This March 2016 lecture by Tony Seba explains how commuting will evolve over the next ten years.

If you are commuting by walking, biking, or using public transport–good for you! If neither is an option for you, consider an electric vehicle: MIT just published a study that clearly shows we can make a big dent in our carbon emissions by driving electric cars.

It’s not just good for the climate. It makes financial sense, too: There are very nice government incentives to getting a new EV.

Sudbury 4th parade 350MA I Love Ice

I am leasing this neat little SMART  for three years, and I’ve been saving money like crazy. First of all: I had to pay $2500 down and got the full down payment back through the rebate program.

Apart from insurance ($955/year) and taxes ($350 the first year, $125 the second year) I’m paying $133 a month–no gas, no oil change. After being away for two months this summer I could simply turn the key and drive. No problem.

I can plug the car into any regular outlet. And there are Chargepoint charging stations popping up everywhere.

The main downside of an electric vehicle is the battery range. But most families own more than one car anyway. If you have a family car that you can use for occasional longer trips, an electric vehicle will work perfectly fine for the daily commute. [Mine gets 80 miles on a charge in the summer, and 45 miles in winter.]

There are many good options for EVs now.