Home

All Communities

Buy or Lease an Electric Car

Buy or Lease an Electric Car

Summary: Buy or lease an Electric Vehicle (EV)

Description

Transportation is one of the most damaging contributors to climate change and in Harvard it is the number one producer of greenhouse gas emissions.  

To cut your emissions, switch to an electric vehicle. Driving an EV is one of the highest impact actions you can take.  Along with being sustainable, driving an EV is becoming more and more affordable due to government incentives.   EVs also are less expensive to operate and maintain. You can check out options on PlugStar and read testimonials and stories from local EV drivers under the Testimonials tab! 

Want to lease?  If you lease a car, the leasing company gets the federal tax credit, which is why several dealers are offering attractive leasing options.

And what about EV/Hybrid options?  For those who are first stepping into owning an EV and are still concerned about long distance drives, finding EV charging stations (which are multiplying every day) or want to see where the industry is going, hybrid EVs are available, too, and many get more than 75 miles per gallon depending on driving habits and distances. 

State and Federal Incentives

How can you be even greener?  In Harvard, most residents are getting their electricity from 100% renewable wind. Harvard has community choice aggregation, a program established in 2019 which brings 100% green renewable wind energy to the town’s residents and businesses who have Basic National Grid service. Residents were transferred to this supplier unless they opted out or had already had a contract with another supplier. This and rooftop solar systems are doing even more to reduce carbon footprints.

Deep Dive

Emissions. In Massachusetts, transportation accounts for 43% of our greenhouse gas emissions. In Harvard, the percentage is even higher: 56%. Electric vehicles, in combination with renewable, carbon-free electricity generation, can dramatically reduce your greenhouse gas emissions because they have lower lifecycle emissions than gas-powered cars, even after accounting for extra emissions from battery manufacturing. With a renewably-powered EV, the only source of emissions comes from the manufacturing process and your electricity supply. In Harvard, most residents receive their electricity supply through the Town’s choice aggregation plan which is 100% renewable. That’s a total win-win for the environment. 

There are a lot of great choices on the market right now, from all-electric to hybrids with plug-in options. According to the Department of Energy, electric vehicles can save as much as $1,200 per year in fuel costs. EVs have fewer moving parts and are therefore much cheaper to maintain: they do not need oil changes, and have no transmission fluids, fuel pumps, timing belts and many other moving parts.

Range anxiety? Fully electric vehicles (EV) are constrained by their battery capacity, but the battery range improves by the year. For example, the new Chevrolet Bolt has a range of 259 miles. The Tesla Model 3 has a range of 250-322 miles depending on the option you choose. The network of charging stations keeps expanding, with many apps that help you locate public charging stations and if they are available.  Most chargers are located conveniently at restaurants, at public buildings (e.g libraries), and roadside rest stops.  

You can plug your car into any standard 110-120V outlet, but many EV and plug-in owners install a Level II 240 Volt charger, which speeds up charging time up to 6X faster. Equipment plus installation of these chargers cost in the range of $500 to $1,200. This cost is tax deductible.  

Steps to Take

1. Research what kind of EV is best for you.

With the various kinds of electric vehicles (battery electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid), take the time to research which one is right for you. For more information on the different types of EVs, visit www.transportation.gov/ev-basics/vehicle-types.

2. Decide if you would like to lease or rent your EV.

3. Look for Plug in American Federal EV credits or Mass Clean Energy Center

Both the federal government and individual states offer incentives, including tax credits and rebates, that make buying an EV affordable. Before purchasing, see which incentives you are eligible for! 

4. Purchase your EV and enjoy your clean driving!

Use the PlugStar “Browse Electric Cars” tool, an interactive online guide of models that helps you decide on which vehicle is right for you by having you answer a few questions. 1) how many miles you drive per day; 2) what type of long trips you make; and 3) how much passenger and cargo space you need?

5. Let us know how it went by leaving a Testimonial under the tab above.

- All Actions