Benefits of Electric Vehicles
Cost & Energy Savings
Making the switch to an electric vehicle isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for your wallet too. EVs cost less to fuel, less to maintain, and make better use of the energy you put into them compared to traditional gas-powered cars. For Traverse City drivers, these advantages quickly add up to real savings and a smarter way to drive.
Fuel Savings: Electric vehicles are significantly cheaper to operate than gas-powered cars. The average Traverse City EV driver spends the equivalent of just $0.75 per gallon when charging at home. That translates to about two to three cents per mile, compared to twelve to fifteen cents per mile for a gasoline vehicle. Over the course of a year, this difference adds up to hundreds of dollars in fuel savings alone.
Maintenance Savings: Maintenance costs are also much lower with an EV. Because electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, drivers can expect to spend 30 to 50 percent less on maintenance over the life of the vehicle. From fewer oil changes to reduced wear and tear, the savings are both immediate and long-term.
Energy Savings: EVs are also more energy efficient. They use roughly 87 to 91 percent of the energy stored in the battery—plus regenerative braking—to power the vehicle. In contrast, gasoline cars only convert about 16 to 25 percent of the energy from fuel into actual movement. This makes EVs a far more efficient and cost-effective choice.
Cleaner, Smarter, Local Power
Driving electric is one of the simplest ways to reduce your carbon footprint and support a healthier community. EVs produce far fewer emissions than gasoline vehicles, which means cleaner air and less pollution for Traverse City. As TCLP continues to add more renewable energy to the grid, the environmental benefits of EVs will only grow stronger over time.
Cleaner Air: Switching to an electric vehicle means lower emissions, cleaner air, and a healthier community for everyone.
Reduce your Carbon Footprint: The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the average EV produces just 2,727 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, compared to 12,594 pounds for the average gasoline vehicle. That’s a massive difference, and the advantage only grows as you drive more.
Greener Future: The carbon advantage of electric vehicles increases with usage and will continue to grow as the electric grid becomes cleaner with more renewable energy sources.
Incentives and Programs
Lowering the cost of switching to an EV is easier than ever. With incentives from TCLP and federal tax credits still available, local drivers can save thousands on vehicles and chargers. These programs are designed to make clean transportation accessible and affordable—but they won’t last forever, so now is the best time to take advantage.
TCLP Incentive: TCLP helps make the transition to electric easier with a $300 incentive for installing a qualifying home EV charger.
Federal Tax Credit: Federal tax credits can also reduce the upfront cost of buying an EV by up to $7,500 for a new vehicle or $4,000 for a used one. These credits are available for a limited time and will expire on September 30, 2025, so now is the perfect time to make the switch. ACT NOW: tax credits expire 9/30/2025. Learn more and apply for this tax credit aquí.