It’s an American tradition: hit the highways for the beach or other fun destinations during the July 4 holiday. Recently AAA released its annual July 4 travel projection, and it’s going to be another record year for American travelers — 72.2 million on the highways, which is a 1.7 million increase from last year. AAA also shares great opportunities for information on technology and efficiency that can make for a better traveling holiday for Virginians.
With summer demand, gas prices often rise in the summer. Why not consider a cleaner, more efficient and smoother ride which is less reliant on foreign oil? Electric vehicles are here to stay, and they are actually fun to drive. Cleaner technologies such as ethanol biofuel blends, hybrids, and EVs are widely used in Virginia as preferred choices in vehicle technology.
The United States has long led the world in technology and innovation. EVs were pioneered here by American companies. General Motors, Ford, Rivian and others are releasing new models to suit wide ranges of needs and tastes. International partners such as Volkswagen (which is headquartered in Virginia), also manufacture great electric vehicles such as the ID.4 in Tennessee. From SUVs to pickup trucks to sporty cars, there are options for all. Automobile manufacturers offer choices of vehicle and fuel types with detailed published information at fueleconomy.gov for each vehicle sold in the US. These high tech vehicles that are proving to be very fun, efficient and reliable.
Here’s the best kept secret about EVs: You rarely visit your mechanic. According to AAA, EVs do not require as much maintenance. Traditional gas vehicles have a multitude of systems interacting with each other, whereas an EV is a much simpler machine. If maintained according to the manufacturers’ recommendations, EVs cost $330 less than a gas-powered car, a total of $950 annually in maintenance.
Vehicle and infrastructure tax credits are important to business certainty and community progress. The U.S. must continue the federal EV tax credits in place for American vehicles, as consumers, businesses and governments can receive $7,500 off a new or $4,000 off a used EV, and a 30% tax credit for EV charging infrastructure. With the help of Congress, these tax credits need to continue with certainly through the end of the decade.
EVs have brought about an economic and domestic manufacturing renaissance with vehicle and battery projects across the country bringing thousands of new jobs in recent years. For example, the battery company Microporus has a $1.35 billion investment here in Virginia which will result in good-paying jobs in engineering, advertising and electrical work. There are hundreds of new charging stations opening each week and now nearly 100,000 electric vehicle charging locations across the country. Charging is safe and brings economic development and travel tourism opportunities everywhere off the highway or in small towns.
July 4 is Independence Day. Let’s bring about transportation energy independence by using homegrown domestic and Virginia energy with electricity or biofuels in our consumer vehicles, rather than foreign oil which is subject to geopolitical disruptions and is not significantly produced in Virginia. Electricity at home is around $1 per gallon equivalent, and far cleaner than gasoline, and there are travel opportunities passing nearly 2,000 public EV charging locations throughout Virginia.
Alleyn Harned of Harrisonburg is the executive director of Virginia Clean Cities. Before joining the VCC staff, he served as the assistant secretary of commerce and trade for the commonwealth of Virginia where he assisted in drafting Virginia’s initial Energy Plan.