Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 | 2 a.m.
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It’s time to start taking electric vehicles seriously. The cost of the batteries powering EVs has fallen by more than 70 percent since 2010, making them competitively priced with gasoline-powered vehicles. EVs actually save owners money over their life span. Drivers in Las Vegas would save over $1,000 each year owning an EV, compared with the costs of fueling and maintaining gas-powered vehicles. As the popularity of EVs grows, prices will continue to fall as economies of scale drive down costs of production.
While EVs are economically beneficial for a household, they also help promote our state economy. The Tesla Gigafactory in Northern Nevada directly employs more than 7,000 people, paying out $379 million in wages annually. It’s created a pipeline for local students to attain well-paid, high-skill manufacturing jobs. That base of skilled labor will be highly attractive to other automakers, like Nissan and Chevrolet, interested in expanding production in batteries and electric vehicles.
The major burden for many consumers to purchasing an EV is at the point of sale; EVs are still more expensive than similar gas-powered vehicles. Many states have implemented rebates or tax credits to ease sticker shock. Colorado offers a $5,000 tax credit on the purchase of an EV. Nevada should develop its own incentive to support the expansion of electric vehicles.
