CLAY COUNTY – Clay County Electric Cooperative advertises purchasing an electric vehicle as a wise transportation choice. They have the virtues of buying an electric vehicle, including lower operational costs than a gas-powered car, environmental benefits, and performance benefits like quiet, smooth operation, more decisive acceleration, and less maintenance than their gasoline-powered internal combustion counterparts.

However, when Clay County residents ponder the purchase of an electric vehicle, there are many factors they should consider.

Christine Pinkley is an owner of a hybrid electric vehicle who resides in Keystone Heights. She drives a 2018 Kia Optima, which runs on battery and gas power.

How long an electric vehicle can run without a charge is a primary consideration that should be factored into the decision-making process when contemplating a purchase of an EV.

Pinkley said her HEV gets more than 600 miles to the tank, which is double that of her previous vehicle, a gas-powered Kia.

“It’s great for when you take road trips. I can make it all the way from Keystone Heights to Cartersville, Georgia, on one tank of gas,” she said.

Full electric vehicles average about 250 miles a trip, but some higher-end models like Tesla and Mercedes can go up to 600 miles on one charge.

Living near a metropolitan area can relieve some of the stress when it comes to charging the cars, and with the county being stationed in close proximity to Jacksonville, there is a myriad of options.

The Fuccillo Nissan at 7447 Blanding Blvd., Cecil Airport at 13365 Simpson Way, the Jax Station at 6500 Lake Gray Blvd., Get Juice Kia Orange Park at 6373 Blanding Blvd., the Best Western Southside Hotels and Suites, Tesla Destination at 4580 Collins Road are all located within a 30-minute drive.

The cost of replacing batteries should be heavily considered during the process.

“I wish I had done more research on the rechargeable batteries because they are so expensive,” she said.

Living in a rural area of the county, Pinkley now knows why it may have been better to do more research on rechargeable batteries.

“Out here, you have to drive so far to get anywhere. You’re going to run out of your vehicle warranty so fast, which can put you in a bind if that battery goes out,” she said.

Full-electric battery-electric vehicles can run up to 200,000-300,000 miles before an old battery needs to be replaced, but new batteries can cost between $4,000-$20,000 to replace, according to NerdWallet, a popular personal finance website.

Batteries aren’t cheap to replace, and the market is booming for the electric car battery industry in the United States, which could mean that they won’t be getting any cheaper anytime soon.

A 2023 Research and Markets report estimated the electric vehicle battery market to be valued at $7.2 billion in 2022 and could reach $17.1 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, the global market, which is currently estimated at $25.6 billion, could reach $84.5 billion.

For more information, like EV benefits, models, a fuel savings calculator, offers and events, and public charging stations, please visit the following link: www.clayelectric.com/electric-vehicles.