It certainly seems like going “green” is trendy these days. And we hear a lot about the benefits of renewable energy and electric cars. But there may be hidden costs in the pursuit of “clean energy,” and they may affect consumers more than expected.
Take California’s new Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. California and nine other states are requiring automakers to sell a progressively larger number of electric cars each year. And so, automakers must either meet their annual ZEV quotas or purchase costly credits to make up the difference.
Unfortunately for automakers, consumers aren’t hurrying to buy electric cars. One reason, of course, is the price tag. Even the least expensive ZEVs, like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt, cost roughly $30,000.
Those prices are simply out of reach for much of America, where the median annual income is approximately $44,000. A more likely option, in contrast, would be a small, fuel-efficient vehicle like the $17,000 Chevy Cruze.
But consumers may also be balking at the limited range of electric cars. The Chevy Volt travels only 53 miles per charge. A Tesla Model S, which currently costs $70,000, may travel 200-300 miles per charge.
California is clearly in the vanguard of environmental activism, but the ZEV mandate is having an outsized effect on consumers in others states. That’s because automakers are feeling the progressively rising cost of their ZEV obligations.
In 2015, states following the ZEV mandate represented 28 percent of all U.S. vehicle sales. By 2025, those 10 states have mandated that ZEV purchases must exceed 15 percent of total car sales.
Automakers not meeting their ZEV quota must purchase credits from electric vehicle manufacturers, like Tesla, or pay a $5,000 fine for each credit they are short.
Noting the hefty price tag for electric cars, and the obvious limitations of battery range, it’s likely that automakers will be forced to buy an expensive chunk of credits each year in order to meet their increasing ZEV obligations.
That’s when things get interesting since auto manufacturers already survive on tight margins. Meeting ZEV requirements will mean automakers passing the cost of these credits on to their customers. And that means conventional autos rising in price to help subsidize more costly electric cars.
Realistically, the ZEV mandate means cash-strapped consumers in heartland America will be paying more to buy a conventional car. And they will be doing so to aid the purchase of electric cars for wealthier Americans.
It’s a strangely convoluted scenario since electric cars are typically purchased as a second or third vehicle for more affluent families. But now, wealthier America will purchase a Tesla more easily, thanks to the subsidies being shouldered by lower income families.
There’s a further irony here, too, since almost two-thirds of all electricity generated in the U.S. comes from coal and natural gas power plants. Thus, these plug-in electric vehicles will still be powered mostly by fossil fuels.
If ZEV mandates increase, more Americans could be compelled to purchase electric cars — or face escalating auto prices. That could mean even middle-class Americans struggling to afford a car.
But that might well be the grand intention of those pushing so hard for electric cars — to simply price conventional automobiles out of reach for everyday Americans.
David Rothbard is president and Craig Rucker is executive director of CFACT.
Read more at Herald-News
FUN FACTS
FEEL THE FREEDOM OF THE OPEN ROAD AS A NEW EV OWNER.
2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Base Curb Weight 3563 lbs
Battery Range 238 mi >>> is the battery range only…. useful range is lots lower.
charge time >>>>>>>>>>>9.3h at 220V
MSRP: From $36,620
Range: 238 mi battery-only
Battery charge time: 9.3h at 220V
MPGe: 128 city / 110 highway >>>>(The major problem with MPGe is that it doesn’t say exactly what electric car owners need to know. http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/04/what-is-mpge-electric-car-fuel-economy-ratings-explained.html)
Battery: 60 kWh 350 V lithium-ion
Trunk Volume, with rear seats in normal position 16.9 cu ft 16.9 cu ft
Max Cargo Volume 56.6 cu ft 56.6 cu ft
Height, Overall 62.8 in 62.8 in
Passenger Volume 94.4 cu ft 94.4 cu ft
Length, Overall 164.0 in 164.0 in
Track Width, Front 59.1 in 59.1 in
Track Width, Rear 59.1 in 59.1 in
Wheelbase 102.4 in 102.4 in
Front Head Room 39.7 in 39.7 in
Front Hip Room 51.6 in 51.6 in
Front Leg Room 41.6 in 41.6 in
Front Shoulder Room 54.6 in 54.6 in
Passenger Capacity 5 5 (1 adult <160lb + 4 pre-kindergarten passengers)
Second Head Room 37.9 in 37.9 in
Second Hip Room 50.8 in 50.8 in
Second Leg Room 36.5 in 36.5 in
Second Shoulder Room 52.8 in 52.8 in
The vehicle cannot be driven while
the charge cord is plugged into the
vehicle. Bummer!!
A CHARGING OVERRIDE/
INTERRUPTION OCCURRED
message may display to indicate
that a charging override or
interruption has occurred due to one
or more of the following events:
.
Override of the charge settings
by the owner.
.
Unintended interruption of AC
power at the vehicle’s
charge port.
.
Interruption of charging due to
CLOUD COVER OR CALM WIND CONDITIONS.
When using a 120-volt AC electrical
outlet, it will take approximately
50 hours to charge the vehicle from
a fully depleted battery with the
12 amp AC current setting, allowing
approximately 6 km (4 mi) for every
hour of charging.
When using a 240-volt charging
station, it will take approximately
9.5 hours to charge the vehicle with
the 32 amp setting, allowing
approximately 40 km (25 mi) for
every hour of charging.
Do not allow the vehicle to remain in
temperature extremes for long
periods without being driven or
plugged in.
OR FEEL THE FREEDOM OF THE OPEN ROAD IN A FOSSIL FUEL ALTERNATIVE (STILL AVAILABLE AS A RENTAL AT MOST MAJOR CALIFORNIA AIRPORTS)
2018 Chevrolet Malibu 1VL
Passenger
MSRP: $21,680.00
Fuel economy (MPG): 27 city | 36 highway
Engine: 1.5 L 160 HP In-Line 4
Fuel Tank Capacity 15.8 gal 15.8 gal
Range: City 426 mi
Fuel Tank charge time: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>7 minutes
Dimension: 193.8″ L x 73″ W x 57.6″ H
Weight: 3,086 lbs
Seating: 5 (adults)
Base Curb Weight 3126 lbs 3126 lbs
Height, Overall 57.6 in 57.6 in
Passenger Volume 102.9 cu ft 102.9 cu ft
Trunk Volume 15.8 ft³ 15.8 ft³
Length, Overall 193.8 in 193.8 in
Track Width, Front 62.6 in 62.6 in
Track Width, Rear 62.5 in 62.5 in
Wheelbase 111.4 in 111.4 in
Width, Max w/o mirrors 73.0 in 73.0 in
Front Head Room 39.1 in 39.1 in
Front Hip Room 54.1 in 54.1 in
Front Leg Room 42.0 in 42.0 in
Front Shoulder Room 58.5 in 58.5 in
Passenger Capacity 5 5
Second Head Room 37.5 in 37.5 in
Second Hip Room 53.4 in 53.4 in
Second Leg Room 38.1 in 38.1 in
Sorry don’t see the problem here. Just let the non EV manufacturers stop selling in those States so consumers just have to buy EV’s. Most will soon get fed up with crap EV limited cars so they either kick out their legislators or move to a more sensibly run State.
When does a dream car become a nightmare? When you have to turn off your heater or a/c to reach your destination. Now that is ironic.
Give up personal climate control in a vain effort to control the climate.
EV’s are a leap too far. Hybrids are the sweet spot for thinking environmentalists.
“California is clearly in the vanguard of environmental activism”
No. The environmental activism is coming from elected officials who, instead of leading by example, are herding their California electorate towards environmental activism.
…………..
“Unfortunately for automakers, consumers aren’t hurrying to buy electric cars.”
Unfortunately for automakers??? WTF! California consumers are making sound and practical choices based on their reality.
And pushing up mandates will only result in pushing people out.