Conservation Corner – June 2024

Discover the Perks of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles have an advantage over their internal combustion counterparts: They can be charged at home.

A Level 2 home charger employs a 240-volt outlet — similar to what an electric dryer uses — and can add up to 30 miles of range per hour of charging. Charging an EV overnight ensures sufficient range for the next day. You can wake up ready to roll, without ever having to visit a gas station.

Home charging also takes advantage of the stable price of electricity. No more gas pump surprises at the unpredictable and wildly fluctuating cost of gasoline, and the EV cost per mile traveled is about half that of a gas vehicle. Although not everyone may have the ability to charge at home, electric cars remain convenient, affordable, and safe. It’s like they say, home is where the car is.

EVs may not be for everyone right now, but for many, they are a great choice. They are the perfect commuter car and the gaps between highway chargers available for road trips are shrinking.

Columbia REA has installed such a fast charger for those who need a quick charge. This charger can charge an EV in as little as 20 minutes and up to 45 minutes for large capacity batteries. It’s available to the public and is a “pay to use” charger located at our main office at 2929 Melrose Street, Walla Walla, near Airport Way and HWY12.

Local agencies have found great uses for EV technologies as well. Nearly half of Walla Walla Public Schools’ bus fleet will be electric thanks in part to a $3.7 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund 15 electric buses and charging infrastructure through its Clean School Bus Initiative Grant Program. The district was also awarded a $1 million grant from the Department of Ecology to help support this project.

I have ridden on several electric school buses and found them to be very quiet, and not having to smell any diesel exhaust was a great experience. With the nature of school transportation, a few hours in the morning and afternoon, electric buses are a great fit.

If an electric vehicle is a good fit for you, please go to our webpage at the Columbia REA website and check out the great rebates (up to $250) on a residential electric charger.

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Charlie DeSalvo, Energy Efficiency Specialist

If you have any questions about energy efficiency, email Charlie DeSalvo or call (509) 526-4041<