Electric vehicles (EV) represent a growing segment of both the transportation and energy industries. Publicly available EV chargers are beginning to pop up around the F-M metro area. Also, Cass County Electric Cooperative now offers members a special rate and a one-time rebate for in-home EV charging. You’ll charge your electric vehicle at home almost every day. Why not pay less every time you plugin?
The lowdown on charging up with Cass County Electric Cooperative
INCENTIVE FOR EV CHARGERS INSTALLED ON OFF-PEAK:
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$50/kW ($500 max per charger)
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Cass County Electric provides the ripple control.
OFF-PEAK RATE OPTIONS
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$.056 off-peak rate
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Best option if there are other off-peak loads in the home and a $5 meter charge.
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Level 2 charger rated at 240 volts
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Must be on dedicated 240-volt circuit
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Must be controlled on off-peak and sub-metered
To receive the off-peak rate, your charging times will be:
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October – May: noon to 5 PM and 11 PM to 7 AM.
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June – September: midnight to 10 AM.
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Load control up to 16 hours per day.
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In addition to the incentives offered from CCEC, current federal consumer tax credits are available ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 based on the size of the vehicle’s battery. Most insurance carriers offer discounted rates. Other federal tax credits or manufacturer rebates may be available.
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On average, an EV will require 30 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles of range.
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On regular electric rate, EV charging will cost $0.033 per mile.
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On off-peak rate, EV charging will cost $0.017 per mile.
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Based on driving 8,000 miles per year, the cost to charge an EV will be $264 per year on the regular rate/$136 per year on off-peak rate.
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A typical electric car (ex. Nissan Leaf) takes four hours to charge from empty using a 7kW home charger.
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A 7kW home charger provides about 30 miles per hour of charge.
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All-electric vehicles currently range from 62 miles to more than 335 miles (Tesla Model S) on a full charge. Hybrids typically range from 10 to 53 miles on the electric battery.
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The lifetime of the battery varies greatly between models and is impacted by charging and driving practices. It is important to check with the manufacturer’s warranty before purchasing the vehicle. Most vehicles have a 10-year battery warranty, while others are through the life of the vehicle.
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Both gasoline and electric vehicles have lower efficiencies at colder temperatures. For EVs, cold weather can impact travel distance per charge by 25 to 50 percent. Larger batteries, however, have less performance loss issues. Still, today’s EVs work well in cold climates, and new models will be even better. It is recommended that you store your EV in a garage during the winter and allow it to heat up while still plugged in.