With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 as well as worldwide initiatives to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, deciding whether to buy a gas, electric or hybrid vehicle in the next several years promises to be more challenging than ever.
Gas availability and cost, battery production, charging station locations, and affordability might serve up some preliminary wonderment. Then, more specific issues come to mind: What companies sell electric or hybrid vehicles? What are the costs? Which is better and why? The eResources available in the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) can be helpful in your initial investigations down the road to choosing the right vehicle.
“Will an Electric Car Save You Money?,” an article from Consumer Reports in MasterFILE Complete, can begin answering some basic questions such as energy costs, tax credits, and reliability. While buyers can save up to $7500 in tax credits (for buying both new and used EVs), it depends on where the car was made, it’s price, and the buyer’s income. For more on the EV tax credit, be sure and read in Kiplinger Personal Finance, “What to Know about EV Tax Credits.”
You may also be wondering about battery life. In fact, fear of running out of battery is a real thing. ‘Call It What It Is: Charger Anxiety,’ an article in this month’s Motor Trend magazine, also in MasterFILE Complete, outlines the current realities of EV travel across the United States. However, you can start locally and consider ‘Everything You Need to Know about Charging an EV at Home (also in Motor Trend).
The Road Test section of Consumer Reports is a helpful guide, offering price estimates, rating systems, mileage range, and other data to help inform buyers. These straight-forward reviews are fantastic, but they may not tell the whole story. A recent analysis in New Scientist, a publication in Applied Science & Technology Source, points out that 42% of all car sales in 2020 were SUVs. It turns out that the larger size of an electric SUV (rather than a small car) erases some of the climate gains from moving to electric in the first place.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to offer, the eResources in MeL can help point you in the right direction as you ponder your next vehicle purchase.
If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact melerhelp@mcls.org for help.
Brought to you by Ann Kaskinen from the MeL Team.
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MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only.
The MeL project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.
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