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The Transition from Gas Vehicles to Electric Vehicles: DEVA or Diversified xEV Approach

There is a lot of hype and misinformation in the public today about the benefits of xEVs. You either love or hate them or at best want to know more about them. But in almost every discussion in the media, it’s a stark choice to go from an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) gas vehicle to a fully electric vehicle in one step. There has been little discussion by anyone about the other forms of electric vehicles that have been around for over 20 years and can provide incredible benefits without taking the huge leap into a completely electric vehicle. That’s where people who have said they hate xEVs begin to reconsider their hesitancy. That’s why a Diversified Electrified Vehicle Approach or DEVA is appropriate.

How Do Most People Approach Change

Most of us in real life seldom just stop doing one thing and immediately start something new. That’s the Cold Turkey approach, it’s either stop doing this and do this new thing, immediately and suddenly. Most of us, however, approach the need to change in a slower, more reasoned manner, incrementally taking steps to control smoking, diet, exercise, or any other desired change. That’s called Moderation, and D$W believes that this moderate DEVA is a far better approach to EVs than just going Cold Turkey. This DEVA philosophy about transitioning to xEVs should include the complete range of xEVs: starting with the Good with Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), the Better with Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PHEV), and then lastly, the Best, with a full Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). Any level of an xEV is better than any ICE vehicle.

The Hidden Impact of ICE Gas Vehicles

Any discussion of ICE to EV should start with the fact that no ICE vehicle is good for the environment. Since burning a single gallon of gas creates 20 pounds/165 cubic feet of CO2, the average new ICE vehicle today creates over 12,200 pounds of CO2 each year. Larger and older ICE create even more CO2. And since there are over 300 million Ice vehicles in the US alone, one can do the math and see why there is an environmental problem. Since this discussion is about the DEVA transition from an ICE vehicle, it should be noted that HEV and PHEV EVs still have internal combustion gas engines, and most drivers will be very familiar with the operation and driving range of these xEVs.

Entry-Level EVs Can Make a Difference in Fuel Costs and Emissions, Immediately 

Now the numbers for a DEVA transition come into full view concerning tailpipe emissions and fuel usage. According to USA Today, transitioning from an ICE vehicle to a Hybrid HEV can cut those emissions by almost 50%, in a Plug-In PHEV by 57 %, and in a full BEV by 76%. According to ZEBRA Insurance, transitioning from an ICE vehicle to a Hybrid HEV will cut your gas costs by 47% and in a Plug-In PHEV by 72%. In emissions and fuel saving alone, taking the simple step of buying an entry-level HEV or PHEV has substantial benefits with no anxiety about depleting a battery pack.

A Complete Discussion on ICE vs xEV is Complicated and has a Learning Curve

In any broader discussion, many other considerations for making a transition from ICE to a Diversified xEV need to be considered. Those include purchase costs, cost of mining and drilling, manufacturing costs including battery production, electricity costs, maintenance costs, resale costs, insurance costs, range anxiety, and life cycle costs. And in all this, it’s a discussion worth having but all in all, they all become a wash, some good and bad for either ICE or EVs. But with the 2 biggest day-to-day issues, tailpipe emissions, and fuel usage, it becomes apparent that any xEV will hold an edge over any ICE vehicle. We also recognize that transitioning from an ICE vehicle is a process and may take time to process and D$W wants to be available to educate, encourage, and support that decision and help with choosing the best xEV to fit needs.

The Driver Controls a Vehicle's Performance and Costs

One last factor that D$W would like to talk about is the driver, what we call the HU factor since the driver is the only person that determines the true cost of performance with any vehicle. D$W views any vehicle, ICE or xEV, as a simple tool to be used to get from point A to Point B, much like baseball is a tool to a pitcher. The vehicle or the ball does nothing except what the driver or pitcher tells it to do. D$W has a teaching program called “Tools for a Lifetime” that can teach drivers to get from 10 to 30% better mileage in any vehicle while lowering emissions by about that same amount. This additional $mart $avings can then be added to the benefits of entry-level EVs as well or added to ICE drivers before they transition over to xEVs.

The Future of Transportation is in Your Hands

D$W hopes this article clears up some misconceptions about transitioning from ICE to xEV and we hope creates a space where actual dialogue and discussion can take place instead of insisting that EVs are a burden on society. Most people find going Cold Turkey in anything very hard to do but Moderation opens the door for real change in people and society, with the DEVA philosophy. Because currently there is not enough infrastructure or manufacturing capacity for a full BEV transition today and taking a huge leap forward to the future, perhaps it makes more sense to take baby steps instead.