How Much Does An Electric Vehicle ACTUALLY Cost to Maintain?

The Jetsons is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of electric vehicles, not necessarily a floating utopia equipped with flying cars, but it’s definitely a wave of the future.  With countless manufacturers rolling our production vehicles and prototypes, it’s not difficult to get lost in the shuffle.  We’ve heard the conversation around electric vehicles: they’re quiet, cheap to maintain, and environmentally friendly.  Lets delve a bit deeper and get the actual price of maintaining one.

According to Edmunds: to figure out the cost of fueling an EV, start with the electric car's energy consumption rate, which is expressed as kWh per 100 miles (kWh/100m). This figure will be listed on the EPA's upcoming EV fuel economy label (the 2011 Leaf's preliminary label is shown here, complete with an erroneous 12-cent per kWh figure in the cost estimate that Nissan says it is correcting). The next figure is your home electric rate, assuming that's the primary charging site. Multiply the kWh/100m figure by the electric rate to get the cost per 100 miles. For instance, the Leaf's kWh/100m figure is 34. If electricity is 11 cents per kWh — the national average — it would cost $3.74 to go 100 miles.

Utility companies, and the time and level of use set the electricity cost.  You pay more for kWh at peak hours, making a lot of electric commuters pay more than the national average of 11 cents per kWh.  How do real individuals save on their electric vehicles? 

Tom and Cathy Saxon have two electric vehicles.  They installed separate electric meters for their EVs (electric vehicles) in July 2009 and have been tracking them since then.  The Saxton's Tesla is consuming at a rate of 30.8 kWh/100m (bettering its official EPA rating); the RAV4 is averaging about 35 kWh/100m.  They pay an average of 11.25 cents per kWh.  In other words, they drive about 30 miles on a dollar’s worth of electricity, it would be much more expensive to drive with gas.  Results do vary, depending on a couple factors like when and where you’re charging, but the true cost of filling up is a tad more complicated than expected.

What Exactly is the Autobahn?

When Autobahn comes to mind, I can’t help but reference Michael Jackson’s hit “Speed Demon, “ a fast-paced song about the repercussions of speeding down an infinite highway.  THAT is how I picture the Autobahn.  Millions of people have heard references to the famed speedway, but what exactly is it?  Is it a motorway system that lasts an eternity without a speed limit or a racetrack for the fastest cars in the world?  In today’s blog, we break down WHAT the Autobahn is and how you can see it for yourself.

The Autobahn, by definition, is a superhighway or expressway in Germany that stands as one of the last places on earth where you can drive as fast as you want.  The highway is in no means a free-for-all, with some sections of the autobahn having speed limits, though great stretches still remain unrestricted. 

The Autobahn national highway system stretches over 6,800 miles and is designed to connect all of Germany’s major metropolitan areas.  The presumption is that there are unlimited speeds on the entire Autobahn, but many heavily trafficked sections of the freeway have speed limits in the 50 to 75 mph range. The suggested speed for the unlimited sections is 81 mph, though various speedsters and adrenaline seekers routinely break the fold.

So, you must be wondering HOW fast someone has ventured into the record books.  Well, in 1938, driver Rudolf Caracciola set an autobahn speed record of 268.8 mph.  WOW. 

What Exactly is the Autobahn? Find out in our blog!

Top 5 Road Trip Ideas

Two words: ROAD TRIP!  Save on flights and accommodations by planning a trip to one of these awesome locales:

The Most Scenic Routes in America: Summer Edition

Sometimes, you need to get away.  Work is exhausting, your favorite TV sitcoms have gone off the air, and it’s time to break the mold.  Imagine breathing in the cool breeze of an ocean, or the soothing heat of a morning sun while taking a trip down the countryside.  Road trips are a great way to embrace the open road to view what our beautiful country has to offer.  So, you have the keys, a bag of snacks, and a couple days to check out your surroundings, but where do you go?  In today’s blog, we’re discussing some great scenic places to visit while you travel. 

Overseas Highway – Florida Keys

A highway that spans 113 miles, composed of roads and bridges from the Florida mainland to the country’s most southern point, the Overseas Highway is a beautiful place to drive.  There’s blue ocean, ships, boats, fisherman and tourists at every turn.  As an added fact, the Florida East Coast Railway was converted into this awesome highway.

Finger Lakes Region – New York

The Finger Lakes are a chain of lakes in central New York State shaped like…well, uh…fingers with the lakes formed by glaciers.  The lake extends 75 miles from Syracuse to Rochester.  There’s farmland, quaint towns and hundreds of wineries.  An Autumn trip adds an accentuating foliage to a beautiful drive year around. 

Pacific Coast Highway – California

This is known as one of the most scenic views in the world.  Hugging cliffs, and coastlines line a 123 mile stretch in a blissful five hour dream of beauty and saltwater scents.  However, this is not for the faint at heart.  The PCH offers some hairpin turns, narrow shoulders and steep drop-offs so BE ALERT. Honestly, take some time to pull over in safe places to really enjoy the vista. 

San Juan Skyway – Colorado

This scenic 233-mile drive through San Juan National Forest, Grand Mesa, is known as the “road to the sky” because of its mountains, quaint towns and ancient Native American pueblo ruins.  The drive features steep cliffs, alpine forests, campgrounds and plenty of outdoor activities.  

Add Us to Your Circles on Google+

Have you logged into your Google+ Profile lately?  Well, if you have, you’ll realize there were a TON of new aesthetic changes!  Google+ recently released a new way to managing your profile content on Google+.  Now, you have access to a jumbo Google Cover Image at the top of your page and app integration.  We recently upgraded, so feel free to check us out right here:

https://plus.google.com/111321186523583174558/posts

See you on Google+!

Top Automotive Myths

Movies, water cooler discussions and urban legends have created a lot of myths when it comes to the automotive industry.  In today’s blog, we debunk (we love that word) a lot of these automotive follies in our newest post. Enjoy!

Myth - Engine oil should be changed every 3000 miles.  -  The newest engines perform at optimal performance for an extended period of time.  Consult your owners’ manual and trust the engineers who designed the engines, not the fast-lube industry marketing folks who advocate 3000-mile changes.

Myth – Placing a potato into the exhaust pipe will stop the engine – a potato pressed into the exhaust pip will shoot out wen the engine starts running!

Myth – Sugar in the gas tank will ruin the engine – False!  Sugar doesn’t dissolve in gasoline nor does does it mix I added as a liquid.  It just sits at the bottom of the gas tank.  If a ton of sugar was poured into the gas tank then it would eventually clog the fuel lines or filters, thus stopping the engine but it could take compressed air to blow it out.

Myth - Aftermarket oil and fuel additives work well and are worth the money - Reality: No, they don’t work well, and they’re not worth the money. TV and magazine ads demonstrating dramatic results fail to mention that the conditions shown in the ads don’t exist in every-day engine operation.

These are just a few myths from the automotive industry.  What’s one you’ve heard recently?

Win a Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers Jersey at Metro Ford

Metro Ford of Madison (formerly known as Capital Ford) is celebrating the Green Bay Packers' Quaterback, Aaron Rodgers, for bringing the Cheesehead's to a record of 7-3!  We're car guys, but even WE can appreciate our hometeam destroying the competition! 

In celebration, we're giving away an authentic Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers Jersey next week.  All Facebook fans who enter the contest are eligible to win! So, have you entered yet?  To enter, click HERE and don't forget to visit Metro Ford of Madison for our newest new and pre-owned specials!

Metro Ford is a premier Ford dealership located in Madison, WI, From the moment you walk into the Metro Ford showroom, you'll know a commitment to Customer Service and choice selection. We strive to make your experience with Metro Ford a good one – for the life of your vehicle. Whether you need to Purchase, Finance, or Service a New or Pre-Owned Ford, you’ve come to the right place. Call 888-485-7871 for your No-Obligation Internet Price Quote from our Internet Department.