SOLARIZE ALBANY Serving the Capital Region
Electric Vehicles.
The Benefits of Electric Vehicles
The Drive: Electric Vehicles are fast, powerful, quiet, smooth, and free of noxious fumes that typically waft in when you open the windows.
Safety: No toxic carbon monoxide fumes or explosive gasoline, and less moving parts to rust.
Maintenance: Cheaper and Easier.
Items that never need maintenance: oil changes, radiator flushes, transmission repairs, exhaust system replacement, gas tank leaks, catalytic coverter malfunctions, engine gasket, piston, or cylinder issues, fuel injection system issues.
Electric Vehicles working with Solar Energy
Solar Energy and Electric Vehicles make a powerful team! When you charge your EV with solar power, charging your vehicle is free and causes absolutely no carbon emissions.
See our Solar pages, residential and community, to learn more about our current discounts we are providing as we partner with local installers.
Save on your EV Purchase with Tax Credits
Federal Tax Credit: Electric and Plug-In Hybrids are eligible for the federal tax credit up to $7500. Visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml to learn how much of the credit different types of vehicle are worth.
New York State Drive Clean EV Rebate: If EVs are bought from participating dealers, you are eligible for up to a $2000 rebate. Visit https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Drive-Clean-Rebate/How-it-Works to learn about how this rebate works.
Dealing with Range Anxiety
Range anxiety of an Electric Vehicle can be a major concern, especially during the winter when using your heat greatly reduces the range of your vehicle. However, newer EVs use heat pumps rather than resistance heat to warm the cabin, which helps minimize this cause of range loss.
Consider these items when determining if the range of an Electric Vehicle fits your needs:
1. How much do you drive? And, on average, how many miles do you go?
2. If you own two vehicles, your local driving can be in the electric car, and you can use a second hybrid or gas vehicle for longer distance drives. Using an EV this way will save a lot of wear and tear on your long range vehicle.
3. If you can wait for the longer range EVs (Chevy BOLT, Tesla Model 3) to come out, you can largely avoid the range issue.
4. Consider a Plug In Hybrid Vehicle. Use your electric motor for around town driving, and have the back up of gas powered engine for longer trips. This is a more complex machine, as it is powered by both an electric motor and a gas engine, and maintenance costs can reflect that complexity.
EV Charging stations are becoming much more common in public places. Park and use these chargers while you're running errands around town!
Leasing is an option! Consider this option if you would like to try out an all-electric vehicle before you purchase one.