a medium length city. yet I additionally grew up and function lived interior the mountainous South West the place each and every factor is in many situations miles away. i think of plug in autos could be great for city or the city and finally technologies will seize up and hybrids will grow to be extra inexpensive and extra accessible . And we are able to be waiting to tension added and extra inexpensive then ever before . i don't comprehend why Republicans ( no longer all ) oppose extra inexpensive purifier potential. it can be a God deliver . And a very valuable Quantum bounce for our society . green potential is utilising what God has given us freely in a non poisonous way in basic terms like using oil and gas products are so poisonous.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    you are right. It takes just as much energy to run a car on gasoline as it does coal (ie electricity).

    If we were to build nuclear, the cost of electricity would drop everywhere but where you live. You live in an area that is socialistic and tending toward communistic. The reverse tier system says everyone is equal economically. In the free parts of the US we do not allow socialism.

    Source(s): Gasolie is a $1.87 today, Mr Masters, suck wind and never say never!!!
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Saving fuel costs is not the aim. Saving fuel is.

    For the past 70 years, America has carelessly squandered most of it's oil resources. There is a limited amount of oil left in the world, and it won't be long before it runs out.

    We need to prepare now. Otherwise the world economy will collapse, and I don't mean a recession!

  • 1 decade ago

    You are right. It doesn't make sense to use SCE. However, if you plan to stay in your home, solar panels could be one answer, unfortunately they are not good at off peak.

    Hybrid is they way to go now.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I just looked it up. I pay 6cents per kW,h in Canada.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.