EV Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be able to charge my EV when I am away from home?
Yes, and you can find public charging stations near you by visiting PlugShare.com or ABetterRoutePlanner.com websites.

 

What EV is best for me?
You can explore available EV models through EPE’s EV finder.

 

How far can I get on a single charge?
EV range is improving every year. Several models can go more than 200 miles on a single charge and some even have over 300 miles of range.

 

Does El Paso Electric offer a special EV rate?
Yes. Please visit EPE’s EV Rate page here.

 

What initial start-up costs can I expect for installing charging equipment?
Depending on your current wiring and charging needs, prices will vary for installation. Any licensed electrician will be able to provide further details for these services. In some cases, you may be able to use an existing outlet in your garage and charge at Level 1 with no additional equipment or installation costs.

 

What is the EV community?
EV community is a group of EPE’s customers who have become EV owners or are interested in learning more about EVs, and related EPE programs and incentives.  It is completely free. After you sign up, you will be invited to exclusive events where you can experience different EV models and learn more about available programs and incentives. And once you become an EV owner, you will even receive a members-only Welcome Kit! So, join our community and let’s keep the EV movement charging forward.

 

I bought an electric car/hybrid plug-in car, what do I need to do?
Notify El Paso Electric so we can analyze if the existing transformer can handle the additional load from your vehicle. Please send us an email to bca@epelectric.com or call 915-351-4224 to request a planner. 

Join the EV Community to have access to exclusive events, newsletters, gifts, EV rates, and up-to-date information.

 

Is it true EVs don’t work in cold conditions/can the battery of an EV overheat?
That is false. EVs continue to work in cold weather. However, in extremely cold temperatures, it is possible for your battery to reduce its range. This is also the case with gasoline-powered cars. EVs now come with thermal management systems that help regulate battery temperature for both cooling and heating. EVs are ideal for driving in the snow. Their batteries make them heavier than traditional cars, which improves their traction. Their smoothness helps you control the power in slippery conditions very easily.

 
Are there available incentives for purchasing EVs?
Yes, visit El Paso Electric’s EV Incentives on our website.

Are EVs more expensive to own than gasoline-fueled cars?
No. Even though the MSRP price of electric vehicles may be higher than gasoline vehicles, the ownership cost of EVs are significantly lower than gasoline/diesel vehicles. EVs will save you money on gasoline and maintenance, plus many EVs qualify for federal and state tax credits which may further reduce the cost of ownership. 

 

Should I notify EPE if I buy an electric vehicle?
Yes. El Paso Electric needs to analyze if existing transformer can handle additional load. Please send us an email to bca@epelectric.com or call 915-351-4224 to request a planner.  In addition, consider joining the EV Community to have access to exclusive events, newsletters, gifts, EV rates, and up-to-date information.

 

At El Paso Electric, we believe EVs can save our customers money while helping the environment. That's why we're focusing on increasing customer awareness of benefits of transportation electrification, working with various organizations to increase access to EV charging, designing EV-friendly rates, researching how EV charging affects the grid and how we are electrifying our own fleet.

 

What EV initiatives does EPE do internally?

EPE's electrification efforts began with the purchase of a Nissan LEAF for the Company's fleet in 2014. Subsequently, EPE acquired hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles including Electric Power Take-off (“ePTO”) bucket trucks for its fleet. The ePTO bucket trucks run the bucket with minimum noise, helping reduce air pollution, noise pollution, and improved operator safety.  EPE will expand it’s electric fleet with the addition of Ford Lightnings in 2024. EPE has installed several charging stations for its fleet vehicles. At the end of 2023, EPE has electrified 47 vehicles in its fleet as shown in the table below.

 

 

EPE's Customer Education and Outreach

EPE continued its efforts with development of an educational website about electric vehicles (EVs) to help improve customer awareness and understanding of transportation electrification benefits, charging options, available incentives and special rates. In 2020, EPE launched its first Electric Vehicle (EV) Community website registration page. The purpose of this page is to engage with existing EV owners on the topics of transportation electrification to keep them informed about the latest news in the industry, availability of charging infrastructure, incentives and special EV charging rates, and for customers to share their testimonials with others. To engage customers subscribed to EV community, EPE organizes events and distributes a quarterly newsletter. All subscribers also received a Welcome Kit from EPE after joining. Through the registration of the EV owner, EPE receives information about customers charging location and estimated charging demand. This information will help EPE to assess future capacity needs for existing electrical service and proactively perform infrastructure upgrades to avoid potential transformer failures. EPE's EV Community was well-received by customers with many expressing interest in joining even without being an EV owner but wanting to learn more about EV conversion journey. That is why EPE is expanding its EV Community to all of its customers beginning in 2021. EPE has also focused on employee education and awareness, as well as Customer Service training.

 

EV Charging Rates

In addition, EPE offers a special EV charging rate and a whole-house Time-of-Use rate that can save customers money by using energy during specific hours. More information can be found on the EV Rates page.

 

Community Engagement

In 2020, EPE began conversations with local home builders, apartment and realtor associations to provide information on development of EV-ready homes, buildings and parking lots. In addition, EPE began working with local dealerships and automakers to discuss local EV inventory, sales staff knowledge about EVs and charging, and potential collaborations. 

 

Electrification Grid Impact Study

EPE is also working on an assessment of the adequacy of EPE's current generation, transmission and distribution systems capacity to meet the growing electricity demand created by EVs to ensure continued reliable operation of the electric grid. 

 

Electrification of Transportation Plan

El Paso Electric (EPE) continues its drive toward a greener and more sustainable future with the approval of the latest Transportation Electrification Plan (TEP), for years 2024-2026, from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC). The latest plan will expand the use of electric vehicles (EVs) through various residential programs, to include a rebate on the purchase of an electric vehicle for low-income customers, commercial rebates for EV infrastructure, new construction rebates for EV-ready homes and apartments and an innovative partnership research and innovation program. EPE’s latest TEP launched on April 1, 2024 with a budget of $11.8 million.

 
Who can I contact if I have additional questions?
For additional information please feel free to contact us at customercare@epelectric.com or call 915-543-5970. You may also want to consider joining the EV Community to have access to exclusive newsletters and up-to-date information.