From Guest Blogger Adam Groff: Are You Driving Off With Electric Vehicles?

Choosing an electric car over a gasoline vehicle saves the environment from harmful emissions, but there are other things to take into consideration besides Mother Nature.

Although full electric vehicles are not yet widely adopted in the United States, the electric buzz is spreading across the nation.

So, what are some things to keep in mind for drivers thinking about going electric and how many Americans are already plugging in their cars?

Some Surprising Statistics

According to Green Car Reports, around 100,000 full electric, highway capable cars have been sold in the United States since 2008. Of those sold, Chevy has 37,000 units on the road, Nissan has 25,000, Toyota has 16,000, and Tesla has roughly 10,000.

These numbers are small, but keep in mind that Henry Ford only had 1,750 cars on the road in his first year of production. The numbers above have projected increases of 20% by 2015 and other companies like Mitsubishi and BMW are planning to unveil their own electric models as well.

Things to Know

With change comes a whole new set of procedures, which is exactly the case with making the switch from gas to electric.

And, although there are not many differences when it comes to driving and handling, there are other important factors to consider.

Initial Cost – Electric vehicles do cost more in terms of the initial expense. Price comparisons between electric cars and similarly equipped non-electric vehicles show an almost 50% price increase among electrics.

Price in the Long Run – Although it might be a case of sticker shock for most drivers, operating costs of electric vehicles are much cheaper and almost make up for the price tag over time. In fact, similar gas vehicles use $16 worth of gasoline for every hundred miles where electric cars only use 75 cents worth of electricity.

In Town Driving Only – As of right now, there are not enough charge stations across the country to take an electric car on a road trip. And, considering electric vehicles average only 100 miles a charge, in town driving is recommended.

At Home Charging – Yes, drivers do have to install a charge station at their residence in order to charge their electric vehicle. The good news is the charge station usually comes included in the overall price of the car through most dealers and, to help offset the price of the car and the electricity it uses, there are also government incentives and rebates available.

Watch for Extreme Temperatures – Because most electric cars run solely off batteries, they are more sensitive to temperature than a gasoline vehicle. Temperature extremes in terms of heat can reduce range because hot batteries aren’t as efficient. Likewise, extremely cold temperatures can reduce an electric vehicle’s range by almost a third.

Other Incentives – Going electric makes the government happy and as a result there are federal tax credits of up to $7,500 available for electric vehicle owners. And, states like Oregon, California, and Washington are sweetening the deal by waving the sales tax on electric vehicle purchases altogether.

As long as drivers are willing to take the bad with the good, owning an electric vehicle is beneficial for both the environment and the person behind the wheel.

About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including personal health, ripoff report, and the environment.