Electric cars won’t cut it in Wyoming

The use of electric cars has become increasingly more of the norm in the past decade. However, their compatibility in cold weather environments makes their everyday use in Wyoming questionable. 

The American Automobile Association reported that “cold weather can cut electric car range by over forty percent.”

Cars that run on gasoline have been reported by the U.S. Department of Energy to “only lose as much as twenty-four percent” in the same conditions as their electric counterpart. 

These statistics are alarming when you also consider the average selling price for a new electric car is $60,000 in comparison to a new gas car’s average selling price of $48,000 (according to Kelly Blue Book).

The upfront additional cost of owning an EV vehicle, combined with the additional cost of maintaining a limited range in winter conditions makes the decision of owning an EV car in states like Wyoming questionable. 

The other concern that arises when discussing EV vehicles in Wyoming is the availability of charging stations. The rural nature of Wyoming makes these stations few and far between. 

When traveling off of main interstates and highways the availability of any charging station comes close to zero. This would make EV drivers fearful of making trips off of main interstates because of the limited engine performance in the cold in addition to having few places to stop and recharge. 

EV technology has a long way to go before it is completely compatible with cold rural states such as Wyoming. The state has done work to add more charging stations and technology keeps improving, but it is not enough yet to allow for complete use of an EV vehicle. 

The decision of owning an electric vehicle in Wyoming comes down to the intended use of the vehicle. 

Everyday use in more largely populated areas of the state might be more acceptable, but the more rural you go the less sense it makes to purchase an electric vehicle. 

Hybrid vehicles are a good option for those looking for an electric vehicle that would fare better in Wyoming than their fully EV counterparts.  Hybrids use both gas and electric components to function. You cannot plug in hybrid vehicles, instead the combustion reactions in the engine allow for the battery to charge while in use. 

This makes hybrids the best option in states like Wyoming for those looking to lower their carbon emissions while driving.