14 DAY TRIAL // Brainiacs working with the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Consumers Union have released a new report saying that 42% of US households could easily switch to EVs without being in the least affected by this change in their driving routine.
What's more, the specialists argue that, all things considered, most of these people would not even be able to tell the difference between being behind the wheel of an EV or that of a car powered by dirty energy sources, at least not as far as driving range and vehicle reliability are concerned.
In their paper, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Consumer Union researcher explain that this is because, according to their investigations, the average American driver covers under 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) by car throughout the course of a typical weekday.
“While less than 1 percent of the country are driving electric vehicles (EVs) today, the survey found 42 percent of respondents with cars – equivalent to 45 million households when applied nationally – meet the basic criteria for using plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt.”
“More than half of those households are also able to use a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), such as the Nissan LEAF,” the specialists explain, as cited by AutoBlog Green.
Should these 45 million households agree to purchase and start driving eco-friendly cars instead of vehicles than run on energy sources documented to cause loads of pollution, some 15 billion gallons of gasoline would remain unburned on a yearly basis.
This would translate into about 89 million fewer metric tons hitting our planet's atmosphere annually and yearly fuel savings of about $33 billion (€23.95 billion). Besides, the move would be the equivalent of taking 14 million run-off-the-mill cars off national roads.
“Consumers who might be shopping for a new vehicle this holiday season may be surprised to learn that an electric vehicle could be a good fit for their household. Drivers may have preconceptions about whether electric vehicles can meet their driving needs and habits, and this survey shows that for many, they can,” says Josh Goldman, policy analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists' Clean Vehicles Program.
“This new survey shows today's EVs can be practical for many car buyers. It demonstrates that these vehicles could be a viable option for tens of millions of American households that want lower fuel costs and cleaner air without compromising their driving needs,” adds Shannon Baker-Branstetter, policy counsel for the Consumers Union.