The video, “Energy 101: Electric Vehicles”, highlights the benefits of electric vehicles, including improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and lower maintenance costs. To view the video, visit http://youtu.be/M69GBL0IDzI?hd=1.
In an accompanying essay on the agency’s web site, DOE New Media Specialist John Schueler explains that the department created the video to “highlight how electric vehicles (EVs) work and what current and future models are doing to cut transit costs, reduce emissions, and strengthen our nation's energy security.”
“Compared to conventional vehicles, the driving range of an all-electric EV -- typically about 100 miles per charge -- may seem limited,” Schueler says. “However, when you consider the average American daily commute is under 40 miles roundtrip, it becomes clear that EVs are a reliable and comfortable way to regularly get from point A to point B, while reducing a dependence on oil and gasoline and contributing to a sustainable environment.”
For those who take a lot of lengthy road trips and are worried if the range of an all-electric EV can meet their needs, Schueler suggests that an "extended-range" electric vehicle might be more their style.
He concludes by pointing out that the costs of today's EVs are coming down relative to similar-sized conventional and hybrid vehicles, and long-term savings can be realized through fuel savings and by taking advantage of a federal tax credit and state and local incentives.
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