A major milestone in the adoption of electric cars has been reached, with one million vehicles now on the road in the United States, as announced by the Edison Electric Institute, a national electric industry group.
"We view electric transportation as the wave of the future in reducing driving costs while lowering emissions," said Charles A. Freni, President and C.E.O. of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. "With performance improvements and new options offered by auto manufacturers each year, the use of electric cars is only expected to accelerate, as well."
According to EEI, another one million electric cars are expected to be on the road in three years, and a projected total of more than 18 million electric cars are anticipated to be in use by 2030, representing 7 percent of all vehicles. Electric charging stations are also expected to grow, as customers charge at home, along major highway and in commuter and shopping districts. "Central Hudson joins utility companies in working to expand the electric charging infrastructure by collaborating with our industry partners and developing special incentives to encourage electric vehicle use," said Freni.
Electric cars are economical, ecological and practical. Emissions from electric vehicles are, on average, 60 percent less than those of gasoline-powered vehicles, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy; and in New York State, emissions attributed to all-electric vehicles are 85 percent lower due to the higher proportion of cleaner sources used in electricity production, particularly in the upstate region. Electric vehicles are also more energy efficient, and cost 50 to 70 percent less per mile than gasoline- powered cars. Advances in battery technologies have substantially extended the range of electric cars, some in excess of 200 miles, and many manufacturers also offer plug-in hybrid models that automatically switch to an on-board gasoline motor when the battery is low to extend the driving range.
A standard 110-volt outlet can be used for recharging electric cars, and faster, 240-volt charges can also be installed if desired. Home chargers can be purchased from many retailers, and are available on Central Hudson's CenHub store at www.CenHubstore.com. Commercial fast chargers are also becoming available along commuter routes and heavily traveled areas, and can typically recharge an electric car in 30 to 60 minutes.
New York offers a rebate of up to $2,000 toward the purchase of electric cars, depending on the vehicle's range, and up to $7,500 in federal tax credits are also available. Auto manufacturers may also offer incentives, for example Nissan provides a $5,000 rebate on the all-electric Leaf through Jan. 2, 2019.
To learn more about electric vehicles, visit www.CentralHudson.com/ElectricVehicles. For information on New York State rebates, visit www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Drive-Clean-Rebate/About-Electric-Cars; and to view videos produced by New York State on driving electric cars, click on Behind the Wheel of an Electric Car - Performance and Behind the Wheel of an Electric Car - Lifestyle.
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About Central Hudson
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., is an energy delivery company headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York. The utility serves approximately 300,000 electric and 80,000 natural gas customers in eight counties of New York State's Mid-Hudson River Valley, delivering natural gas and electricity in a 2,600-square-mile service territory that extends north from the suburbs of metropolitan New York City to the Capital District around Albany.