The Case for EVs in Rural Areas

In an article for CleanTechnica, Steve Hanley makes the argument that electric vehicles are, in fact, a logical option for rural drivers.

According to a recent report from advocacy group  Coltura, “Nearly 70% of US road miles are in rural areas, and without much public transit, it makes sense that more rural households have cars than urban ones.” Rural drivers, who make up 18.8 percent of drivers, use over a quarter of the nation’s gasoline. “Then there are the rural “superusers” who make up just 3.6% of the U.S. population but consume about 1,950 gallons of gas annually, or nearly 13% of the nation’s total gasoline consumption.”

All this adds up to high costs for drivers. Adopting electric vehicles could help rural residents save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And while some trips may not be possible with electric vehicles, many rural trips are relatively short and close to home.

The report concludes, “Focusing efforts on the transition of rural gasoline superusers to EVs can unlock significant economic benefits for rural households burdened by disproportionate fuel expenses and achieve a substantial reduction in national gasoline use. Further, increasing EV adoption by superusers in rural areas can catalyze expanded charging networks to enhance accessibility and convenience for all electric car drivers.”