Are Electric Cars Worth the Money?

There's no doubt Californians love their cars. The Golden State accounts for almost 10 percent of all car sales in the country, The Wall Street Journal reported recently.

If you're in the market for an electric vehicle, you'll certainly have your pick. With its laws incentivizing car manufacturers to go green, California has driven the push for eco-friendly transportation. 

Electric vehicles can provide up to three times the power conversion compared to their gas-powered counterparts, and boast an engine that operates more quietly and requires less maintenance, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

To top it off, buying an eco-friendly car can net you a federal tax credit of up to $7,500.

Though electric cars are more energy-efficient, you can still travel up to three times as far in some internal-combustion vehicles. Another thing to consider is electric car batteries are expensive to replace, and can take up to eight hours to charge.

Several car manufacturers offer eco-friendly vehicles, including Chrysler, General Motors, Honda, Ford, Nissan, Tesla and Toyota.

Some manufacturers are establishing their own charging stations, hoping to lure potential customers. Tesla has built a network of six solar-powered charging stations from L.A. to San Francisco, according to Car and Driver.

Whether you're looking to buy an electric car or you already own one, Redwood City is full of service stations that will keep you charged for your emissions-free commute.   

Sure, you can charge your car at home, but why do so at your own expense?

However, though Redwood City may be flush with local EV charging stations, they are still a rather sparse commodity throughout the rest of the Peninsula and greater Bay Area as a whole, begging the question - are electric cars worth the money, if finding a place to charge them is still somewhat difficult currently? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Here is a list of local charging stations in or near Redwood City, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Stations offer Level 1 (120 volts) and Level 2 (240 volts) charging.

• Middlefield Road Parking Lot - 950 Middlefield Road
• Downtown Cinema Garage - 855 Jefferson Avenue
• Downtown Main Library - 1044 Middlefield Road
• Marshall Garage - 750 Marshall Street
• Boardwalk Nissan - 1 Bair Island Road
• Evernote Company Headquarters - 305 Walnut Street
• Redwood City Parks & Recreation Center - 1120 Roosevelt Avenue
• Silver Spring Networks Headquarters - 555 Broadway
• Menlo College - 1000 El Camino Real, Atherton
• Stanford Shopping Center - El Camino Real, Palo Alto
• IKEA - 1700 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto

Do you think the benefits of electric cars outweigh the costs, and inconvenience of finding charging stations when and where you need them? Tell us in the comments below.

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