Why Electric Vehicles?

Electric vehicles save you money

No matter where you plug in across the country, electric vehicles are cheaper to fuel than their gasoline-powered counterparts. Every electricity provider in the 50 largest US cities offers a rate plan that makes filling up on electricity cheaper than gasoline, adding up to a median yearly savings of over $770.

Electric vehicles can also save you on maintenance costs. Battery EVs have no gasoline engine, they do not need oil changes, spark plugs, or timing belts, and unlike gasoline motors, electric motors required no routine maintenance. These reduced maintenance costs can save an EV owner over $1,500 over the life of the vehicle, compared to a gasoline-powered version of their vehicle. 

Electric vehicles cut your emissions

Even when the electricity used to fuel an EV comes from the dirtiest coal-dominated grid in the US, EVs still produce less global warming pollution than their conventional counterparts. The average EV in the US today produces the emissions equivalent of a gasoline car that gets 73 miles per gallon. The emissions performance of EVs is set to only improve as wind and solar power displace coal-fired electricity generation. Many EV owners are also choosing to pair their EV with rooftop solar panels and home energy storage units. When powered exclusively by renewable energy, an EV can operate nearly emissions free.

Electric vehicles offer you a better driving experience

An electric engine generates instant torque, which means that electric vehicles zoom off starting lines and provide smooth, responsive acceleration and deceleration. Electric vehicles also have a low center of gravity, which improves handling, responsiveness, and ride comfort.

The driving performance of electric vehicles has been recognized in race series like Formula E or local drag strips and attested to by thousands of electric vehicle drivers across the country.

Electric vehicles are convenient

Instead of searching for a gasoline station with the cheapest prices, you can charge at home at a cheaper and much more predictable cost. And plugging in at home takes only a few seconds and lets you wake up with a “full tank” every morning. EVs also have other convenient advantages. Battery electric vehicles are mechanically much simpler than a conventional gasoline car, so the maintenance requirements are often much simpler and, for this reason, cheaper to maintain. Drivers of electric cars a do not have to change their car’s motor oil every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, and they never have to schedule spark plug changes, timing belt replacements, or other engine tune up items. Depending on your location, EVs have additional benefits, like access to restricted express lanes on highways and bridges, special parking spots, and reduced or free tolls.

Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, Top Five Reasons to Choose an Electric Car, 2018

City of Dayton Commitment to EVs

The City of Dayton is committed to integrating EV infrastructure into our community. In April of 2021, the City of Dayton Commission pledged to convert 100% of the City's fleet to 100% EVs by 2035. Currently, we are undergoing an EV fleet plan in partnership with Power a Clean Future Ohio, Clean Fuels Ohio, and AES Fleetline. 

EV Charging Infrastructure

The City of Dayton is also working to install 20 new Level 2 charging stations throughout the City of Dayton. To see where we currently have electric charging stations, look at the map below:

EV Equity

The City of Dayton is currently working to expand charging infrastructure equitable throughout the community. This includes placing chargers in historically disinvested neighborhoods as well as ensuring all City of Dayton residents have access to charging infrastructure. To learn more about this work, please reach out to our Sustainability Office for more details.

EV Charging Rebate

To learn more about how your business can get a rebate on EV chargers, check out the AES Ohio Rebate program.

Community Outreach and Advocacy

To learn more about you can get engaged with electric vehicles advocacy, check out Drive Electric Ohio, who is working to promote electric vehicles across the state of Ohio. The Miami Valley has a local Drive Electric Dayton chapter, who host event and educational opportunities. 

To get additional information about what the City of Dayton is doing regarding EVs and EV Charging, connect with our Sustainability Office.