Top five reasons to choose an electric car

Electric vehicles (EVs) offer significant financial benefits, including lower fueling costs—with savings ranging from several hundred to over $1,000 annually—and reduced maintenance costs of $6,000 to $12,000 over a vehicle's life. Environmentally, EVs produce fewer emissions than conventional cars even on coal-heavy grids, with the potential to reduce US oil use by 1.5 million barrels per day by 2035. Additionally, EVs provide a superior driving experience through instant torque and a low center of gravity, while offering convenience via home charging and simplified mechanical maintenance.

• Electric vehicles provide financial savings through lower fueling and maintenance costs. In the 50 largest US cities, electricity rate plans make fueling cheaper than gasoline, potentially saving drivers from several hundred to over $1,000 per year. Furthermore, because battery EVs lack gasoline engines and do not require oil changes, spark plugs, or timing belts, owners can save between $6,000 and $12,000 over the vehicle's lifespan compared to gasoline versions.
• EVs reduce global warming pollution and local air pollution regardless of the electricity source. Even when powered by the most coal-dominated grids in the US, EVs produce fewer emissions than conventional cars; the average US EV currently matches the emissions of a gasoline car achieving 100 miles per gallon. They also eliminate tailpipe emissions of fine particulate matter, which are linked to cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
• The adoption of electric vehicles can significantly decrease reliance on fossil fuels. By transitioning away from gasoline and diesel, EVs have the potential to reduce US oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels per day by the year 2035.
• Electric vehicles improve the driving experience and user convenience. Performance benefits include instant torque for responsive acceleration and a low center of gravity for better handling and ride comfort. Convenience is increased through the ability to charge at home and a simpler mechanical design that removes the need for routine engine tune-ups every 5,000 to 10,000 miles.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2018). Top five reasons to choose an electric car. https://www.ucs.org/resources/top-five-reasons-choose-electric-car

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Top five reasons to choose an electric car. 2018. https://www.ucs.org/resources/top-five-reasons-choose-electric-car.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Top five reasons to choose an electric car |date=12 March 2018 |url=https://www.ucs.org/resources/top-five-reasons-choose-electric-car |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2018top, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Top five reasons to choose an electric car}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2018}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ucs.org/resources/top-five-reasons-choose-electric-car}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }