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1. What cars are considered "electric"?

There many different types of electric vehicles. For Durango’s EV readiness roadmap, we are looking at two main categories:

• Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): these vehicles are run 100% by electric motor (e.g., Nissan LEAF, Chevy Bolt, Tesla Model 3) and can be recharged by plugging into a charging outlet or station.
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs): these vehicles have both an electric motor and a gas or diesel engine that burns fuel once the elctric charge is depleted (e.g. Chevy Volt) and can be recharged by plugging into a charging outlet or station.

2. Are EVs affordable?

Today, most electric vehicles cost a little more to purchase than their traditional counterparts, but typically cost half as much to operate and maintain. EVs require little to no maintenance and electricity is cheaper (and cleaner) than gas or diesel fuel. Plus, there are many incentives to purchase an EV, including state and federal rebates. Look for additional discounts through special promotions, such as "group-buys," where dealers offer electric vehicles at a lower price to incentivize a large volume of sales.

Check 4CORE’s website for more information on available incentives and upcoming opportunities.

3. How far can an EV travel on one charge?

Typical battery range is between 80 and 350 miles. Check out FuelEconomy.gov to find an EV that would best suit your needs.

4. Are there electric trucks and SUVs available?

The good news is that electric SUVs are already here! The exciting news is that electric trucks are just around the corner!

Ford, GMC and Tesla expect to have electric trucks available within the next two years. Without the burden of a traditional motor, electric vehicles can offer lots of torque, so you can expect electric trucks to provide all the power you need.

5. Where can I charge my electric vehicle in Durango?

The easiest way to find charging in Durango, or anywhere, is to use websites like the U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fueling Station Locator or apps like PlugShare and OpenCharge, which let you filter by charger type, price, and other features. Currently, there are eight Level 2 public charging locations in Durango, and the City and LPEA continue to explore opportunities for more:

• Durango Transit Center, 250 W 8th St. (three Level 2 stations and two Level 3 stations)
• La Plata Electric Association, 45 Stewart St. (two Level 2 stations)
• Mercy Medical Center, 1010 Three Springs Blvd (two Level 2 stations)
• Springhill Suites by Marriott Durango, 77 Mercury Village Dr. (two Level 2 stations)
• Smiley Cafe, 1308 E 3rd Ave. (six Level 2 stations)
• Rochester Hotel, 726 E 2nd Ave (two Level 2 stations)
• DoubleTree by Hilton, 501 Camino Del Rio (four Level 2 stations)
• Economy Nissan, 20704 Highway 160 (one Level 2 station)

6. How long will it take to charge my electric vehicle?

Charging can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 12 hours, depending on the type of battery, how empty the battery is, and the type of charger. Level 2 chargers, the most common type of public charging station, typically provides 10-25 miles of range per hour of charge.

Durango's first DC Fast Charger was installed in July 2021. This station is able to provde an 80% charge to a fully electric car in under half an hour and was installed through a partnership with La Plata Electric Association using Colorado Energy Office grant funding.

7. What are the benefits of driving an electric vehicle?

There are many benefits to electric vehicles, including:

• Low maintenance costs - fewer fluids and mechanical parts
• No tailpipe emissions
• No more pumping gas
• Quiet drive
• Instant torque and high performance

8. What are the 3 different levels of charging?

• Level 1 is a 110-volt charger that would take more than 24-hours to charge a pure electric vehicle. Sometimes this is referred to as "trickle charging." A Level 1 unit can charge a plug-in hybrid or extended-range electric vehicle.
• Level 2 is a 220-volt charger that takes 6-8 hours to charge an electric car with a fully depleted battery. Most electric car owners purchase a Level 2 charger to charge their cars overnight at their homes. 
• Level 3 is known as direct current (DC) fast charging. These chargers will primarily provide direct current at up to 500 volts. Level 3 chargers will be installed in public places and can provide an 80% charge to a full electric vehicle car in under half an hour.

9. What are the different plug or connector types?

• SAE J1772: All EVs in North America except Tesla use the SAE J1772 connector for Level 1 and Level 2 charging, also known as the "J-plug." Tesla vehicles can charge on a J1772 by using an adapter cable that Tesla includes with the vehicle at sale.
• CHAdeMO: CHAdeMO is a connector for Level 3, DC (direct current) fast charging and was developed by the Japanese utility Tepco as the official standard in Japan. In North America, the only manufacturers currently selling electric vehicles that use CHAdeMO connectors are Nissan and Mitsubishi. Unlike the CCS system, CHAdeMO connectors do not share part of the connector with the J1772 inlet, so they require an additional CHAdeMO inlet on the car. This means that a larger charge port area is needed to accommodate two different charging connectors. Recently Nissan, a known CHAdeMO supporter released specs for an upcoming EV in their fleet that will use a CCS connector, thus making CHAdeMO a legacy charging connector type.
• CCS/SSA: The CCS is a connector for Level 3, DC (direct current) fast charging that uses the J1772 charging inlet, and adds two more pins that allow for high-speed charging. CCS is the accepted standard in North America and was developed and endorsed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Just about every automaker today has agreed to use the CCS standard in North America, including: General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Honda, Kia, Fiat, Hyundi, Volvo, smart, MINI, and others.
• Tesla: Teslas use a proprietary connector only used by Tesla vehicles. The more streamlined design uses the same connector for Level 1, Level 2 and DC fast charging, accepting all voltage levels so there is no need to have a different connector specifically for DC fast charging as required for other models. Tesla operates a network of DC fast charger called Superchargers across the globe. Tesla installed and maintains these stations, and they are for the exclusive use of Tesla customers. Even with an adapter cable, it would not be possible to charge a non-Tesla EV at a Tesla Supercharger station due to the powerful charge that other vehicles are not designed to accept. Furthermore, there is an authetication process that identifies the vehicle as a Tesla before it grants access to power.

10. How do winter conditions affect electric vehicles?

Extreme cold impacts can impact the range in EVs by 25-30%. The additional heating needed for passenger comfort requires more energy than more moderate temperatures would, and cold batteries do not hold a charge as well. However, temperature-control technology is improving to compensate for some of these issues. Several models are now available with battery heaters or other technology to improve efficiency in cold climates.

11. Are electric vehicles really better for the environment?

There are three main categories of environmental impact that need to be considered when comparing electric (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles: 

• Tailpipe emissions (local air pollution): When ICE vehicles turn gasoline into power, they produce harmful byproducts (e.g., Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), that are released out of the vehicle’s tailpipe. Tailpipe emissions from traditional vehicles produce greenhouse gas emissions and can lead to local air pollution by contributing to smog and haze. In turn, this air pollution can cause or worsen health problems, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. Unlike ICE vehicles, EVs do not produce any tailpipe emissions and therefore can benefit local air quality and public health. 
• Fuel production emissions (global pollution): When taking a more holistic look, both EVs and ICE vehicles produce emissions related to the production of fuel (gasoline or diesel for ICE vehicles and electricity for EVs). In the case of gasoline and diesel fuel production, emissions are produced through the extraction, refining, and transportation of fuel to pumping stations. When it comes to EVs, there are emissions associated with the generation of electricity used to charge cars. The difference in emissions associated with fuel production varies greatly depending on the source of electricity generation. Still, research suggests that EVs have lower greenhouse gas emissions than ICE vehicles, even based on current US and Colorado electricity generation. This is largely because much of the electricity produced in the US and Colorado comes from cleaner sources like natural gas, wind, and solar. As the cost of renewable electricity generation continues to plummet, and both utilities and states commit to increasing the percentage of renewables in their supply, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with charging EVs will decline over time. See the Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Database for more information on comparing greenhouse gas emissions associated with EVs and ICE vehicles.  
• Manufacturing and end-of-life emissions and other environmental impacts: Environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions are associated with the manufacture and disposal of any vehicle. However, the lithium-ion batteries in current EVs pose specific social, economic, and environmental challenges related to the materials used to produce them. Battery materials sourcing and re-cycling are the top supply chain impacts to be addressed.   There is significant ongoing research and commercial development aimed at both reducing the amount of cobalt and other materials used in EV batteries, while also improving options for battery reuse (building and grid storage) and recycling (for example the Department of Energy ReCell Advanced Battery Recycling Project). See additional FAQs for more information on batteries. 

12. How clean is the electricity I am using to charge my vehicle?

The sustainability of EVs largely depends on the source of the electricity generated and used to charge the vehicle. Currently, EVs charged in Durango and within LPEA’s service territory use electricity generated from an energy mix comprised of coal (56%), renewable energy (32%), and natural gas (4%). In 2019, LPEA set a goal to reduce their carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 while keeping electricity prices low. LPEA is exploring options that include adding more local renewable resources.

The city of Durango purchases 100% Green Power through LPEA's green power purchase program; all charging at the city's Level 2 and 3 charging stations at the Transit Center therefore uses 100% Green Power.

13. How sustainable are electric vehicle batteries?

• Battery production emissions: Differences in battery materials and production techniques, including the location and energy mix of production, affect the overall sustainability of EV batteries. A battery produced using coal-fired electricity, for example, will have significantly higher emissions than one produced using cleaner power. In total, analyses of battery production (including the extraction of component minerals) suggest that emissions from manufacturing an EV battery are roughly equivalent to the emissions from manufacturing the rest of the vehicle. Some experts suggest that these emissions represent approximately 5-15% of the total life-cycle emissions of an EV in many locales, although these estimates can vary widely. The good news is that new production technologies are developing, and the overall electrical grid is becoming less carbon intensive. Some experts anticipate a 50% reduction in an EV’s life-cycle emissions by 2030, and by one estimate of a fully renewable future grid, EVs could eventually produce at least 90% fewer life-cycle emissions than do ICE vehicles. 
• Battery production social impacts: Certain challenges are particularly connected with mining for minerals, such as cobalt, used in EV batteries. Unregulated cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which produces more than half of all mined cobalt, is linked to regular risk of injury and death due to mine collapse, lung disease from particle inhalation, and child labor concerns (with weak enforcement of health and safety standards or child labor rules). It is important to note that fossil fuel exploration and extraction has also been associated with similar human rights abuse, conflict, and corruption. The average scores on the Resource Governance Index for oil-producing countries (47 out of 100) and mineral-producing countries (48 out of 100) are virtually identical, signaling that misgovernance, specifically related to child labor, remains a challenge in both sectors. 
• Battery lifespan: Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are designed for extended life; but, as with any other rechargeable battery, it will degrade over time.  Federal regulations require that every battery in an EV sold in the U.S. come with a warranty providing coverage for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. However, current estimates predict that an EV battery will last 10–20 years before they need to be replaced. EV drivers can maximize battery life by avoiding: high temperatures, overcharging, completely draining the battery, and aggressive driving patterns. After the battery’s first life is over, it can be reused for energy storage, telecommunications backup services, and other applications before it needs to be recycled. 

14. When should I consider replacing my existing gas-powered vehicle with an electric vehicle?

From a cost perspective...

• Total cost of ownership for a vehicle includes purchase or lease price, fuel/electricity, maintenance and insurance. Due to low fuel/electricity and maintenance costs, owning an EV is often less expensive, over several years, than owning an ICE vehicle. Visit PlugStar.com to explore potential savings for various EV models. As the EV market grows, so will used EV options, further improving the cost-benefit analysis.

From an environmental perspective...

• Normally, it is best not to replace products unnecessarily. This is because the greenhouse gas emissions related to most things we purchase (e.g. clothing, furniture) come from the energy used to manufacture and ship the items. However, products that consume fossil fuels for power (e.g., vehicles, furnaces and lawn mowers) produce emissions every time they are turned on. An ICE vehicel will produce 8 to 10 times more emissions from driving than from its manufacture. Therefore, replacing ICE vehicles sooner can significantly improve overall emissions and air quality.

15. How much does it cost to use the public charging stations at the Transit Center?

There are two types of charging stations conveniently located at the Transit Center in downtown Durango.

There are three dual-port Level 2 charging stations with a fee of $1.50 per charging session.

The two Level 3 charging stations have a fee of $0.30 per kWh of electricity disbursed. These stations also have a $0.30 per minute penalty fee that kicks in 10 minutes after a vehicle has finished charging, if it remains plugged in.