Transportation is the largest contributor of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in Vermont, accounting for 44.5% of total state GHG emissions. The Thetford Energy Committee is working to lower the climate impact of transportation. We hope you find the below information helpful when you consider buying an Electric Vehicle or Plug-in Electric Vehicle.

Page contents:

Ask Our EV/PHEV Ambassador Team!
Introduction to EVs and PHEVs
Available Vehicles in Vermont
EV Costs
Charging
EV Performance
Additional Information and Resources

Additional pages:

EV & PHEV FAQs
EV & PHEV Ambassadors
Just for Fun - EV Videos

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Ask Our EV/PHEV Ambassador Team!

A group of Thetford EV and PHEV owners have come together to form our EV/PHEV Ambassador Team. These Ambassadors have helped create the content on this website and many have offered to answer your questions as you consider which EV or PHEV is right for you.

• EV & PHEV FAQs: Click on EV & PHEV FAQs on the side menu. Our Ambassadors have answered some of the most frequently asked questions from people considering buying an EV or PHEV.
• Ask an EV & PHEV Ambassador: Click on EV & PHEV Ambassadors in the side menu to access a table listing EVs and PHEVs in town and listing the Ambassadors. If you don't find an answer to your question(s) on this page or in the FAQs, feel free to email one of our Ambassadors (just click on a name in the EV & PHEV Ambassadors table). Or, email the Joint Thetford Energy Committee with your question.

Note, clicking the "+" sign next to the Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) side menu item will reveal the EV & PHEV FAQs, EV & PHEV Ambassadors, and Just for Fun - EV Videos menu items.

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Introduction to Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

One strategy to decrease GHG emissions is to reduce the use of gas-powered cars and trucks and increase the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV).

There are approximately 45 EVs and PHEVs in Thetford today. The Town Plan has a goal of 187 by 2025.

Today there are more than 50 models of plug-in electric vehicles available with more models arriving monthly. Over one million Americans have switched to driving electric. The following information is intended to answer some basic questions and point you to additional resources as you consider whether an EV or PHEV is right for your next vehicle.

Two types of Electric Vehicles

All-Electric Vehicles (EVs) are fun, efficient, and cost effective. These vehicles have an electric motor that runs off batteries. These vehicles do not have a gas engine. Maintenance is simpler and less expensive than that of gas-powered vehicles. Re-“fueling” is as easy as plugging into an electrical outlet and less expensive per mile than running on gas. Lifetime cost of EV ownership is lower since electric motors are much simpler than internal combustion engines (ICE) and don’t require the same regular maintenance such as oil changes.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) typically offer all-electric range of 20-50 miles. When the battery runs down, the gas engine takes over. While operating in electric mode, these offer many of the same fueling and per mile cost savings as EVs. Although less frequently, their ICE still requires the same regular maintenance as any gas-powered vehicle.

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What vehicles are available in Vermont?

For a listing of EV and PHEV models currently available in Vermont, visit Drive Electric Vermont's Compare Vehicles webpage. Or see their handy factsheet that includes a comparison table for the most popular models.

For a list of Vermont Dealerships, visit Drive Electric Vermont’s Vermont Dealership webpage.

Purchase incentives are available to help reduce the cost of your EV or PHEV purchase – so the time to take advantage is now!

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Why consider an EV or PHEV?

Save Money

Purchase incentives
- Receive up to $7,500 in federal tax credits toward your purchase.
- State of Vermont incentives up to $4,000 for income-eligible buyers.
- Additional savings available from Green Mountain Power.
- …Or get a great lease deal through many Vermont dealers.
Lower operating costs
- Spend the equivalent of about $1.50 per gallon of gas to charge your vehicle (or as low as $1.00/gallon with GMPs special charging rates ).
- EVs don’t require oil changes and have fewer moving parts, cutting vehicle maintenance costs in half, with average savings of $4,600 over the life of an EV. (A recent Consumer Reports study shows that owning an EV will save the typical driver even more – $6,000 to $10,000 over the life of the vehicle, compared with owning a comparable gas-powered car.)

Increased Convenience
- Just plug in at night and wake up to a full charge each morning (no more trips to the gas pump!) You may be eligible for a free Level 2 home charger from GMP.
- To refuel away from home, visit one of Vermont’s many public charging stations. See the map of public charging stations on the Drive Electric Vermont website. (This page also provides links to several national charging networks and maps: Blink, Chargepoint, Electrify America, EVgo, SemaCharge, Greenlots, and PlugShare.)
- Indulge in luxuries such as smartphone vehicle management apps, preheating and cooling systems, heated seats and even solar panels.

Great Performance
- Accelerate faster than you would in most equivalent gas-powered cars.
- Expect increased traction due to heavy batteries (great for winter driving conditions with winter tires).

Great for Vermont & the Environment
- EVs increase our energy independence and can be powered with renewable energy.
- EVs have a 67% smaller lifetime carbon footprint than gas-powered cars, helping slow climate warming.
- How your electricity is generated (solar, wind, hydro, coal, natural gas, nuclear, etc.) impacts how clean your EV runs. A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that the emissions impact of driving an EV in New England is equivalent to driving a gas-powered car that gets 114mpg. Try their “How Clean is Your EV” tool to see the emissions equivalent for specific car models by ZIP Code.
- Reduce noise pollution (EVs are incredibly quiet).

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What is an EV? What is a PHEV? How do they differ?

How does the cost of EVs/PHEVs compare to gas-powered vehicles?

While the initial sticker price of an EV or PHEV may appear more expensive than that of a gas-powered vehicle, they can end up less expensive when purchase incentives are applied. Additionally, since annual maintenance costs are lower for EVs, the lifetime cost is often less than a comparable gas-powered car.

What purchase incentives are available to reduce the cost?
A variety of electric car purchase incentives are currently available to Vermonters at the federal, state, and electric utility level. Incentives change from time to time. Drive Electric Vermont keeps a current list of incentives here: Purchase Incentives.
Federal Incentives: up to $7,500 depending on the size of the battery and your annual tax liability
State Incentives: up to $4,000 for income-eligible Vermonters purchasing or leasing a new electric vehicle
Utility Incentives: incentives, bill credits, and rebates on plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles vary by utility
Other Incentives: some automakers, auto dealers and other entities are also offering incentives that can help reduce the cost of a purchase

New Car Combined Incentives Example
from Drive Electric Vermont

How about a Used EV?
Now that EVs have been available for several years, used EVs are becoming more available. (About 2/3rds of annual car sales in Vermont are used cars.) The chart below shows how affordable a used EV can be. Something unique to consider when buying a used EV is the battery health. You can find information about battery health at Geotab’s Blog. You can check out their EV Battery Degradation Tool as well.

Used Car Combined Incentives Example
from Drive Electric Vermont

See below for more information on the MileageSmart program.

Lower fuel costs for EVs vs gas-powered cars
An immediately apparent difference between EVs and gas-powered cars is their fuel source. Obviously, gas-powered cars burn gasoline while EVs run on electricity. Electricity can come from many sources, including from the burning of coal or gas, or from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower.
When you charge your EV at home, the electricity being used to charge your battery counts towards your home electric bill. Some public charging stations are free, but most charge fees, often higher than your home electric rate. You can directly compare electricity and gas costs when running an electric car vs. a conventional gas-powered car with the Department of Energy’s eGallon tool. This calculator is updated regularly, and compares the cost of driving a mile on gasoline versus a mile on electricity, depending on where you live (just select Vermont in the pull-down menu) and energy prices at the time. Generally, the cost of electricity is decreasing in price, as renewable power generation costs fall lower and lower with advancements in technology and policy. Gas prices are much more volatile than electricity prices and the cost/eGallon is generally significantly less than that of a gallon of gas.
New Green Mountain Power EV Charging Rates – Equivalent to $1.00/Gallon!
Charging your EV with one of GMP’s new rates is, on average, the equivalent of paying around $1.00 per gallon. Customers must have a compatible EV charger and connect with GMP. You may also be eligible for a free Level 2 home charger from GMP.
Lower maintenance costs for EVs vs gas-powered cars
EV motors are simpler than ICE engines and have fewer moving parts. They don’t require oil changes, air filter or spark plug replacements cutting vehicle maintenance costs in half, with average savings of $4,600 over the life of an EV. A recent Consumer Reports study CR research shows that owning an EV will save the typical driver even more ¬– between $6,000 to $10,000 over the life of the vehicle, compared with owning a comparable gas-powered vehicle.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) often come with features typically seen only in luxury vehicles such as navigation, Bluetooth, heated seats, heated steering wheels—even solar panels. EVs also provide tremendous traction due to the distributed weight of their batteries. Some EV owners report that they are better in the Vermont snow than any AWD vehicle they have owned.
The Key Difference
Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles burn fuel to generate the heat that creates propulsion, resulting in lost efficiency, whereas electric car motors generate torque from the start. There is no delay when you press the accelerator on an electric car, unlike when you touch the pedal on a gasoline powered vehicle. The Formula E racing series demonstrates how vehicles powered by electricity are competing at the top levels of racing.
In this video two Lotus sports cars, one powered by electricity and the other by gasoline compete. (It isn't even close!)

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Electric Vehicles are good for Vermont’s economy, too

Research on Economic Impact
Approximately $1.1 billion was spent in Vermont on taxable gasoline and diesel sales in 2010. If all that travel had been powered by electricity, the cost would have been $275 million—saving over $800 million in one year. Those funds and a large portion of the electricity cost would have remained in Vermont and with consumers. Most of the money spent on gasoline leaves the state. These savings and keeping our energy dollars in Vermont provides a strong case for electric vehicle adoption in our state.

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If now is not the time for an EV or PHEV, Save $$$ on a Fuel-Efficient USED CAR!

Capstone’s MileageSmart program helps pay for your next car. Get 25% of the vehicle cost, up to $5,000, for a USED fuel-efficient car (40mpg or higher/EVs and PHEVs can qualify). Eligibility is based on household income, must be a Vermont resident, over 18 and employed, over 60, or on disability. Car must be purchased from a DMV registered Vermont used or new car dealer (private sales do not qualify.) Special low-interest rates are available for financing your purchase. For application info or assistance visit the MileageSmart website: www.mileagesmartvt.org

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Additional Resources

If you are aware of additional useful Electric Vehicle Resources that you think we should include here, please send us an email with a link to the resource.  Thank you. 

Drive Electric Vermont: https://www.driveelectricvt.com/

Plug In America: https://pluginamerica.org/

Union of Concerned Scientists:

Federal EV Policy: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/federal-ev-policy
Are Electric Vehicles Really Better for the Climate: https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-reichmuth/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-for-the-climate-yes-heres-why

Consumer Reports:

Electric Cars 101: The Answers to All Your EV Questions: https://www.consumerreports.org/hybrids-evs/electric-cars-101-the-answers-to-all-your-ev-questions/ 

The Joint Thetford Energy Committee would like to thank Drive Electric Vermont for contributing content to this Buying Resource.