AEP Ohio creates online tool that compares ownership costs for electric, traditional vehicles

AEP Ohio launched a new online tool this week to help car buyers compare the total cost of owning and operating electric vehicles against more traditional gas or diesel-powered vehicles.

“As more customers consider making the switch to an electric vehicle, AEP Ohio wanted to provide a tool that helps them understand the total cost of owning an EV compared to a vehicle with a traditional engine,” Julie Volpe Walker, AEP Ohio energy efficiency program manager, said. “With the lower cost to operate, EVs often offer a lower cost of ownership over five years.”

One of the major disincentives for electric vehicles over the years has been their high initial costs. The Enervee corporation, however, has determined that 84 percent of consumers would buy EVs if they could see that it would be cheaper in all for them to buy and operate such a vehicle.

The site, AEPOhioCars.com is free and available to the public and houses a variety of cost and general information important for potential electric car buyers.

Such costs include suggested retail purchase prices, the costs to power each vehicle and any available rebates for models in question. Customers can also calculate annual fuel cost estimates through a mix of data entry involving commute information, annual miles driven and gas/charging rates. The site also covers the abilities of each vehicle’s battery capacity and a map of nearby charging stations. The tool also includes an Enervee Score, which ranks vehicles based on fuel costs and pollutant emissions.