Quote:
Originally Posted by Snax
So a little fuel on the fire / convolution here: Cost of ownership is highly dependent upon cost of fuel.
Gas prices are historically relatively volatile. I don't believe that we can really safely make any assumptions about stability over a 10 year period. Electricity pricing by contrast is tightly regulated with minimal fluctuations. Moreover, the cost of electricity is also source dependent, whether people choose to subsidize green power grid alternatives or employ solar panels on their homes, there can still be substantial if stable variance between consumers, but it tends to be relatively constant for any given area.
For me, I will be an additional $1200 ahead at the end of 10 years if my PV array is entered into the equation after accounting for out of pocket expense for the array and net production over that same period.
Obviously it's not so simple as that for countless drivers, lacking solar arrays of their own or options to reduce their energy costs, but that brings me to another huge point for many EV owners: Never having to stop for gas. (My i3 is actually a range extended hybrid, but using gasoline is 100% optional.)
Because I very rarely travel outside my EV range, not only can I be assured of having full range every time I leave the house with charging at home, I never have to go out of my way or wait in line for fuel or spend time waiting for an attendant (yippee for anti-self serve law in Oregon).
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I just heavily negotiated and heavily subsidized a solar array for my home, and it only covers it's own cost after 10 years. How is your's producing $1,200 excess? Mine doesn't even produce in total $120 a month at my $0.11/kWh rate, let alone have the headroom to charge an EV.
$120 of electricity a month at my rate represents about 4,000 EV miles, or 133 miles a day.
Any excess I produce in 1 year is donated, so there's incentive to size the solar array smaller than annual consumption, or at least equal to.