In honor of Drive Electric Week, Taylor Morrison Austin is hosting its own electric car event at The Enclave at Rough Hollow on Saturday, Sept. 20, where one lucky person will win the opportunity to experience an evening out on the town in a brand new Tesla Model S.
Austin residents are invited to join the conversation and further explore how electric cars are changing personal transportation in terms of cost, environmental safety, technology development, American job creation and more.
Tesla electric vehicles will be onsite, giving guests an up-close look at the electric cars, plus real-life information on what it’s like to make the switch from gas to electric. Free food and refreshments will be served as well during the event, which runs from noon to 6 p.m.
The difference between gas and electric cars
Some car lovers may be reluctant to give up their gas-fueled cars at first because they’re not sure if they’ll like the way a hybrid or electric car runs.
Many are surprised, however, at the contrast between the smooth, quiet ride and the high torque of these electric vehicles, which makes for an exhilarating ride that also saves stops at the gas station. To quell any concerns about electric cars in adverse weather conditions, the high torque also allows them to handle well in snow, according to electric car experts.
Not surprisingly, the cars are also cheaper to “refuel”. In fact, the cost of fueling with gas is five times more expensive than fueling with electricity, expert say. To put things in perspective, the national average for gasoline is $3.90 a gallon. If a typical sedan averages 22 miles per gallon, the total gas expense would equal $5,318 after just 30,000 miles.
On the other hand, exchanging gas for electricity (which has a national average of $0.12 per kilowatt hour) tallies total fuel costs after 30,000 miles at $1,048, according to Tesla’s fuel savings calculator.
The future of electric
The future of electric vehicles is looking bright with more than 200,000 sold to date. That number is expected to continue to increase as more models and electricity options become available.
Greater demand for clean energy solutions like wind and solar power benefit the electric car industry even more as cleaner energy sources mean even cleaner transportation, which can significantly help reduce the country’s dependency on oil and therefore the amount of toxic emissions polluting the air everyday.
With this increase in demand, advanced technology vehicles and components are being built in at least 20 states. A report by the Sierra Club estimates that half a million jobs will be created and 3.5 million barrels of oil per day will be saved by 2030.
This year’s Drive Electric Week will be the fourth series of annual events since the event began in 2011. Each event is led by local electric, hybrid and plug-in advocates who wish to share the advantages of electric vehicles with their communities.
Drive Electric Week consists of simultaneous events held around the country from Monday, Sept. 15 through Sunday, Sept. 21 celebrating the widespread availability of all different variations of electric and hybrid-electric cars, trucks, motorcycles and more.
Plug In America, Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association serve as team support to Drive Electric Week events taking place in communities nationwide.
