2023 Winter EV Newsletter | Ameren Missouri Newsletters

Overview

A Gift that Keeps on Giving
Beginning in 2024, Claim Your Tax Credit at the Time of Purchase
Bring Your Charging Home for the Holidays
EV Driver Spotlight: Naveen Sood
2024 Market Preview
Ask Ameren - Your EV Resource
Find Helpful EV Information

A Gift that Keeps on Giving

If either you, a family member or a friend are considering buying a new vehicle this holiday season, don’t forget all the ways that an EV can help save money. Some estimates show that EV drivers enjoy up to $1,300 in fuel and maintenance savings annually! Here are a few tips and resources to get you started.

EVs offer multiple kinds of savings:

Fueling an EV costs the equivalent of paying about $1 per gallon. As important, electricity costs tend to be more stable than gasoline costs, providing fewer household budget shocks.
EVs have fewer moving parts so they cost far less to maintain over a traditional car - as much as $4,600 less in repair and maintenance costs over the lifetime of the car.
Save up to $7,500 on eligible models with the Federal Tax Credit.
Save time by conveniently charging at home and skipping the gas station.

Use our EV Comparison Tool to compare models and for a more personalized savings estimate, you can calculate your cost savings with our Savings Calculator.

Beginning in 2024, Claim Your Tax Credit at the Time of Purchase

An updated Clean Vehicle Tax Credit will roll out in January 2024. Visit a participating dealership to receive an upfront discount of up to $7,500 for new and $4,000 for used EVs. Certain eligibility requirements must be met and your Ameren Missouri EV Dealer Partner will be able to help you navigate savings at the dealership!

Bring Your Charging Home for the Holidays

EV owners charge at home 80% or more of the time. Level 1 charging only requires a standard wall outlet and provides about 4-5 miles of range per hour of charge, which—when charging overnight—is more than enough for a typical commute.

For faster charging, EV owners can upgrade to a Level 2 charger using a 240V circuit (similar to an electric dryer plug), which typically provides about 25 miles of range per hour of charge.

You can compare Level 2 home chargers
on our Charger Comparison site. And, once again, we recommend working with a certified electrician to help you calculate charging installation costs, ensure your household wiring is in good shape to support your Level 2 charger, and identify the best location for the installation. Get started by finding an electrician near you on the Ameren Missouri Electric Vehicle Partner (EVP) Network.

EV Driving During Missouri Winters

Naveen Sood purchased his Tesla Model Y in August 2020 and has driven it through three Missouri winters. He spoke with us about his winter EV driving experiences. Sood purchased his Tesla Model Y in August 2020 and has driven it through three Missouri winters. He spoke with us about his winter EV driving experiences. Sood purchased his Tesla Model Y in August 2020 and has driven it through three Missouri winters. He spoke with us about his winter EV driving experiences. Sood purchased his Tesla Model Y in August 2020 and has driven it through three Missouri winters. He spoke with us about his winter EV driving experiences. Sood purchased his Tesla Model Y in August 2020 and has driven it through three Missouri winters. He spoke with us about his winter EV driving experiences. Sood purchased his Tesla Model Y in August 2020 and has driven it through three Missouri winters. He spoke with us about his winter EV driving experiences. Sood purchased his Tesla Model Y in August 2020 and has driven it through three Missouri winters. He spoke with us about his winter EV driving experiences. Sood purchased his Tesla Model Y in August 2020 and has driven it through three Missouri winters. He spoke with us about his winter EV driving experiences.

Q: What is it like driving your EV in cold weather?

I have driven my EV in snow, ice and colder weather for three years now and I haven’t noticed any measurable differences or performance issues from an internal combustion engine car.

Q: How is driving in the winter different from other weather?

The Tesla is a little heavier and has a lower center of gravity, so when roads get wet or icy, my EV lends itself to better driving in unfavorable conditions.

Q: Do your charging habits change in the winter?

I live in an apartment building that has a Level 2 charger installed. There are six or seven other EVs in the complex, so we take turns charging. It is rare that I have to charge every night and I would say my habits don’t change that much in winter.

Q: Do you see a difference in range in the winter?

I have a five to ten-minute commute to work and although I do see a difference in battery performance due to the colder weather, I would say that it doesn’t affect my driving habits. [NOTE: Other EV drivers observe that cold weather can reduce their EV’s range, though that can be readily managed based on adapting owner habits to winter driving, including ensuring a full charge before driving in inclement weather.]

Q: What about driving on ice and snow? Any difference between an internal combustion engine and an EV?

I would say that in icy conditions EV drivers should slow down and take the same precautions that they would in a combustion engine vehicle.

Q: Anything you’d like to add?

I feel lucky to be able to drive an EV. Three years ago, I did my research and found an EV that was right for my lifestyle. I’m still finding new things that impress me—it still feels new to me! I love driving it no matter what the weather

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Do you have to charge your EV outside?

The short answer is no, but you can! One of the great things about charging an EV is that they can be charged inside or outside. EV batteries are safe and, because EVs have no tailpipe emissions, they can be run safely in a garage. Even if you don’t have a garage, the charging cord provided with the vehicle is durable enough to be exposed to the elements. The vehicle can be plugged into your regular wall outlet for Level 1 charging. An existing 240V outlet (appliance outlet similar to those used for household dryers) can also be used or installed for Level 2 charging. Remember to always use a certified electrician to safely install home charging stations for your vehicle.

If I’m sitting in traffic for a long time, does that affect my charge?

Fortunately, EVs are well prepared to manage long periods of stationary time during traffic jams. In fact, they may be better equipped than traditional cars since they don’t require idling an entire engine to support the internal heating and cooling of the cabin. Energy demand for an EV battery drops off significantly if the vehicle isn’t moving. So, while none of us like being stuck in traffic, EV drivers are well-positioned to navigate the experience in a quiet, pleasant passenger cabin.

You can find resources and tools for choosing the right EV at the Ameren Missouri website:

Learn more about purchase incentives
Find information about at-home and on-the-road charging
Connect with Ameren Missouri Dealer Partners
Explore rate options

All on the Ameren Missouri EV Website.