Welcome to the New Age of the Car – It’s Electric!
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are no longer the small golf cart sized cars that only get you a few miles. Today’s EVs can handle your daily commuting and many can take you on your long trips to see friends and family. SAGE is proud to offer its new EVs for All project aimed at helping you understand this exciting new driving experience, the amazing features offered, and get the opportunity to test drive one of these fun new cars.
EVs are quickly increasing in popularity with their expanded ranges, safety features and fun driving experience. As soon as 2025, it’s estimated EVs will account for 20% of new car sales. What age group is purchasing the most types of clean fuel vehicles? People like you, over the age of 50. According to a recent study people over the age of 50 are purchasing more clean vehicles. Faster than millennials or generation X’ers. Clean vehicles include EVs, plug-in hybrids and hybrids.
Reasons to Own an EV:
- Cheaper to own: In Oregon, owning an EV can save you money. These savings come from cheaper fuel and less maintenance. On average, it costs about half as much to drive an EV versus a gas car, according to the Department of Energy.
- Comfort: Because of no gas engine or clunky transmission, EVs offer a smoother and quieter ride than a traditional car. Owners of EVs say the car feels like they glide effortlessly.
- Great for the Environment: With no gas engine, EVs don’t produce toxic emissions. This helps reduce greenhouse gases and the effects to the climate. When you own an EV you can say goodbye to ever having to wait in a DEQ line again.
EVs From the Brands You Trust
In Oregon there are currently 20+ different EV models available. These models are from major brands you trust like Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Fiat, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Nissan, Tesla, and Volkswagen.
"When I found out that I could just plug in my EV using the existing 110V outlet in my garage, I was sold on getting an electric vehicle for my next car. It fits my lifestyle and my pocketbook."
- Gayle Palmer, SAGE EV Ambassador
Free Money!
Not only are EVs great for the environment, but they are easy on the pocketbook too. A 2018 study found that the average cost to drive an EV is $485 per year, a gasoline powered car is $1,117.
A big part of the savings comes from fuel costs. On average, it costs about half as much to drive an electric vehicle than a traditional car. With the average cost of gas in Oregon at $2.57 per gallon the equivalent eGallon for an EV is only $1.03 (estimate from the U.S. Department of Energy in September 2020).
EVs have fewer moving parts and in general need less annual maintenance. Say goodbye to oil changes, transmission fluid and breaking belts. Generally, your main maintenance is windshield wipers and tires.
Do you like FREE MONEY? Who doesn’t! There are monetary incentives to help you buy a new EV! Oregon offers up to $5,000 in rebates, and the rebate can be used for purchases of new or used EVs, or leases. The federal government offers a tax credit of up to $7,500 for certain models. Find out what incentives are available here. (Link to rebate info published by Forth).
Talk With Us
Want to learn more about EVs? Talk with one of our EV Ambassadors to find out what its like owning an EV. Our Ambassadors are older adults who are happy to share their experience driving and owning EVs.
Watch the following video and meet EV Ambassador Bob.
Resources to Learn More about Electric Vehicles
Learn More About EVs for All
SAGE’s EVs for All project offers education, outreach, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and electric vehicles to older adults with the goal of increasing awareness and use of electric vehicles in Multnomah and Clackamas counties.
This project is made possible by DEQ’s Oregon Clean Fuels Program via the PGE Drive Change Fund. SAGE manages the project with partners.
PGE's Drive Change Fund
Transportation is the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon. In their pursuit of a clean energy future, PGE is committed to reducing those emissions by accelerating access to — and adoption of — electric vehicles for everyone.
From transit buses and passenger vehicles to electric bikes and community service vehicles, the PGE Drive Change Fund supports projects that help electrify transportation in Oregon.
Project Partners and Activities
The EVs for All project would not be possible without our supported partners including nonprofits, community centers and residences that serve older adults. We would like to thank them for their ongoing backing in helping us educate our community on the features and benefits of EVs.
Partners spread word of our educational events in their communities and two facilities offer car-share programs for participating members.
Due to the pandemic, the events are offered online and the car-share programs initially involve small groups of drivers.
- Educational events. SAGE offers a 60-minute EV 101 webinar on how to operate and charge an EV, pros/cons of EV use and ownership, availability of local car-share programs, and other hot topics. We also encourage participants to connect with our volunteer EV-Ambassadors who drive EVs and who are happy to field additional questions about their experiences.
- Car-share program. Two facilities (City of Sandy Community/Senior Center and Mirabella) now have EV chargers and a leased vehicle. These host sites are learning how to operate car-share programs for their communities. We are excited to support them in expanding knowledge and use of electric vehicles.
Everything we do has an impact.
Contact a SAGE Connector and learn how to get involved.