<h2>Why Drive Electric</h2>		
			<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/benefits-to-town-drivers/" role="button">
						Benefits to HG&E Drivers
					</a>
			<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/benefits-to-all/" role="button">
						Benefits to All
					</a>
			<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/faqs/" role="button">
						FAQs
					</a>
			<h3>The Benefits to HG&E Customers</h3>		
		<ol><li><strong>Performance.</strong> EV motors have more torque, or tire-turning rotational force, from the get-go than an internal combustion engine vehicle. In addition, most electric vehicles also offer inherently better handling and ride due to their superior weight distribution and low center of gravity – providing a driving experience that hugs the corners! And finally, the ride is further improved by reduced overall cabin noise and less vibration.</li><li><strong>Reliability.</strong> “EVs have 10-times fewer moving parts than a gasoline powered vehicle,” says advocacy group Plug in America. This means lower maintenance requirements and fewer things that can mechanically wear out or fail, which results in higher long-term reliability. Additionally, electric vehicles all have regenerative brakes, the brake pads and rotors don’t wear as quickly, and may even last the life of the vehicle with little or no maintenance. <a href="https://insideevs.com/chevy-volt-400000-miles-odometer-no-noticeable-battery-degradation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read about the plug-in electric vehicle with over 400,000 miles!</a></li><li><strong>Convenience. </strong>An EV provides far greater convenience than the way we drive and fuel now. You charge an electric vehicle like a cell phone — overnight, while you sleep. It’s sort of like having a gas pump in your garage, but without the mess. So, with an electric vehicle you wake up back on “full” and always ready to drive. For many drivers, the vehicle comes with all you need to get started, as charging can be done with the included adapter and a standard accessible outlet that most households already have in their garage or on the side of their house near a driveway.</li><li><strong>Savings.</strong> HG&amp;E has some of the lowest electric rates in Massachusetts. Added to those low costs, electric vehicles offer long term cost savings that often can’t be beat. In many cases, after <a href="https://hgev.ene.org/buying-guide/rebates-incentives-vehicles/">federal, state and local incentives</a> are factored in, overall <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2018/02/05/new-study-finds-electric-vehicles-offer-lowest-total-cost-ownership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EVs cost less to own over a five year period compared to gasoline only vehicles.</a> This is in part because the average long-term price of electricity is less than half what gasoline would cost for the same drive time, and also because of significantly fewer maintenance requirements. This leads to significant savings in both time and money.</li></ol><p><strong style="font-size: 16px;">What is vehicle Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)?</strong></p><p> The TCO includes the purchase price of an asset plus the costs of operation<em style="font-size: 16px;">. When considering new vehicles, buyers should not focus solely on purchase price and incentives, but also compare specific long-term operating cost, (maintenance, fueling, etc).</em></p>		
			<h3>Calculating Cost of Ownership (5 years)*</h3>		
		<table width="636"><tbody><tr><td width="156"> </td><td width="156"><a href="https://hgev.ene.org/buying-guide/compare-cars/"><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/400x300px_0000_400x300px-generic-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></td><td width="156"><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/400x300px_0001_Model3-1-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></td><td width="156"><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/400x300px_0008_Honda-clarity-phev-1024x540-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></td><td width="156"><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/400x300px_0000_Camry-1-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></td></tr><tr><td width="156"><strong>Model</strong><br /><strong>(“fuel” type)</strong></td><td width="156"><i><b><a href="https://hgev.ene.org/buying-guide/compare-cars/" rel="noopener">Check out our Buyers Guide to Compare Vehicles</a> </b></i></td><td width="156"><strong>Tesla Model 3</strong><br /><strong>(BEV)</strong></td><td width="156"><strong>Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid </strong><strong>(PHEV)</strong></td><td width="156"><strong>Toyota Camry SE</strong><br /><strong>(gasoline only)</strong></td></tr><tr><td width="156">MSRP</td><td width="156">$??,????</td><td width="156">$35,000</td><td width="156">$34,320</td><td width="156">$27,063</td></tr><tr><td width="156">Home charging station</td><td width="156">$?,???</td><td width="156">$1,150</td><td width="156">$0</td><td width="156">$0</td></tr><tr><td width="156">Federal tax credit</td><td width="156">($?,???)</td><td width="156">$0</td><td width="156">($7,500)</td><td width="156">$0</td></tr><tr><td width="156">State incentive</td><td width="156">($?,???)</td><td width="156">($2,500)</td><td width="156">($1,500)</td><td width="156">$0</td></tr><tr><td width="156">Electricity</td><td width="156">$?,???</td><td width="156">$2,607</td><td width="156">$2,334</td><td width="156">$0</td></tr><tr><td width="156">Gasoline</td><td width="156">$?,???</td><td width="156">$0</td><td width="156">$893</td><td width="156">$7,246</td></tr><tr><td width="156">“Fuel” Total</td><td width="156">$?,???</td><td width="156">$2,607</td><td width="156">$3,227</td><td width="156">$7,246</td></tr><tr><td width="156">Maintenance &amp; Repairs</td><td width="156">$?,???</td><td width="156">$3,207</td><td width="156">$3,300</td><td width="156">$4,274</td></tr><tr><td width="156">Insurance**</td><td width="156">$0</td><td width="156">$0</td><td width="156">$0</td><td width="156">$0</td></tr><tr><td width="156">TOTAL</td><td width="156">$??,???</td><td width="156">$39,464</td><td width="156">$31,847</td><td width="156">$38,583</td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>*Example based on 2018 average fuel and energy costs; 15k annual miles of driving. Actual costs will vary.</em></p><p><em style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400;">**Insurance costs are comparable across models.  Actual insurance cost varies considerably based on vehicle safety features, driving record, garaging and annual mileage.</em><em style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgba(244, 244, 244, 0);"><br /></em></p>		
			<h4>Holyoke Gas & Electric</h4>		
					<ul>
							<li >
										99 Suffolk Street</br>Holyoke, MA 01040
									</li>
								<li >
										413-536-9300
									</li>
								<li >
										413-552-0392
									</li>
								<li >
					<a href="customer_accounts@hged.com">						
										customer_accounts@hged.com
											</a>
									</li>
								<li >
					<a href="https://www.hged.com/">						
										www.hged.org
											</a>
									</li>
						</ul>
			<h4>Website</h4>		
					<ul>
							<li >
					<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/">					Home
											</a>
									</li>
								<li >
					<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/why-drive-electric">					Why Drive Electric
											</a>
									</li>
								<li >
					<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/buying-guide/">					Buying Guide
											</a>
									</li>
								<li >
					<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/charging-guide/">					Charging Guide
											</a>
									</li>
								<li >
					<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/blog/">					Blog
											</a>
									</li>
								<li >
					<a href="https://hgev.ene.org/contact/">					Contact
											</a>
									</li>
						</ul>