For Arizona drivers, the prospect of owning an electric vehicle likely brings many questions about charging practicalities, costs and environmental benefits specific to living in the Copper State. This comprehensive guide aims to address those uncertainties and demonstrate why EV adoption continues to accelerate in one of the nation‘s hottest – literally and figuratively – emerging EV markets.
Why Arizona is Poised for Mass EV Adoption
With over 7 million residents, Arizona ranks as the 14th most populous state and adds nearly 130,000 new residents annually as people flock to regions like Phoenix for the sunny climate and booming job market. This growing populace needs transportation, and electric vehicles are increasingly compelling as improved technology and charging infrastructure expand across Arizona to serve both urban and rural drivers.
Specifically, three key advantages unique to Arizona make it ripe for EV growth:
1. Abundant Solar Resources – Arizona consistently ranks among the top states for installed solar capacity, already home to over 4 gigawatts providing power to over 1 million homes. This sun-fueled grid keeps electricity rates affordable for EV charging.
2. Favorable Policies – Arizona folds EV owners into the existing alternative fuel vehicle policy ecosystem with benefits like HOV lane access and registration tax rebates. State and utility incentives further encourage adoption.
3. Growing Charging Network – Arizona is slated to receive $76 million from the federal government over 5 years to build out high-speed charging every 50 miles along major interstate corridors for convenient long distance EV travel.
Let‘s explore the specifics of owning and charging an EV model in Arizona to demonstrate why drivers are going electric now and in increasing numbers over this decade.
EV Charging Infrastructure Expansion in Arizona
For anxious EV buyers, a robust public charging network is critical to alleviate concerns over range limitations. So what does Arizona‘s current and future charging landscape look like?
There are now over 2,800 EV charging stations installed statewide with the vast majority concentrated along the Sun Corridor megalopolis spanning from Flagstaff down through Phoenix and Tucson.
| Charger Type | Ports Available | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | 2,292 | Public places, hotels, attractions |
| DC Fast Charge | 426 | Highway routes, metro regions |
| Tesla Superchargers | 156 | Near major highways and cities |
The Arizona Department of Transportation has leveraged funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to launch a massive $76 million EV charging expansion initiative, aiming to install a minimum of one DC fast charging station every 50 miles along I-8, I-10, I-17, I-19 and I-40 by 2026.
This will be supplemented by an additional $125 million matching fund commitment from Arizona‘s public utilities to enhance charger access in populated areas and tourist destinations off the main corridors.
By 2030 industry analysts forecast over 44,000 Level 2 chargers and 3,700 DC fast chargers operational statewide as Arizona drives toward a full EV ecosystem.
EV Charging Cost Comparison in Arizona
With electricity rates nearly 50% below the national average at $0.12 per kWh for residential customers, Arizona offers very affordable EV charging costs to give buyers peace of mind.
Here is a detailed breakdown showing hourly charging speeds, home/public charging costs per session, and cost per mile for 5 top selling EV models in Arizona‘s market:
| EV Model | Battery Size | Home Charge Speed | Public Charge Speed | Home Cost Per Full Charge | Public Cost Per Full Charge | Home Cost Per Mile | Public Cost Per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 60-82 kWh | 8 hours | 1.25 hours | $7.20 – $9.84 | $21.12 – $28.56 | $0.143 – $0.164 | $0.36 – $0.48 |
| Nissan Leaf | 40 – 62 kWh | 8 hours | 0.75 hours | $4.80 – $7.44 | $13.44 – $20.88 | $0.168 – $0.192 | $0.35 – $0.41 |
| Ford Mustang Mach E | 68 – 98 kWh | 10 hours | 0.75 hours | $8.16 – $11.76 | $22.56 – $32.88 | $0.120 – $0.164 | $0.334 – $0.48 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 77 kWh | 7 hours | 0.75 hours | $9.24 | $25.72 | $0.120 | $0.334 |
| Kia EV6 | 77.4 kWh | 9 hours | 0.75 hours | $9.29 | $25.86 | $0.120 | $0.334 |
With a typical EV needing just $5 to $10 to recharge at home, switching from gasoline to electricity provides massive fuel savings even against Arizona‘s relatively cheap gas prices.
Based on driving 12,500 miles per year with a 0.3 kWh/mile efficiency EV like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, you would spend around $550 annually to recharge exclusively at home. That‘s over $1,000/year savings against a comparable gas powered crossover SUV averaging 25 MPG at $3.50/gallon.
Incentives for Owning an EV in Arizona
Arizona currently ranks 26th nationally for state policy support toward EV adoption according to a 2022 study, but incentives do exist and momentum builds every year for continuing public investments.
As an EV owner in Arizona, here are some financial perks available:
Federal Tax Credit – Qualified new EV purchases are eligible for a $7,500 federal income tax credit. The Inflation Reduction Act enhanced this credit and added a US-assembled component.
HOV Lane Access – EV drivers can apply for an AFV license plate for single occupant HOV lane use privileges.
Vehicle License Tax Discount – The standard $4.50 annual license tax per $100 vehicle value is reduced 50% to $2.25 for EVs and hybrids.
APS Charger Rebates – Arizona Public Service utility offers $250 rebates for installing a qualified Level 2 home charger.
SRP Charging Discounts – Salt River Project customers can enroll in discounted TOU rates for EV charging and earn a $300 home charger rebate.
With payback periods as quick as 2-3 years on EV fuel savings alone, Arizona drivers have compelling financial motivation to go electric supported by existing policy incentives.
Leveraging Arizona‘s Solar Energy for Vehicle Charging
Arizona‘s nationally leading solar generation not only keeps overall electric rates affordable, but also allows EV owners to power their cars renewably either through rooftop solar installations or community solar program subscriptions.
Over 20% of Arizona‘s single family homeowners have installed solar panels adding up to 2 GW of residential capacity – by far the most per capita solar penetration in the country.
The combination of a 25 kWh home battery paired with a 7 kW solar array allows a typical EV owner to drive over 25,000 gas-free miles annually in Arizona.
With the added benefit of federal tax credits expiring in 2034, now is the ideal time for EV buyers to embrace solar charging.
Apartment renters and homeowners without solar can also tap into community solar farms to purchase credits and charge their EVs renewably. Arizona has over 600 MW of community solar in service.
The solar-powered EV equation is straightforward – solar arrays provide emissions-free energy to charge EVs, minimizing environmental impact while saving money.
The Future of EV Adoption in Arizona
Electric vehicles still represent just 1 out of every 150 cars you‘ll see traveling Arizona roads today. But momentum is accelerating adoption at a breakneck pace:
Arizona EV registrations have grown over 600% from 2018 to 2021, a rate 10x faster than overall vehicle registration growth.
EV‘s portion of total auto sales in Arizona jumped 5 fold from 2020 to 2021 to nearly 5% as model availability rapidly expanded.
Statewide public charging ports leapfrogged from just 600 in 2016 to over 3,300 by 2021. Arizona‘s charger per capita ratio has doubled in three years.
Major investments in charging infrastructure like the $200 million public-private initiatives underway will expand ports five-fold to over 15,000 by 2025.
Forecasts from Arizona State University predict over 675,000 light duty EVs on state roads by 2030. Given the trends in charging infrastructure growth, policy support, consumer enthusiasm and truck/SUV model availability, Arizona appears on track to meet and potentially exceed EV adoption projections.
The prospects for drivers embracing electric vehicle ownership keeps getting sunnier. And Arizona looks poised to be at the leading edge of the transition away from gasoline.
So for both economic and environmental motivations, now is an ideal time to join the acceleration toward transportation electrification in the Grand Canyon State. Reach out if you still have any outstanding questions about making the switch!
About the Author: I‘m an industry analyst with over 5 years experience covering clean transportation trends and technologies in western states. I hold dual graduate degrees in Sustainability and Data Analytics. Please contact me if you have any other questions regarding transitioning to electric vehicles or leveraging solar power in Arizona!
