American energy and American made

July 4th thoughts on EVs

By Robert Fernat, Member of West Virginia Electric Auto Association

​This article was first posted on the West Virginia Electric Auto Association (WVEAA) site.

​As we approach this Independence Day, I want to call attention to two things from an electric vehicle (EV) perspective.

First, I am thankful that an EV provides independence from foreign petroleum fuel products. The market pricing for vehicle fuels depends largely on global supply/demand and foreign crises with the net result of sometimes extreme price volatility. The global petroleum market is complex and there are certainly other impacts to consumer fuel pricing, but global oil prices are the largest component.

Conversely, an EV only uses electricity that must be produced locally, distributed locally, and consumed locally, supporting local jobs. That is true whether the electricity is produced from solar, wind, hydroelectric, nuclear, natural gas, or coal—it's all local. You can’t ship a boatload of electricity from a foreign country!

Secondly, I want to celebrate the fact that EVs make up four of the top six most American-made vehicles sold according to the 2022 American-made index by Cars.com. The Tesla Model Y and 3 took first and second place, while the Model S and X were fifth and sixth respectively. It is encouraging to see an American company locating its factories and jobs in the country and becoming the United States’ largest EV seller while some iconic American brands choose to manufacture their most popular EV models in other countries—looking at you, Mexican-built Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Consider adding some independence to your driving with an EV and please have a safe and happy Independence Day holiday!