CLAY — In 1965, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan scandalized his folk music fans by going electric. While the hardware at the center of the “Electric Dylan” controversy was a guitar, Baldwinsville resident Scott Thomas is hoping to spark Central New Yorkers’ interest in another electric device: cars.
Each Saturday, local gearheads gather for “Cars & Coffee” in the parking lot of Wegmans on Route 31 in Clay to talk shop. On Sept. 18, Thomas and other drivers will participate in a special edition of the informal hangout called “Cars, Coffee & EVs.” The event is part of a nationwide effort to encourage interest in electric vehicles.
National Drive Electric Week — Sept. 18 through Oct. 3 — arrives on the tail of legislation signed Sept. 8 by New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul. The law aims to require all passenger cars and trucks sold in NYS to be zero-emissions by 2035.
Thomas, a photographer by trade, began his EV journey in 2018 with a plug-in hybrid vehicle.
“That only had a 7.5 gallon tank and I would fill it every three or four months,” he said. “After six months I figured, ‘This isn’t as hard as I thought.’ I don’t think most people realize how little they drive on a day-to-day basis.”
In May 2021, Thomas upgraded to a Mustang Mach-E, Ford’s first fully electric SUV. Four months later, he has driven nearly 5,000 miles in the Mach-E.
“It drives really well — very quiet,” he said. “One of the advantages of an electric vehicle is I charge it at home just like you would your cellphone.”
The battery of Thomas’ Mach-E has a capacity of 88 kilowatt hours (kWh). At home, it costs him about 11 cents per kWh to charge the Mach-E.
“I get almost 4 miles per kWh,” he said, adding that a full charge is rated for about 300 miles.
One of the misconceptions Thomas is hoping to dispel about EVs is that there are few places to charge your car.
“Five years ago, I would have agreed with that, but the electric infrastructure has come a long way,” he said.
As the popularity of electric vehicles has grown, charging stations — both free and paid — have popped up along the Thruway, in public parking lots and at businesses. According to CNY Energy Challenge, a program of the CNY Regional Planning and Development Board, there are about 100 charging stations within a 20-mile radius of Syracuse. The Baldwinsville Public Library recently unveiled a paid charging station.
“I would say it’s on a par or a little less than gasoline if you’re traveling,” Thomas said.
The NYS Thruway Authority’s “Green Pass” program offers a 10% E-Zpass discount for vehicles that meet certain criteria, and National Grid offers bill credits for EV users who charge their cars during off-peak hours. Federal tax credits and NYS rebates are available for buyers as well.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, electric vehicles “have zero tailpipe emissions, but emissions may be produced by the source of electrical power, such as a power plant.”
“Here locally a lot of our electricity comes from nuclear plants. It’s still a lot cleaner than burning gasoline even if it was a coal-fired plant providing your electricity,” Thomas said.
Performance-wise, EVs are similar to traditional cars, Thomas said.
“Electric cars are not slow. The cars immediately have all the torque a motor can provide. They’re very fun to drive,” he said.
As for maintenance, that depends on the make and model of the car. Thomas said all Ford dealers are equipped to maintain his Mach-E, but Tesla drivers have a bit farther to go for service. The closest Tesla service center is in Henrietta, near Rochester, but Tesla can also send a mobile technician for certain service requests.
“You don’t have to worry about oil changes. You still have to get your brakes checked,” Thomas said. “Windshield wiper fluid — that’s about the only fluid I have to worry about.”
“Cars, Coffee & EVs” takes place from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 18, at Wegmans on Route 31 in Clay. EV drivers and owners are encouraged to register and bring their vehicles. For more information, visit DriveElectricWeek.org/event?eventid=2932.
