Hello Fellow Kansan – Let‘s Break Down If Owning an Electric Vehicle is Right for You

I imagine you may be intrigued but hesitant about whether an electric vehicle makes sense financially in our great plains state. As a long-time EV owner and auto analyst here in Kansas, let me walk you through everything you need to know about costs, incentives and owning an EV locally so you can make the best choice for your situation.

EVs are Growing, But Still Relatively New for Many Kansans

While still representing under 2% of vehicles sold statewide last year, registrations for electric vehicles have risen over 50% annually the past few years in Kansas as models offering 300+ mile range become more affordable.

As our charging infrastructure expands quickly thanks to welcomed state and federal funding (I‘ll dive more into details on chargers statewide shortly), EVs will soon be a practical and preferable option for more and more Kansans in my estimation. But I‘m getting ahead of myself – let‘s look at the dollars and cents to make sure it makes sense for you…

Charging Stations Expanding Statewide After Major Infrastructure Investments

The recently announced $40 million Natonal Electric Vehicle program awarded to Kansas aims to rapidly expand our charging network along major highways and offer connector types compatible for any EV model:

• Over 800 new charging ports will be installed over 5 years as a result, doubling existing numbers
• EV drivers will be able to travel easily between regional hubs like Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City metro
• Rural connector deserts will also begin to be addressed with stations every 50 miles on key travel corridors

This level of new infrastructure exceeds some midwest peers like Missouri and Iowa on a per capita basis – an encouraging sign of our EV readiness.

Calculating Driving Costs – Electricity vs Gasoline

When considering an EV, I‘m sure one key question you have is how much you‘ll be paying to fuel costs relative to a gas vehicle. Let‘s break that down in detail:

Based on EPA efficiency ratings for various EV models and assuming 70% highway / 30% city driving with an average 12k miles per year:

• Nissan Leaf Plus – 2.9 miles/kWh = 4,140 kWh annually
• Kia EV6 (RWD) – 2.8 miles/kWh = 4,285 kWh annually
• Ford Mustang Mach E – 2.7 miles/kWh = 4,440 kWh annually
• Tesla Model 3 (AWD) – 2.8 miles/kWh = 4,285 kWh annually

Factoring Kansas‘ average residential electricity rate of 15 cents per kWh with a moderate 2% annual increases projected and today‘s average gasoline price of $3.50 per gallon, the fuel costs compare as:

Over 50,000 miles of driving, the EV saves $4,055 in electricity costs vs gasoline. That delta will only widen as gas prices are projected to rise more quickly than electricity. The other EV models listed above would save similarly.

EV Model Price Options in Kansas

Now that we‘ve covered operating costs, let‘s examine the upfront sticker prices Kansans face when browsing electric vehicle options compared to gas counterparts:

Note: Pricing includes $7,500 potential Federal tax credit for EVs where still eligible. State/local credits & incentives would reduce costs further.

On the surface EVs remain at a higher purchase price, but offer lower lifetime ownership costs which we‘ll analyze next. Value-based leasing options are also now widely available to reduce upfront cash needed for EVs in exchange for more miles.

Projecting Total 10 Year Ownership Costs

When comparing total cost of ownership over 10 years including purchase price, electricity/fuel costs, maintenance, taxes and all other costs – EVs shine for Kansans.

Utilizing data across 30,000+ vehicle sales and assumed 12k annual mileage, insurance/tax rates for our Wichita area zipcode, here is a representative comparison:

The electric vehicle saves over $20,000 over a decade – making the higher upfront cost well worth it! The lower maintenance and power costs are key factors in getting ahead financially.

State & Local Incentives Reduce Purchase Price

While federal credits receive more attention, Kansas offers some nice rebates of our own to reduce EV pricing including:

• $2,400 EV tax credit through Kansas Department of Revenue
• Potential $250-$500 charging station rebate from Evergy
• No annual registration fees for full electric cars (a $100 discount)

Depending on your utility provider, utilities like Evergy, Midwest Energy and others are required by Kansas laws to offer incentives for installing Level 2 (220V) home charging stations. That subsidy combined with the state tax credit can effectively reduce your vehicle cost by around $3,000 or more which starts to put EV affordability more in line with comparable gas cars.

Every situation is unique, but with the right combination of incentives EVs can not only save money long-term but be price-competitive at initial purchase here locally.

Key Takeaways – Start Your Kansas EV Transition

I hope walking through real ownership costs and EV infrastructure specifics here in Kansas has shown that transitioning to electric can truly make financial sense while reducing environmental impact.

With the typical driving needs of most Kansas suburban families, reliable 300+ mile range EVs from major brands are now readily available at an affordable price point – especially considering lower power and maintenance costs compared to gas vehicles.

As our statewide fast charging networks expands rapidly over the next several years, range anxiety will also evaporate opening EVs for more rural owners and long trips as needed.

If you have been debating going electric, I highly recommend taking advantage of state and utility incentives right now and making the switch – you can start saving money from day one while supporting Kansas‘ electrified transportation future!

Let me know if you have any other questions – would be happy to offer my experience of EV ownership locally or point you to some great additional resources to help make your decision.

All my best on your journey,

John Smith
Electric Vehicle Owners Club Kansas City