A Local Look at Plug-In Vehicles

    Jeff Johnson has an article entitled, "A Local Look at Plug-In Vehicles" in the April 30 issue of Chemical and Engineering News, in which he is reviewing an April 16th report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
    There will be more plug-in electric vehicles on US roads, because nearly all automakers are planning to make them. In addition, electric utilities are moving to better pricing options that could lower the operating costs, although it is said that the average operating cost for electric vehicle will be $750-$1200 less per year than for a gasoline vehicle. Let's say $975 per year average.
    A study published in 2011 by the Belfer Center, Harvard University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car#Price) says electric vehicle costs $4800 more than an equivalent gasoline powered vehicle. With a $975 per year average saving on fuel, the return on investment is 4.9 years, which is not a very good ROI. While the electricity costs may decrease, there is also reason to believe that gasoline prices may also decrease.
    There are other factors, which contribute to a vehicles popularity. I live in Lubbock, TX, where we have many light trucks on the road. Texans, especially young people, like light trucks. They ride higher, for improved "status", and young people like the burst of power they can get from a gasoline powered vehicle.