The times they are a changing.
At least there are many Americans hoping that they are.
From the health and economic threat of the pandemic to the round the clock new cycle of the election, Americans are ready to take a breathe. And for the folks in Colorado and California there are many who are hoping that breathe will be a healthy one. After months of dealing with forrest fires and smoke and ash that has made itself known several states to the east, a growing number of people are certain that in addition to the changes that this country needs to see in the health care system and the elected government officials, there are also many who are ready to demand changes will change the very air that is around us when we are finally able to take that collective breathe.
The current administration in an effort to tick off a list of recent successes likes to point out that emissions during the last six months are lower than they have been in decades. Those environmentalists who are working toward permanent change in their lives, however, are quick to point out that the air is cleaner because the majority of Americans are working from home. With fewer cars and mass transportation vehicles on the road there are obviously fewer emissions in the air. And with the airlines running at significantly reduced capacity even the upper atmosphere is seeing improvement.
When the pandemic is finally over, however, these same environmentally friendly folks are still planning to do their part to make this world a better place. With an increase in the number of vehicle charging stations in public spaces in many metropolitan areas and new leases including electric charging station apartment options, it is more than individual home owners who are changing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Vehicle Charging Stations Continue to Increase Across the Nation
A couple of decades ago electric car charging stations for a homes were few and far between. Today, however, there are more and more Americans switching at least one of the cars they drive to a more fuel efficient model. And with the fact that the price for vehicle charging stations are decreasing at the same time when some states are still offering tax incentives for these purchases, it should come as no surprise that many experts expect this trend to continue. In fact, electric vehicle charging stations are growing so common in some cities that they are now a featured tour highlight on many college campuses and city centers.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the many ways that a switch to an electric car can not only safe you money but also change the health of the planet:
- Currently, the U.S. Department of Energy offers a federal incentive program giving as much as $7,500 in federal tax credits for individuals purchasing an electric vehicle.
- The U.S. electric vehicle market posted a solid first half of 2017. This first part half of the year referred to as H1 by economists indicated that this market was growing almost 40% year to year to 90,302 vehicles.
- Following federal guidelines, at least one such parking space must be an extra-wide, American Disabilities Act compliant parking space for up to 25 electric vehicle charging and parking spaces at a single location.
- The number of electric vehicles on U.S. roads is projected to reach 18.7 million by the year 2030. This would be a number that would be up from 1 million at the end of 2018, representing nearly 7% of the 259 million vehicles, including cars and light trucks, expected to be on U.S. roads in 2030.
- There are an estimated 20,178 EV public and private charging locations in the U.S., with 17,526, representing 86.9%, being available to the public as of December 31, 2017.
Change is needed as Americans continue to navigate one of the greatest challenges have faced as a nation. And while it may still be difficult to hear yourself think above the noise pollution of the talking heads leading into campaign season, the installation of electric charging stations around the country can at least allow us to breathe some fresh air.