2023 Spring EV Newsletter
Planning a road trip this spring?
Enjoy the ride in an EV and find charging on the way!
While 80% of your EV charging likely happens at home, there are times (such as roadtrips) where you may plan to use public fast charging. Fast charging options along major roadways are growing by the day, and heading to your favorite destination is simple with an EV. It just takes a bit of planning ahead of time and tools such as your EV’s navigation technology or an app like PlugShare to map out your route.
Most EV's can make short trips that are around 200-miles away without needing a charge. Plus, if you’re heading to popular locations like the Lake of the Ozarks or Branson, you don’t need to worry about charging while you’re there because more than 25 charging stations already exist around these cities. If you're looking to travel further away like the Gulf Coast, you'll find more than 250 charging options along the way.
To find out more about charging on the go, visit Ameren’s EV website.
From St. Louis to the Gulf Coast, there are 250 charging locations. Source: Plugshare
Laura Jones, an EV driver for over 10 years, spoke with us about her experience driving an EV.
Q: What is your favorite thing about owning an EV?
I would say the quick acceleration and smooth handling are my favorite features. Yes, the performance and looks of the vehicle are great and EVs are just fun to drive.
Q: What has been your experience as an EV driver?
The silence and comfort of EVs still surprises me! Not to mention their reliability. All I ever need to remember is to rotate the tires regularly. No more pumping gas or changing oil and fluids.
Q: What is it like to charge your EV at home?
It’s easy and I mostly charge my EV at home. I plug-in several times a week and I never worry about running out of charge. I charge overnight when I’m asleep and by the next morning, my EV is ready to go. It’s just like charging your smartphone. I charge overnight because I chose a rate where the cost of electricity is cheaper at night. I can even schedule charging time using the charge management feature to make sure I take advantage of the lower time of use costs.
Q: How about when you’re on the road?
We plan our trip with our vehicle’s navigation system and make stops accordingly. Ideal locations for Tesla Superchargers and DC Fast Chargers are along the interstate, near restaurants or stores. Charging along the way will give us 80% charge (200 miles in range) in less than 20-30 minutes. Charging costs more (about 25 cents per kWh) but is still a fraction of the price of gasoline. The average cost for a charging session on the road is about $10-15 for an EV with longer ranges.
Q: Anything else?
St. Louis is a great region for driving an EV. In our area there are over 300 charging stations available, and it seems more are being added each day.
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Chevy Blazer EV
Chevy Blazer EV
Chevy continues to impress with an alternative to its upcoming all-electric Silverado. The Blazer EV will have a high-performance SS trim with 557 hp, 648 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60mph time of less than 4 seconds. Note - the eligibility of this vehicle for the federal tax credit is yet to be determined.
MSRP: under $50,000
Available Summer 2023
Polestar 3
The latest offering from Polestar, this performance model EV will be a crossover with a performance pack trim option that offers up to 517 hp or a 300-mile long-range version. Polestar 3 should be eligible for the full federal tax credit.
MSRP: $83,900
Available Fall 2023
Cadillac Celestiq
Cadillac's flagship Celestiq EV will take the brand into an entirely new market for high end luxury consumers and offer an all-electric alternative to Rolls-Royce and Bentley. According to the latest reports, these vehicles will qualify for the federal tax credit.
MSRP: $300,000
Available Winter 2023
“Why are EVs in short supply?”
Demand for EVs continues to increase. Almost 6% of new cars bought in America in 2022 were electric, up from 3.2% in 2021. Several factors are expected to continue to drive EV demand: more vehicle choices, improved battery capacity, and increased awareness of fuel cost savings.
Low availability of EVs has been driven in part by supply chain issues - most notably, a shortage of semiconductor chips since early 2021.
However, automakers have unveiled strategies to speed up the electrification of new cars and trucks, including working closely with procurement professionals and market analysts to work through chip shortages.
Most major companies plan to roll out dozens of new EV models over the next decade. They are currently investing billions of dollars in research and development and building new manufacturing plants, particularly for battery production.
Updated EV Federal Tax Credit requirements were published on April 18, 2023. In order to qualify for a tax credit - currently $7,500 for a new vehicle and $4,000 for a used vehicle - vehicles must meet critical mineral and battery component requirements. These updated requirements apply to vehicles bought before and after April 18, 2023.
In addition, if you install an EV charger in your home, you can receive up to $1,000 in federal tax credits
If you came to St. Louis Auto Show 2023 in January, thanks for being there! Over 900 guests participated in Ameren’s Ride Along EV experience and learned more about charging at home and on the road.
Here are upcoming events - come join us!
- 18th Annual Builders St. Charles Home Show at the St. Charles Convention Center, April 14-16.
- St. Louis Earth Day Festival at the Muny Grounds in Forest Park, St. Louis, April 22-23.