by Darren Springer, BED General Manager Driving an electric vehicle (EV) is a great transportation choice – it’s better for the environment and less expensive than using gasoline. EVs are efficient and fun to drive, with instant torque and responsiveness. Also, EVs are becoming less expensive and offering longer driving ranges that are starting to rival conventional vehicles. Charging around town and beyond is becoming more widely available.
For Burlingtonians not ready to take the leap to fully electric vehicles, I encourage you to look closely at the benefits of driving electric by choosing a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
Today, more than 20 different plug-in hybrid EV models are available, with more on the way. A plug-in hybrid has batteries that are recharged using the electric grid, just like EVs. Unlike EVs, plug-in hybrids also have a back-up conventional engine for use when electric range is depleted. Plug-in hybrids can be charged using a regular household outlet or with faster chargers. The range for plug-in hybrid models can vary, but for Burlingtonians with reasonable commutes, driving a plug-in hybrid means a greener and cheaper commute as you save money on gasoline.
As a plug-in hybrid EV driver myself, I have committed to driving as many miles as possible by using electric power instead of gasoline. After four months of driving my plug-in, I still have not had to fill up the gas tank. When I need to fuel my plug-in hybrid, I use 100 percent renewable electricity from the Burlington Electric Department (BED) to charge my car at home and around town.
At BED, we are excited to provide our customers with the choice to fuel their vehicles with 100 percent renewable electricity, instead of fossil fuels. Customers who sign up for our off-peak, residential EV rate fuel their EVs with electricity for the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon of gas.
Transportation is the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in Burlington, in Vermont, and in the United States. To meet our climate and energy goals and to preserve a safe planet for all, we need change to happen much faster than it is today. That means, in part, helping more drivers switch to electric transportation. For those who want to be part of that change and are not ready for a full EV, the BED team encourages you to try a plug-in hybrid. Driving an EV or plug-in hybrid will help us with the transition from the fossil fuels of the past to the greener, cheaper electric fuel of the future.