Electrifying Your Church Fleet: 5 Reasons It’s Worth the Cost

A church’s fleet is often essential for getting in the community and providing opportunities for congregation members to help others and outsiders a chance to get to know what your church is all about. One thing to consider when expanding or replacing cars is electric vehicles (EVs). Electrifying your fleet is one way to save money, provides better road trip experiences and sets a positive example.

Churches can hesitate when switching to a new type of vehicle. Not everyone has experience with EVs and the sale price is still significantly more than gas-powered vehicles. Here are five reasons why it’s worth the cost to electrify your church fleet.

1. Decreasing Lot Prices

It’s reasonable to hesitate when upgrading your fleet. Many churches have modest transportation budgets and rely on used vehicles to meet their congregation’s needs. The good news is that EV prices should continue to reduce as they become a more popular option to produce and purchase.

Though electric vehicles are pricier up-front, you will see long-term costs decrease. The efficiency, less maintenance and lower fuel and maintenance costs can save your church nearly $15,000.

Currently, the average electric vehicle costs around $61,000 but this is likely to decrease soon. We can see these prices lowering through hybrid cars, with prices beginning around $25,000.

2. Lower Fuel Prices

Gas prices are the woe of many drivers but charging stations operate at a different level. Electricity costs less than petroleum, reducing the average cost of transportation.

The average price of gasoline in the United States is nearly four dollars per gallon. Meanwhile, it costs less than $30 on average to complete a vehicle charge and can last hundreds of miles.

These savings are attractive if your church goes on a lot of mission trips or travels to pick up congregation members before services.

3. Less Maintenance

Relying on electricity also leads to fewer maintenance issues. In fact, your yearly fleet maintenance costs could lower by up to 50% by making the switch to EVs.

Thanks to regenerative braking, there is significantly less brake water. There is also less engine oil and other fluids, which all need replaced less frequently than with gas-powered vehicles. Meanwhile, the battery itself can last decades.

Church fleets often have volunteers managing them and less maintenance could encourage more people to help out.

4. Sustainability

It’s up to all of us to maintain the world God gave us for future generations. Reducing pollution can prevent the worsening of climate change. Electric vehicles are a more sustainable option than gas-powered cars.

Reducing your church’s carbon footprint shows your congregation that you are committed to positive environmental change. When electrifying your fleet, speak with church members about the advantages of electric vehicles and why you want your church to set a positive example.

5. Increased Driver Comfort

EVs are easier to manage, which could encourage more volunteers to get behind the wheels of your fleet.

As long as your maintenance team charges vehicles when needed, chances are they will never have to worry about pulling off at a fuel station. EVs are also quieter than gas-powered cars, encouraging fellowship throughout the ride.

Electric cars are newer than many gas cars and often have features that improve driver comfort, such as seat warmers, bluetooth communication and stellar music speakers. Many also come with safety features such as automatic braking and lane-shift alerts, which can give everyone more peace of mind.

Many gas vans and trucks produce heavy exhaust amounts which can irritate a driver’s respiratory system. An EV doesn’t have that issue.

When to Wait on an EV

Electric vehicles have many advantages that can make you want to redo your entire fleet right now. However, there are some circumstances where it is better to wait a little longer before purchasing your first EV.

You Won’t Use It Often – Many churches have a vehicle or two but not every congregation uses them enough to justify current EV prices. If you have working cars that you only use for emergencies or a rare roadtrip, then it is probably best to wait.
There Aren’t Charging Stations Around – As EV charging stations expand around the country, there are still areas that don’t have them yet. You can purchase a private one but that can be pricey. Waiting for more charging opportunities could mean putting off an EV purchase for now.
You Have Well-Working Vehicles – Research suggests that using the vehicles you already have until needing replacements could be better for the environment long-term. When they begin showing their age, you can replace them with an EV.

Keeping these factors in mind can help you make the right decisions about your church’s cars.