Thinking about driving electric, but have questions? These volunteers can help
By Charlie Loeb
Emerald Valley Electric Vehicle Association Volunteer
Editor's note: Lane County Waste Management accepts lead-acid car batteries at all transfer stations, but electric vehicle batteries are not accepted at the transfer stations or in curbside collection. Please contact your automobile dealer for safe disposal. Learn more about battery recycling by using the Waste Wise Lane County app.
When someone buys or leases an electric vehicle (EV) to replace a gas- or diesel-powered vehicle, that action represents a rare win-win-win for the environment, the economy, and the individual’s personal finances. 
The EV will reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions, reduce local air pollution, keep dollars in the state to buy fuel instead of sending them to Texas or California, and save the buyer money on fueling and maintenance, particularly if the owner can charge the vehicle at home.
The Emerald Valley Electric Vehicle Association is a local all-volunteer organization that helps people make the switch. You will see us at neighborhood gatherings, parades, and city-wide events throughout Lane County, sharing information with anyone who is interested. We maintain a website full of useful information for EV owners and would-be owners (www.eveva.org). We offer a question-and-answer email service for the EV curious who would like to chat with an existing EV owner to better understand the logistics and ins and outs of driving electric, or to inquire about specific models ([email protected]).
We host periodic informational meetings, EV owner meet-ups, and EV car shows. We publish a monthly electronic newsletter providing updates on all of our activities and news about policies, rebates, charging costs, and more. You can add your name to the mailing list by writing [email protected].
If you are considering purchasing a new or used EV, it is worth reaching out to us. Our volunteers are experienced EV owners with insights on vehicle range, charging networks, installing charging at home, unexpected state fees, and more. We can also offer reassurance about issues that concern potential buyers.
For example, you don’t really have to worry about expensive battery replacements—the original should last the lifetime of the car. Despite much-hyped news stories, EVs actually catch on fire less often than conventional vehicles. New owners quickly adapt to the different rhythm of refueling, which requires a minor change in habits but little change in convenience. Since most fueling is done at home, many drivers find fueling an EV to be overall MORE convenient than gassing up a conventional vehicle.
Whether you make the switch now or later, we all will eventually drive an EV. The performance of the cars is better, they use energy far more efficiently, fueling is cheaper, maintenance is less. The only obstacles are the higher initial purchase price for new EVs (used EVs are now often comparably priced to conventional vehicles) and the need for ubiquitous charging opportunities for travelers and those who cannot easily charge at home.
But if you make the change now it matters more for speeding the electric transition and thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving lives through reduced air pollution, and saving you money over the life of the car.
If you have a general inquiry or wish to invite us to your event, email us at [email protected]. We love to talk about electric vehicles!
About the author
Charlie is a Eugene-based volunteer member of EVEVA who has driven electric vehicles since 2016. EVEVA is a local chapter of the national Electric Vehicle Association with members in Lane, Linn, Benton, Lincoln, and Douglas Counties.
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