electric vehicles Archives - Oklahoma Electric Cooperative

EVs: Our Energy Expert’s Final Take

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Autumn McMahon

In closing, here are a few more thoughts I had while driving the EV car. One thing about the car that was noticeably different for me was the fact that the rearview mirror looks like it magnifies well. The cars in the mirror appear to be closer than they are. It made me think my eyes were playing tricks on me! It took some adjusting, but once I was used to it, it wasn’t a problem.

Two other thoughts:

The radio didn’t seem to affect the battery at all.
The heating and air conditioning are big energy users, but the car makes up for it elsewhere.

If you are considering purchasing an EV in the future, please reach out to Daniel at Daniel.Lofland@okcoop.org and he would be happy to provide you with any additional information.

Deck My Ride, Episode 3: Long and Short of It

Posted on October 10, 2019February 22, 2021 by Autumn McMahon

Wondering if an electric vehicle is right for you? We illustrate the versatility of these powerful little vehicles.

Electric Vehicles Recharge Themselves

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Autumn McMahon

If you are anything like me, then a top priority of car safety is the braking system. Many EVs have regenerative braking. You may be asking yourself, “what is regenerative braking?” It is a simple concept that allows the battery to gain a little extra electricity. Basically, when you take your foot off the gas pedal, it begins to put energy back into the battery of the car. There is also a paddle on the left side of the steering wheel that when depressed, applies a harder “braking” but is regenerating more electricity than if you were just coasting or pressing the brake pedal.

For instance, when you are coasting, the dash indicates that 5-6kws are going back into the battery. When you compare that number to a standard braking system, you can see the numbers increase to 15kw-30kw. But with the regenerative paddle on the steering wheel, I saw numbers as high as 60kw going back to the battery.

This brings up something I think is cool. Throughout my whole trip, I only touched the brake pedal one time. There is a brake pedal, just like in a traditional car, but once you get comfortable using the paddle you can see how much more energy is going back to the battery and it becomes somewhat of a game! The paddle will bring you to a complete stop. Not only are users anticipating less maintenance on their vehicles versus a standard Internal Combustion Engine, but the brakes could last forever! Okay, maybe not forever, but the brakes could potentially last over 200k miles! Either way, it is for sure an improvement from a standard, gasoline-powered vehicle.

If you are considering purchasing an EV in the future, please reach out to Daniel at Daniel.Lofland@okcoop.org and he would be happy to provide you with any additional information.

Electric Vehicles (EV): Rain or Shine

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Autumn McMahon

The last time I took out the EV, it was raining. I do not just mean a light drizzle; I was driving through a torrential rainstorm in Oklahoma City. The car’s performance in the rain was amazing. I never felt as if I couldn’t handle the steering, or that I would lose control of the vehicle. I even deliberately gave the EV some extra gas to see if it ever would ever wobble or feel loose, it never did.

In Norman on 24th Ave, which is well-known for being a high flood zone, I drove in the right lane to see if the car would begin to hydroplane. Once again, this car handled the challenge of high flood waters like a champ! This car is rather heavy, weighing 3,563 lbs., so I really was not too surprised that it handled the rain so well, but I was sure glad to see it.

One thing I did notice about driving in the rain was that it did have an impact on battery usage, or “range.” As I would enter and leave areas of heavy rain, the miles seemed to drain faster when the car was in a downpour. This is understandable, considering the tires are having to displace surface water as opposed to just rolling on dry roads.

When considering purchasing an EV, my first thought is always going to be about the safety of the car for my family. Everyone wants to have safe and reliable transportation for their families. After this experience, I would feel comfortable putting my family in the car and driving through a storm with heavy rain and high winds.

If you are considering purchasing an EV in the future, please reach out to Daniel at Daniel.Lofland@okcoop.org and he would be happy to provide you with any additional information.

#EVMoments with Daniel and Chyla

Posted on October 10, 2019February 22, 2021 by Autumn McMahon

We continue to dive into the awesome-ness that is electric vehicles. In this episode, Daniel Lofland, our Energy Efficiency Solutions Specialist and Chyla Hall, our Member Service Associate, discuss the paddle brake and more. Check it out:

Electric Vehicles (EV): The Why

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Autumn McMahon

Did you know that our electric vehicle (EV) has arrived? The OEC employees have all enjoyed turns taking out our new ride for a spin.

Our Energy Efficiency & Solutions Specialist, Daniel Lofland, has been recording his observations while driving the EV and we want to share those with you!

Daniel recently took the EV out for a drive from Norman to Harrah, here are some of his thoughts about the efficiency of the vehicle:

“I began my drive with the air on, in heat mode, but the temperature was not very high. The car said I had 173 miles left on the battery. As I began to drive further, that number seemed to be accurate. I started to get warm, so I turned the air to A/C, and nothing changed as far as miles left. After a few miles, I cooled off and decided to turn the air off. When I did that, the miles left on the battery increased by 20 miles. I was impressed!”

You may be thinking “Why would I buy an electric car?” and here are some of the benefits:

Electric cars use far less energy than gasoline-powered cars, and generally cost about one-third as much as a gas-powered car to run. Electric cars also have lower maintenance costs, say goodbye to oil changes! Running on electricity in most regions of the country costs significantly less than using gasoline.

In the state of Oklahoma, it costs only 86 cents to fuel an electric car, in comparison to the $2.72 is takes to fuel a gas-line-powered car. There are even more opportunities to save a few dollars when it comes to electric vehicles. For instance, you can take advantage of lower off-peak charging rates when it is time to charge your electric vehicle.

EVs produce no tailpipe emissions and have lower lifecycle emissions than gasoline powered vehicles.
EVs are quiet due to lack of engine noise, as compared to a gas-powered vehicle.
EVs generally have lower maintenance and fuel costs, reducing the total cost of ownership.
EVs don’t rely on petroleum and electricity prices are more stable than gasoline. There is minimal fluctuation on electricity prices.
Charging at home is convenient.
When combined with a home solar system, “fuel” costs can be eliminated.

If you are considering purchasing an EV in the future, please reach out to Daniel at Daniel.Lofland@okcoop.org and he would be happy to provide you with any additional information.

Deck My Ride: Episode 2, Mom Edition

Posted on October 1, 2019February 22, 2021 by Autumn McMahon

Wondering if an electric vehicle is right for you? Wonder no more. Our EV experts are here to dive in to all of your driving needs. Here, mom of two, Autumn, discusses here needs for a vehicle.

Deck My Ride: Episode 1

Posted on October 1, 2019February 22, 2021 by Autumn McMahon

We prided ourselves on being your trusted energy advisor. With electric vehicles (EVs) exploding onto the scene, we are here to answer any of your questions. Check out our sweet new ride and learn even more at www.okcoop.org/ev.