Ever since Toyota introduced the Prius as the first mass produced hybrid vehicle in 1997, low emission vehicles have been a popular worldwide discussion. At this point, it’s safe to say that low emission and zero emission cars are not simply a fad that will disappear in a few years. What does the future of electric cars look like in the United States?
Decreasing Prices
When new products are introduced to the market, they often don’t receive widespread acceptance due to initial high prices. Electric vehicles were no different in that regard. As they grow in popularity, car manufacturers are beginning to offer a much broader price range when it comes to their alternative power lineups. The average electric vehicle price dropped from $64,300 to $55,600 from 2018 to 2019 alone. Part of the reason for the widespread price decreases in the industry are due to battery cost drops. Due to their complexity, batteries are the most expensive component of electric cars. However, the price has steadily been declining since 2013 due to investments by the Energy Department.
Infrastructure Concerns
There are over 750,000 US drivers who own completely electric plugin vehicles. Realistically, this number will only continue to grow as electric vehicle infrastructure improves. Ultimately, most electric vehicle owners do the bulk of their vehicle charging at home currently. As more fast charging infrastructure continues to be introduced, we will likely observe even more in electric vehicle sales. Until then, many drivers will prefer the speed and reliability of refilling gas-powered vehicles.
Electric Vehicle Maintenance
Maintenance schedules for electric vehicles have a degree of variability, but there are some things that they all have in common. Ultimately, most modern electric cars are designed to require very low maintenance when it comes to their battery and powertrain. Individual manufacturers generally provide a specific recommended maintenance schedule for those components. Other components like tires, windshield wipers and air filters will also eventually need replacement, just as they would on a combustion engine vehicle.
Maintain Your Electric Vehicle with Churchill Auto Care
If your electric vehicle needs maintenance, give us a call! We offer excellent service at a fair price for all of your automotive maintenance and repair needs. To schedule an appointment, please visit our site or give us a call at (301) 620-7620.