The price of gasoline is sky-high, a concern that consumes Latino families on a daily basis, as expenses only continue to increase.
Helping the environment might be a good reason to buy an electric car, but the benefits go far beyond doing our bit to combat climate change, as the benefit to your wallet is noticeable even in the short term.
If you want to save money, make the decision to buy an electric car, you won't have to spend a dollar more on gasoline.
According to Consumer Reports, electric vehicles save drivers an average of $6,000 to $10,000 in fuel and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle.
If the prices of a new electric vehicle seem high to you, there are alternatives and support that could reduce the initial impact of the outlay.
Peninsula Clean Energy is offering rebates of up to $6,000 to San Mateo County residents who purchase a used electric vehicle (EV). Those interested in learning about the requirements to apply and receive the support can visit the website www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/usedev/.
This rebate can also be combined with other Access Clean California support to obtain up to $13,000 in reimbursement toward the purchase of a used electric car in the area.
If you're still not completely convinced and want to try out an EV first, Peninsula Clean Energy is offering up to $200 reimbursement for a 2-3 day EV rental to all San Mateo and Los Banos County residents, learn more at www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/evtestdrive/.
Many might be worried about the battery or the electric car leaving them stranded, but a fully charged battery can last up to 300 miles.
Whether you're commuting every day or embarking on a weekend adventure, electric vehicles can conveniently meet your needs without the emissions of a gasoline or diesel car.
Considering the purchase of a car often comes with a lot of pressure – after all, this is a very expensive product that you will be dealing with frequently. You want to get it right. But there are so many questions to consider: New or used? What color? Which make and model is best? What's in your budget? Which cars look good? Which ones drive well?
Cost is obviously an important metric. But it would be worth looking at the numbers. For cars, this term is called Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and it involves all the expenses of owning a car over its lifetime.
This includes the car's depreciation - the difference between what you pay at the time of purchase and what you sell it for later - insurance, fuel and maintenance.
In general, the cost is lower for fully electric vehicles. In addition to saving on gasoline costs, EVs have fewer moving parts in the engine and do not require oil changes.
While the TCO is lower for EVs, the initial purchase price is typically higher than that for comparable gasoline vehicles, which is often a barrier preventing those with lower disposable incomes from taking advantage of the best value.
However, the state has made additional incentives available for some low-income EV buyers.
You may be interested in: Continued support of up to $6,000 for purchase of electric vehicles in San Mateo County
