Electric Vehicles (EVs) can boost driving performance and save money on gas—but they can also provide power in emergencies.
Key Details
- EVs have many benefits including cost efficiency—and an added benefit is they can be used for power in emergency situations.
- Some EVs have batteries with enough power that can power multiple devices and even an entire home during a blackout.
- Although this feature is an added bonus—it isn’t one of the top reasons customers go electric.
Why it’s news
Many people in the U.S. and around the world are making the switch to electric vehicles.
More than half of car buyers worldwide want an EV. The number of people wanting EVs has hit a worldwide tipping point.
The latest EY Mobility Consumer Index shows that 52% of people looking to buy a car want to buy an EV. This is the first time the number has exceeded 50%, representing a rise of 11 percentage points since last year.
EVs are an excellent choice for the consumer who is looking to go green, but they also come with many more added benefits.
EVs are energy and cost efficient. Although they might cost a higher fee upfront, customers no longer have to pay for gas which will save money in the long run. The vehicles also have lower emissions which is good for the environment and can help combat climate change.
Another benefit—EVs can provide power in emergency situations. Since EVs are battery powered and not gas powered the battery can be used to power other multiple devices and sometimes a whale house during a blackout.
Some EVs come equipped with internal powerstips with electrical outlets that can be used to power other devices.
Although this benefit could be extremely helpful—it’s still not a major selling point for the vehicles.
In a Bloomberg Green survey of more than 1,500 U.S. EV owners, none of the 1% of respondents who filled in their own reasons for purchasing an electric car mentioned the two-way power as a reason for purchase. Majority of the respondents said cost savings and environmental benefits.
“Nothing in our market research indicates emergency preparedness is a notable why-buy in the EV market,” says a spokesperson for the research shop Cox Automotive, Mark Schirmer. “Consumers mostly prioritize price, monthly payment, range and styling. Emergency preparedness is perhaps a nice-to-have.”
