A church float is often essential to get into the community and provide opportunities for congregation members to help others and outsiders learn about what your church is all about. One thing to consider when expanding or replacing cars are electric vehicles (EVs). Electrifying your fleet is a way to save money, offers better road trip experiences and sets a positive example.
Churches may be hesitant to switch to a new type of vehicle. Not everyone has experience with electric vehicles and the selling price is still significantly higher than gasoline vehicles. Here are five reasons why electrifying your church fleet is worth the cost.
1. Decrease in lot prices
It’s reasonable to be hesitant when upgrading your fleet. Many churches have modest transportation budgets and rely on used vehicles to meet the needs of their congregation. The good news is that EV prices should continue to drop as they become a more popular choice to produce and buy.
Although electric vehicles are more expensive upfront, you will see long-term costs decrease. Efficiency, less maintenance and lower fuel and maintenance costs can save your church almost $15,000.
Currently, the The average electric vehicle costs about $61,000 but this is likely to decrease soon. We can see those prices come down through hybrid cars, with prices starting around $25,000.
2. Lower fuel prices
Gas prices are the bane of many drivers, but gas stations operate on a different level. Electricity costs less than oil, reducing the average cost of transportation.
The average price of gasoline in the United States is almost four dollars per gallon. In the meantime, coast less than $30 on average to complete a vehicle charge and can last for hundreds of miles.
These savings are attractive if your church does a lot of mission trips or trips to pick up members of the congregation before services.
3. Less maintenance
Relying on electricity also means fewer maintenance issues. In fact, annual fleet maintenance costs could drop up to 50% making the switch to electric vehicles.
Thanks to regenerative braking, there is much less brake fluid. There is also less engine oil and other fluids, which need to be replaced less frequently than with gasoline vehicles. Meanwhile, the battery itself can last for decades.
Church fleets often have volunteers running them and less maintenance could encourage more people to help out.
4. Sustainability
It is up to all of us to maintain the world that God gave us for future generations. Reducing pollution can prevent worsening climate change. Electric vehicles are a more sustainable option than gasoline cars.
Reducing your church’s carbon footprint shows your congregation that you are committed to positive environmental change. When electrifying your fleet, talk to church members about the benefits of electric vehicles and why you want your church to set a positive example.
5. Increased driver comfort
Electric vehicles are easier to manage, which could encourage more volunteers to get behind the wheel of your fleet.
As long as your maintenance crew charges vehicles when needed, chances are they’ll never have to worry about going out to a service station. Electric vehicles are too quieter than gasoline carsfostering camaraderie throughout the journey.
Electric cars are newer than many gas cars and often have features that improve driver comfort, such as heated seats, bluetooth communication, and stellar music speakers. Many also include safety features such as automatic braking and lane departure alerts, which can give everyone extra peace of mind.
Many gas vans and trucks produce large amounts of exhaust that can irritate the driver’s respiratory system. An EV doesn’t have this problem.
When to wait in an EV
Electric vehicles have many advantages that may make you want to redo your entire fleet right now. However, there are some circumstances where it’s better to wait a little longer before buying your first EV.
- You won’t use it often – Many churches have a vehicle or two, but not all congregations he uses them enough to justify them current prices of electric vehicles. If you have working cars that you only use for emergencies or the rare road trip, it’s probably best to wait.
- There are no charging stations around – As electric vehicle charging stations expand across the country, there are still areas that don’t yet have them. You can buy a private one, but that can be expensive. Waiting for more charging opportunities could mean putting off buying an electric vehicle for now.
- You have vehicles that work well – Research suggests that you use the vehicles you already own until you need replacements it could be better for the environment long term. When they start to show their age, you can replace them with an EV.
Keeping these factors in mind can help you make the right decisions about your church cars.
Electrifying your Church fleet
Your church fleet can do a lot of good, and electric vehicles are paving the way for better, more sustainable experiences.
