Skip to main content
Sunrun
  • Contact Us 833-394-3384
  • Get a Quote
  • Plans & Services
      • Overview
      • Monthly Solar Lease
      • Full Amount Solar Lease
      • Monthly Solar Loan
      • Purchase Solar System
  • Why Sunrun
      • Overview
      • Our Guarantee
      • Our Customers
      • Careers
      • Make Moving Easy
  • Solar Storage
      • Overview
      • Tesla Powerwall
  • EV Charging
      • F-150 Lightning™
  • Plans & Services
      • Overview
      • Monthly Solar Lease
      • Full Amount Solar Lease
      • Monthly Solar Loan
      • Purchase Solar System
  • Solar Storage
      • Overview
      • LG Chem
      • Tesla Powerwall
  • Why Sunrun
      • Overview
      • Our Vision
      • Our Guarantee
      • Our Customers
      • Careers
  • Solar by state
  • Solar FAQs
  • Solar Education
  • Cost of solar
  • Contact us
  • Sign in
  • Get started
Find out the cost of solar for your home Learn more
Find out the cost of solar for your home Learn more

Environmental Impact: A Grid-Powered Car

Linkedin Linkedin Facebook Facebook Twitter Facebook
Solar panels on an American house displaying the American flag

Are Electric Vehicles Better for the Environment?

It’s true that a grid-powered car, more commonly known as an electric vehicle (EV), runs entirely on electricity; however, it still has an impact on the environment. This is especially true if the energy used from the grid to charge the EV is created using fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, as opposed to non-polluting renewable sources such as solar and wind. Nonetheless, data shows that an EV produces significantly lower tailpipe emissions1 compared to gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. Tailpipe emissions affect the quality of local air and contribute to global warming.

See if you qualify for the
26% federal tax credit

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Do you own your home?
What is your average monthly electric bill?

By clicking below, I authorize Sunrun to call me and send pre-recorded messages and text messages to me about Sunrun products and services at the telephone number I entered above, using an autodialer, even if I am on a national or state “Do Not Call” list. Message and data rates may apply. Maximum 10 texts per month. Consent for calls & texts is optional. You can opt out anytime. You also agree to our Terms of Service.

Thanks so much! We'll call you shortly.

Sorry, we are not taking new customers in your area yet

 

Refer a friend. Get $1000

Main Differences between a Gas Car and an Electric Car

You might think that the electric car is a modern invention, but the first small-scale EV (which looked like a chariot) was created in 1828 with a top speed of 14 miles per hour.2  It’s remarkable how the electric car has evolved since then. Today, EVs have become more common, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and prices.

In fact, as of 2020, there were more than 1.4 million plug-in electric vehicles on U.S. roads,3 with Tesla, General Motors, Nissan, and Audi being the most popular brands.4 The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) projects we’ll see more than 18 million EVs on U.S. roads by 2030.5

Curious about leasing or buying an electric car to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) or save money on fuel? The comparison chart below could help you discover if adding an EV to your garage is the right choice for your lifestyle.

  Gas Car Electric Car

Carbon Emissions

4.6 

metric tons of carbon 

dioxide (CO2) emissions

on average per year6

-400% to -700% 

lower CO2 emissions 

vs. the average gas car7

Vehicle Cost

$36,600 

average cost of a new 

gas car as of June 20198

$55,600 

average cost of a new 

electric car as of June 20198

Cost to Fuel/Charge

$1,117 

per year on average9

$485

per year on average9

Tank/Battery Range

300 to 400 

miles on average10

110 to 373 

miles on average11

Need to Refuel/Charge

Weekly

on average

Daily

on average

Time to Refuel/Charge

Minutes

for a full tank

1 to 8 Hours

for a full battery12

(Varies by EV model, battery

size, and charger type)

Horsepower (hp)

180 

hp of the average 

gas car13

93 

hp of the average 

electric car14

Maintenance Costs

$1,621 to $1,805

per year on average*15

$204 to $386 

per year on average**15

An EV Is a Win for Your Wallet and the Planet

When you lease or own an electric car, you benefit your finances and the environment. As electric vehicles become more popular, the price gap when compared to gas-powered vehicles has narrowed.16 Electric car battery prices have plummeted as well while offering longer mile ranges and faster charging capabilities. There are now 26,000 charging stations across the U.S.,17 and with this number growing each year, you can worry less about where to charge your EV if you’re on the road.

If you prefer to own your electric car, you’ll be happy to know that purchased all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles may qualify for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500 along with other state and local incentives.18 This means an EV with the average price tag of $55,6008 could end up costing you $48,100 or less after federal, state, and local tax credits.18

Regardless of what you decide, research shows that electric vehicles are better for the environment than gas-powered cars. Like Sunrun solar and storage systems,19 EVs produce very little CO2 emissions. This makes the air we breathe cleaner and safer while helping you save money and our beautiful planet.

Sunrun Team

Mar 12, 2021

SOURCES:

1. Electric Vehicles (EVs): Reducing Pollution

2. Timeline: History of the Electric Car

3. How many electric cars are on the road in the United States?

4. America’s Best-Selling Electric Cars In The First Half Of 2020

5. Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Celebrates 1 Million Electric Vehicles on U.S. Roads

6. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle

7. Are Electric Vehicles Really Better for the Climate? Yes. Here’s Why.

8. How Much Is an Electric Car?

9. Study of relative fuel cost of driving battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and gasoline vehicles

10. Top picks for road trip vehicles with maximum range

11. EV Range: Everything You Need to Know

12. Electric Vehicle Charging. Types, Time, Cost, and Savings.

13. Everything You Need to Know About Horsepower

14. How Does Horsepower Figure Into Electric Cars?

15. NYC reveals massive maintenance savings from electric cars in its fleet

16. Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gasoline Autos, Research Shows

17. Plug it in: Electric car charging station numbers are rising

18. Federal Tax Credits for New All-Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles

19. Sunrun Impact Report 2020

*Average annual maintenance costs of electric vehicles, such as the Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf, and Chevy Bolt. 

**Average annual maintenance costs of gas-powered vehicles, such as the Ford Focus and Ford Fusion.

Recommended Articles

  • How Does Home Solar Battery Storage Work?

    How Does Home Solar Battery Storage Work?

    If you’re thinking of going solar, you need to be thinking of storage. If you invest in a solar...

  • Solar as a Service

    Solar as a Service

    The business model Sunrun pioneered in 2007, allowing you to get solar for a low upfront cost.

  • What to Know Before Going Solar with Sunrun

    What to Know Before Going Solar with Sunrun

    No question about it, going solar will change your life, or at least the way you think about...

  • How Does Solar Compete Against Fossil Fuels?

    How Does Solar Compete Against Fossil Fuels?

    Advancements in solar technology has dramatically

Ready to get started?

Get started
  • Why Sunrun
    • Overview
    • Customer Stories
    • 7-Steps to Solar
  • Products
    • Overview
    • Solar Panels
    • Solar Battery
  • About
    • Team
    • Careers
    • Investors
    • Home Builders
  • Help
    • FAQ's
    • Contact Us
    • MySunrun

Customized solar plan for your home

Get a quote
See solar cost
  • State Contractor License Information
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

The services provided to you on this site are not provided by Ford Motor Company, but rather by Sunrun, 225 Bush St #1400, San Francisco, CA, 94104, an independent company.

©2023 Sunrun. All rights reserved.

Sunrun Logo phone sunrun-glyph Contact-Us-Icon facebook instagram twitter youtube linkedin