Currently, less than 1% of drivers in the United States drive electric vehicles, but a recent UCS study reveals that at least 42% of drivers could switch from conventional vehicles to electric vehicles with little to no change in their driving habits.
Forty-two percent translates to about 45 million households, who currently own a conventional vehicle, that could easily make the switch to a basic electric vehicle, such as the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf. The UCS (Union of Concerned Scientists) surveyed over 1,000 people regarding their driving habits, parking behaviors, and attitudes toward electric vehicles. The results were very interesting, and revealed that millions of drivers could make the switch to an electric vehicle. Apparently, they just don’t know that they could!
For example, according to the data, beautifully displayed on the following infographic, 54% of respondents drive less than 40 miles per day, which is well within the range of even basic electric vehicles. Of course, what good is an electric vehicle if you need to haul stuff around on a daily basis, carry more than four passengers, or don’t have access to a plug? According to the survey, 79% of American drivers don’t need to haul anything, 95% don’t carry more than four passengers, and 56% have access to a plug to recharge their vehicles. Combine all these numbers and you get 42% of American drivers that could use an electric vehicle.
Interestingly, if those 45 million drivers switched to electric vehicles, today, they could save, based on an average gasoline and electricity prices of $3.60/gal and 12¢/kWh, some $33 billion, 15 billion gallons of fuel, and 89 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. The adoption of 45 million electric vehicles, according to UCS data, would be the equivalent of removing 14 million conventional vehicles from the road.
Image © FreeDigitalPhotos.net | UCS
EDSr Not necessarily. Yes, 45 million EVs would replace 45 million conventional vehicles BUT it wouldn’t eliminate 45 million conventional vehicles’ worth of emissions. Electric vehicles still generate emissions when you recharge them, in some places worse than conventional vehicles. Plus, you still have to pay to charge them. Of course, we’re still talking about averages, but I actually think that 14 million is understating the benefits of making the switch.
“The adoption of 45 million electric vehicles, according to UCS data, would be the equivalent of removing 14 million conventional vehicles from the road.”
I’m confused?
. . . Wouldn’t 45 million electric vehicles, replace 45 million conventional vehicles?
. . . If it doesn’t, then you can’t claim all thoses savings of Money, Fuel and CO2.