DRIVING ELECTRIC

Charging into a new energy future in Maine

By Barry Woods

It is common for electric vehicle owners to have a level 2 charger installed at their homes, making daily charging as easy as plugging the car in when you get home. PHOTO: HEATHER CHANDLER

Since their re-introduction in 2011, electric vehicles have been captivating the imagination of consumers and clean energy advocates. They provide exceptional driving performance with responsive torque triggered by quiet electric drive motors. The cost of electricity is a fraction of gasoline, such that most consumers can save 30-40% on fuel. Plugging into a home outlet to charge overnight, each year’s models bring better convenience and range capability. And with their large battery capacity, they can store renewable electricity that might otherwise be lost. In Maine, an increasing number of people are converting their daily transportation to electricity—and some are even using their homes to generate it.

If we could use electricity to meet more of our energy needs, the benefits to Maine’s people and environment would be profound. Mainers use a lot of oil compared to their neighbors. They devote a higher percentage of their household incomes to oil than the national average. In fact, Mainers spend more per capita on energy than 39 other states. While we know we use too much oil to heat our homes, we often fail to realize how much we use for our transportation needs. On average we spend $2.5 billion a year for transportation-based fuel, and most of that money is sent out of state. Vehicle emissions also represent the second largest source of air pollution after electric utility generation. However, because the electric drive is four times more efficient than its combustion engine counterpart, even if it charges on electricity generated entirely by coal, the carbon intensity of the vehicle’s profile is less than a typical gasoline engine—and as the grid gets cleaner through conversion to renewable energy sources, electricity carbon intensity declines over the life of the car.

ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN MAINE – PROGRESS AND POTENTIAL

As bad as our dependency is on oil, however, we are doing a surprisingly good job when it comes to electricity. Maine has the lowest average net retail electricity prices in New England. Over half our electricity comes from renewable generation sources, many of them located in-state. And, with the right combination of state energy policy and utility regulation, Maine’s potential to grow solar, wind, biomass, wave and tidal energy exceeds that of most other states. As the demand for a cleaner electric grid grows throughout the New England region, we can export this energy to other resource deprived states, generating further economic leverage and growing more jobs here.

This begs the question: how might we use one of our greatest strengths, electricity, to address one of our greatest weaknesses, oil dependence? The answer is becoming increasingly clear and compelling. We can drive a car with a plug. The choices in electric vehicle models have increased sevenfold (there are now 22 models) since they debuted in 2011. Two families of electric drive vehicles currently exist—all battery-electric vehicles (“BEVs”) and variations of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (“PHEVs”). Interestingly, overall domestic sales of either type are practically equal, meaning most consumers stand a good chance of finding an electric vehicle that fits their transportation needs. As a zero-emission signatory state, Maine is one of only nine states that have the advantage of getting access to most current models of plug-in electric vehicles.

NO GAS – ALL BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES (BEVS)

A level 2 charging station installed on the side of this Westbrook home will recharge the owner’s Nissan LEAF in 3-4 hours. PHOTO: HEATHER CHANDLER

In the BEV category, we currently have available the Nissan LEAF, Volkswagen e-Golf, Smart ED, Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive, BMW i3, Mitsubishi iMiev, Ford Focus EV, with more on the way, including the Chevy Spark EV and KIA Soul EV. These vehicles depend completely on electricity as their fuel source and have batteries capable of storing on average 22 kWh or more. Competition to increase vehicle range and efficiency is stiff, with three major manufacturers promising to produce 200 mile range BEV versions at the current new car median price point of $30,000 by 2017.

BEVs make the most of our electricity strength with strong fuel cost savings and low emission profile. Because they rely on their batteries, however, you will need to seriously consider installing a level 2 charger at your residence. This is not terribly expensive and doubles the charging speed, cutting charge times in half. If you want to add convenience (and decrease installation cost) consider getting one that has a plug and works on a 240V wall outlet, such as a dryer plug type connector. These make the charger “portable” should you need to move or just want to take it on the road with you. Most people charge these vehicles at home the majority of the time and having a faster charger means it can be completed in 2-4 hours for an average day’s usage. However, many BEVs also offer a DC Fast Charge port that allows the car to charge to 80% within 20 minutes when connected to a Level 3 charger. Maine currently has 6 high power DC fast chargers installed with more on the way.

SOME GAS – PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES (PHEV)

A Chevy Volt recharges at the home of Mike & Louise Tabone. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MIKE TABONE

PHEVs use a combination of electricity and gasoline, often having a small gas tank as insurance, although most drivers strive to keep their car charged and use their battery more. In the PHEV category we have access to the Chevy Volt, Ford Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi, BMW i3 Rex and i8, Toyota Prius PHV, Cadillac ELR, Porsche Cayenne S-E and Panamera S-E. Each of these cars has some initial all-electric mile range, anywhere from 10-85 miles depending on the model, and then convert to a gasoline backup for additional longer distance travel. Their virtue is that they provide all-electric miles for typical day-to-day use but offer longer range when necessary. Also, most charge effectively using a level one charger and a typical 120V outlet (and the portable charger comes with the car). Be forewarned, however, that early data shows people like driving these without gas, and end up charging them more often than the all-battery versions!

SOME INSIDER ADVICE

Buying any automobile can seem overwhelming at times, so how much more complicated is it to go electric? Here is some inside advice to help you consider whether going electric will work for you (from someone who has logged over 24,000 miles in the battery electric Nissan LEAF).

My first suggestion is to drive one. You will find them quiet, responsive and smart. No internal combustion engine rumble or exhaust fumes cloud your awareness of the road. The car instantly responds to the pedal, without gear shifting or head snapping, from zero to sixty and beyond. The interior provides state-of-the-art laptop interactivity. Many of them can be texted to start their heaters before you return to the car. You can program it to charge at night or during off-peak periods to maximize electricity rate savings when on a time of use rate plan. The car keeps the driver attuned to available miles of range and monitors all types of metrics, including miles per kilowatt and location of nearby charging stations. Its regenerative braking makes driving a game of give and take, where going downhill captures energy and maintaining even speeds increases efficiency.

Most importantly, when looking at these vehicles, take an honest look at your driving habits and typical transportation needs. 78% of Americans drive fewer than 20 miles per day to work and a majority of households still own two vehicles. Two-car families can seriously consider an all-battery electric vehicle (BEV), and keep their combustion engine vehicle for longer trips. If you are a single car family or regularly need a car for long trips, a BEV like a Nissan LEAF is probably not a reasonable choice. For unpredictable schedules, people who require greater range flexibility, or who want to avoid range issues altogether, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) model, such as the Chevy Volt or BMW i3 Rex or Toyota Plug In Prius are good choices.

The up-front and operating cost of the vehicle is no small part of your ultimate decision. The federal government offers a $7500 tax credit toward purchase or lease of most plug-ins. Many states also offer state tax credits from $1500-$5000; unfortunately Maine is not yet one of them. However, a real benefit of driving a car with a plug is the ongoing reduction in fuel and maintenance costs. Electric vehicles have ten times fewer moving parts than your current combustion vehicle, resulting in much less routine maintenance. No oil changes. No frequent brake pad replacement. No muffler. No spark plugs. Initial studies show a 35% reduction in maintenance costs. As for fuel costs, the US Department of Energy website shows that at the prevailing electricity rate, Mainers pay an average of $1.52 for an eGallon of electricity—or almost half the current cost of gasoline. Stated alternatively, the average Mainer driving 15,000 miles per year could save over $1500 per year in transportation costs if they converted to electric miles.*

* Calculation based on a 25 mpg car with gas at $2.75 and the electric driver getting 3.5 miles per kWh with electricity at 14 cents per kWh.

“YEAH, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ELECTRICITY, RIGHT?”

Now that you have selected an electric vehicle, and will soon be doing most of your charging at home, you will see an increase in you electric utility bill. Recent data suggest the average driver goes 3.5 miles per kWh and requires between 6-8 kWh per day to recover this expended range. At an average of 14 cents per kWh, the typical residence may see an increase of $25 to $50 per month depending on usage. Often the electric vehicle becomes the single largest load on your household electrical service. With this increase in your electricity consumption, many homeowners are interested in using as clean a source of electricity as possible. To accomplish this, they have several options.

POWERED BY THE SUN

Edgecomb Community Solar Farm Association. Left to Right: David Nutt, Janet and Robert John, Richard Chutter, Richard Chase, Chris and Lynne Gilbert, Peter Arnold, Kate Josephs, Eleanor Gelhar and Lynn Gelhar.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BARRY WOODS

Perhaps the easiest solution is to explore your green power purchasing options. For example, Maine Green Power is a program sponsored by the Maine Public Utilities Commission that is available to residential and commercial electric customers of Central Maine Power Company and Emera Maine. It costs only 1.5 cents extra per kilowatt-hour and is purchased in increments, called blocks, which can be closely matched with your home’s power usage. Charging your vehicle in this manner eliminates any potential argument that EV drivers are merely transferring tail pipe emissions to power plant emissions, while adding less than $100/year on average to your bill.

A more creative option, and one with longer term savings potential, involves investing in residential solar panels to power your car. And an interesting solar option has recently emerged for a broader audience, including those with homes not well sited for solar gain, apartment or condo dwellers, or even homeowners concerned about the aesthetics of solar on their roofs. Community solar farms (CSFs) now allow groups of individual homeowners to own a personal share of a larger array located on a third-party host’s property. As an example, Maine’s first member-owned CSF was made operational in Edgecomb at the Damariscotta River Farm in July 2015. A 46 kW array that is both ground mounted and roof mounted, the Edgecomb CSF Association allowed a group of nine homeowners to defray much of their residential electricity consumption. CSFs are “portable”, meaning even if you move from your home, the energy produced at the off-site array travels with you provided you maintain an account with the utility and stay within their service territory. If you do move out-of-state, you also have the option of assigning it or selling it to others, as you would with any asset.

It bears stating that Tesla’s recent announcement of its Powerwall product for home battery storage clearly illustrates how electricity is poised to redefine our relationship with our cars and our homes. The Powerwall enables a typical homeowner to create a back-up generator using typically intermittent clean energy sources, such as solar, and convert daytime generation to nighttime vehicle charging. The advantages of creating home energy storage in Maine that does everything from powering our vehicles and to handling power outages during winter storms could be varied and profound.

While change comes slowly to Maine, a quality which likely drew many of us to it in the first place, we should recognize our homes are the new intersection between energy and transportation and be poised to take advantage of the many benefits.