An Electric Car Revolution?

On Monday, news leaked that Apple plans to introduce an electric car by 2019 and that it is placing a high priority on doing so.

Electric cars, which just a few years ago were considered a novelty, have entered the mainstream and seem poised for strong and sustained growth. And that is good news for everyone, even if you have no intention of giving up your gasoline or diesel powered vehicle.

Today, more than a dozen car manufacturers offer more than 20 brands of electric cars. They come in all prices, styles, sizes, and powertrains. Electric cars are appealing because they cost a fraction to fuel with electricity, and often have lower maintenance costs.

By fueling electric cars with U.S. made electricity instead of imported foreign oil, we are able to keep billions in our economy instead of exporting it. This means jobs and economic revitalization here.

For many, though, the greatest appeal of electric cars is their environmental benefits.

Electric cars significantly reduce carbon emissions especially when they are powered with clean, non-emitting electricity sources, specifically nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind power. For example, the one million cars in Westchester County, the vast majority of which are gasoline powered, emit close to eight million metric tons of carbon annually.

That figure is particularly notable in light of the large, non-emitting electricity generated by Indian Point. Without the plant, a recent independent study found that New York’s carbon emissions would increase by eight million metric tons annually (the same as currently emitted by all cars in the County), if that power could somehow be replaced in a timely manner.

The growth in electric cars underscores the fact that New York needs to keep and expand its clean electricity generating plants, including Indian Point. In fact, the push to add new clean power sources could gain momentum soon, especially if demand for electric cars skyrocket, as companies like Apple are betting that it will.

This is great news for our economy and our environment – and we should make sure we have sufficient clean electricity sources in place to realize the maximum benefits from this important trend.

Rob DiFrancesco is the director of the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (New York AREA), a diverse organization of more than 150 business, labor, and community groups including Entergy, the owner-operator of Indian Point. Founded in 2003, New York AREA’s mission is to ensure that New York has an ample and reliable electricity supply, and economic prosperity for years to come.

For more information visit www.area-alliance.org