Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As New York State pushes for a more climate conscious state of mind and is looking to cut gas emissions drastically by the end of the decade, some New Yorkers are exploring the electric vehicle or EV avenue for their next car purchase.
Western New York AAA is looking to help aid in the public familiarity of electric vehicles by offering a 45-minute one-on-one training course, where you can learn the ins and outs of the electric vehicle and most importantly, learn how these vehicles handle compared to others.
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"Anytime someone is going to buy a new vehicle, they should really take it out for a good test," said AAA Manager of Driver Training Mike Formanowicz.
"If it's got new safety features, for example, if your car has lane deviation and you've never driven a car with that before, and you start to drift out of your lane a little bit and you feel the car pull back, you might wonder, what's going on here? Well, it's the same thing with an electric vehicle. One of the things that we've noticed is, as you're heading down the road, the EVs are quick. They've got some pep. Electric vehicles only have one gear, there's no shifting. It's just one smooth acceleration."
Formanowiz emphasizes some of the things you can expect in a 45-minute lesson. Similar to your average driving lesson, the instructors will take you out for a drive, doing three-point turns and parallel parking as well as teaching you the basics of the vehicle, like how to charge it and the safety features that are equipped.
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"Our lesson would expose the driver to everyday situations. We'd take you down a busy road, like a Sheridan Drive or Main Street and do some lane changes, just so you can get the feel for how the car reacts when you when you hit the accelerator (not the gas) and the overall quietness of the vehicle, just getting used to that."
I got a chance to take the Chevy Volt out for a spin myself. I was surprised that when I pushed the button to turn the vehicle on, I was waiting to hear a hum or noise that would indicate to me I knew the car was on, but it didn't make a peep. The driver dashboard turned on, I pushed the shift button out of park and into drive and away we went for a really smooth ride.
According to registration data from Experian, over the last five years, new electric vehicle registration has increased over 250% and rising.
Electric cars may be more affordable than one would think, not to mention long-term savings on fuel costs.
According to the IRS, You may qualify for a credit up to $7,500 under Internal Revenue Code Section 30D if you buy a new, qualified plug-in EV or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCV). The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 changed the rules for this credit for vehicles purchased from 2023 to 2032.
EV lessons will only be offered in the Buffalo area for now and are available to drivers of all ages. At home pickup and drop off are sometimes included depending on the student driver’s residential location. The price for an EV lesson is $75 for AAA members, $85 for non-members. Call (800) 836-2582 or visit www.AAA.com/DriverTraining to register for a lesson.