Should You Buy an Electric Vehicle in Ohio? Let‘s Break Down the Ownership Costs, Charging Infrastructure and Incentives

Are you an Ohio driver considering going electric for your next car? As increasing numbers of Buckeye State residents make the switch to EVs, you probably have questions about costs, convenience and overall viability. Well, you‘ve come to the right place!

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll analyze all key aspects of owning an electric vehicle in Ohio. I‘ll provide detailed ownership cost projections, examine charging infrastructure, summarize state/federal incentives, and give clear advice on whether EVs make financial sense for Ohioans.

Let‘s dive in and determine if you should buy an EV!

Overview of EV Ownership Considerations in Ohio

When weighing an electric vehicle purchase in Ohio, there are three primary factors we need to evaluate:

Charging Infrastructure: Availability of public charging stations and feasibility of at-home charging

Ownership Costs: Purchase price, estimated fuel savings and maintenance projections

Incentives: Details on purchase rebates, tax credits and other savings

To decide if an EV is right for your situation, we need to look carefully at each area. Let‘s break them down section-by-section and perform an Ohio-specific analysis.

Examining Ohio‘s Growing EV Charging Network

Access to charging stations is essential for EV owners to power up their vehicles. How has Ohio progressed on developing charging infrastructure?

As you can see, Ohio has over 1,200 public charging ports available across the state with more being added continuously. And that doesn‘t include the Tesla Supercharger network which will open to other EVs starting in 2024.

Between established charging apps like PlugShare and upcoming expansions, I expect we‘ll see 3,000+ public charging stations in Ohio by 2025. Given Ohio‘s small geographic size combined with this progress, range anxiety concerns should ease for most drivers including those in rural regions.

Mapping Ohio‘s Existing Charging Infrastructure

To visualize the current availability of EV charging locations, let‘s examine PlugShare‘s map of stations in Columbus and Cleveland…

PlugShare app showing 280+ public charging stations around Columbus, OH. Screenshot taken February 2023.

Cleveland, OH region has 180+ charging station locations mapped on PlugShare. Screenshot February 2023.

With hundreds of charging ports in Ohio‘s two largest metro regions, finding a top-off location in Columbus or Cleveland is no problem for EV owners. And statewide fast charging sites continue filling in cross-state travel gaps along highways.

Should You Install Home Charging in Ohio?

For maximum savings and convenience, installing a Level 2 home charging station in Ohio is ideal if possible in your living situation. With a 240 volt outlet, you can fully recharge most EVs overnight in your own garage while avoiding public charging fees.

A basic Level 2 home charger costs $500-$800 including professional installation. Combined with Ohio‘s reasonably-priced residential electricity rates, home charging keeps fueling costs extremely low. We‘ll cover exact electricity fuel savings next.

How Much Money Does Driving Electric Save Ohio Drivers?

Alright, let‘s cruncht the numbers! Based on Ohio electricity costs, how much cheaper is "fueling" an EV compared to gasoline vehicles?

We‘ll compare total cost of ownership including purchase prices, estimated fuel bills based on 15,000 miles of annual driving, and expected maintenance savings.

Electricity Fuel Cost Per Mile

Using Department of Energy data on vehicle efficiency combined with Ohio‘s electricity rate of $0.13/kWh, we can calculate cost per mile for popular EV models:

To contrast, the average new gasoline car sold gets 25 mpg combined. With Ohio gas prices around $3.60/gallon, operating a gas car costs about $0.14 per mile – 4-5x more than the electric options!

Annual Electricity Cost Estimates

Based on those per-mile electric fuel rates and 15,000 miles of annual driving, here‘s how much Ohio drivers can expect to spend powering some top-selling EV models:

Compare those figures to $2,700 per year for a 25 mpg gasoline car over 15k miles with $3.60/gallon fuel cost.

That‘s over $2,000 in yearly Ohio fuel savings by going electric even when paying for public charging as needed! Home charging amplifies the gap even more in your favor.

Lower Maintenance Requirements Save You $1,000+ Annually

Beyond lower electricity costs, EVs also save owners big money by needing far less routine maintenance without oil changes, engine repairs and more. Brake pad replacement is also less frequent thanks to regenerative braking.

Industry data shows EV maintenance costs are 50% lower per year on average. For Ohio drivers, I estimate at least $1,000 per year in reduced operating costs applying national maintenance delta figures locally.

All said, Ohio drivers can potentially save $3,000+ annually driving an electric vehicle between cheaper electricity and slashed maintenance bills!

Ohio Offers Generous EV Incentives Too!

As if the gas and maintenance savings weren‘t enough motivation to buy an electric car, Ohio sweetens the deal with purchase incentives:

• Ohio EV Rebate – $2,500 point of sale rebate for new EV purchases
• Federal Tax Credit – Up to $7,500 back depending on EV model and battery size

Combining potential federal and state incentives, Ohio EV buyers could save nearly $10,000 off purchase price while unlocking thousands in annual fuel savings!

Verdict: EV Ownership in Ohio is a Smart Money Move

After reviewing charging infrastructure, operating costs and purchase incentives specific to Ohio drivers, electric vehicles make tremendous financial sense here.

Between Ohio‘s moderate electricity rates and improving public charging network, owning an EV is extremely viable statewide including both metro and rural regions.

And the purchase rebates plus long-term gas and maintenance savings should convince any doubters. If able to charge at home consistently, Ohio drivers can save $5,000+ yearly over comparable gas cars.

In summary – YES, you should strongly consider an electric vehicle for your next Ohio auto purchase! Reach out with any other questions about transitioning to an EV.

Best of luck with your purchase decision!