New 'eGallon' tool compares electric, gasoline prices

If you're considering buying a plug-in electric car, a new online calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy will help you compare the cost of electricity versus gasoline needed to drive the same distance.

On Energy.gov/eGallon, consumers can see the latest price of electricity for their state and compare it with the average price of gasoline. In Iowa, the eGallon price is about $1.03, meaning that a typical electric vehicle could travel as far on $1.03 worth of electricity as a similar vehicle could on a traditional gallon of unleaded fuel.

Sales of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States tripled in 2012, with more than 50,000 cars sold. The Chevy Volt topped Consumer Reports' annual owner-satisfaction survey for the second straight year, while the Tesla Model S was awarded the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

There were 41 "pure" electric vehicles - 39 Nissan Leafs and two Tesla Roadsters - registered in Iowa at the end of 2012, compared with more that 15,700 hybrids, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said eGallon was launched earlier this month to provide motorists with a realistic comparison of electricity and gasoline costs.

"Consumers can see gasoline prices posted at the corner gas station, but are left in the dark on the cost of fueling an electric vehicle," Moniz said in a statement announcing the launch of eGallon.

"The eGallon website will bring greater transparency to vehicle operating costs, and help drivers figure out how much they might save on fuel by choosing an electric vehicle."

Moniz said consumers also will notice that the eGallon price will remain fairly stable, while gasoline prices tend to fluctuate. That's because gasoline prices depend on the global oil market, which can fluctuate in response to world events.

Electric vehicle recharging stations are slowly making their way into Iowa. While retailers such as Kohl's and restaurant chains such as Cracker Barrel have installed recharging stations in their parking lots in southern states, there are still relatively few public recharging stations in Iowa.

There are 39 electric recharging stations in Iowa, according to the Department of Energy, with more planned by Kum & Go, Best Buy, Home Depot and Walgreen's. The stations typically require the use of a credit card, which also gives drivers the opportunity to track the cost of recharging their vehicles at specific locations.