Let’s Take the EV Journey Together
We recently added a new Ford F-150 Lightning electric vehicle to our inventory. Douglas Electric Cooperative bought this electric vehicle—without spending any member money— through the Oregon Clean Fuels Program. We plan to use it as an electric vehicle demo at local events and eventually as part of our fleet.
Electric vehicles are cars or trucks with electric motors that use electricity as fuel. There are 3 main types:
- HEV: A hybrid electric vehicle that uses electricity and gas for fuel.
- PHEV: A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with larger battery packs than a standard HEV for longer all-electric driving.
- BEV: A battery-electric vehicle that uses energy stored in onboard battery packs.
Most EVs on the road today are HEVs, such as the Toyota Prius. These cars have a gas engine and at least 1 electric motor and battery pack. HEVs can run on electric power for short times at lower speeds, and the batteries may charge by braking.
PHEVs, such as the Mitsubishi Outlander, have a larger battery to power a range of 20 to 50 miles before the gas engine kicks in. A plug-in hybrid can plug in to recharge its batteries or run in hybrid mode on gas.
BEVs, including the Ford Lightning and Tesla Model 3, have at least 1 electric motor and a battery pack. They average about 300 miles on a full charge but do not have a gas engine. BEVs usually have fast acceleration, but it takes a considerable amount of time to fully recharge the batteries.
There are 3 levels of charging for EVs:
- Level 1: This is a standard household 3-prong outlet. Using this outlet may take more than 36 hours to fully charge an EV.
- Level 2: A 240-volt charger uses a plug similar to that of an electric clothes dryer. It can charge up to 25 miles of range per hour.
- Level 3: A Level 3 or DC Fast Charger can charge up to 100 miles in 30 minutes. This charger is available at public charging stations and may cost money to use.
If you are wondering how much an EV might cost to charge, start with the average rate of 9 cents per kilowatt-hour. If you drive a Ford Lightning F-150 about 1,000 miles a month, the estimated at-home charging power cost is $70.70 a month.
Douglas Electric offers a rebate for installing a Level 2 EV charger in your home. Visit the Rebates Program page or call for more information.
At Douglas Electric Cooperative, we want to take an EV journey with you, help answer your questions, and learn more about electric vehicles together.
General Manager Keith Brooks