Consumers in seven Midwestern states seeking information about plug-in vehicles now have access to a new-vehicle purchase guidance tool created by Argonne National Laboratory.

The consumer tool, called EVolution: Choices for a Smarter Purchase, is designed to help car buyers make informed decisions when purchasing a new vehicle. It starts with consumers’ purchase considerations, including price, and compares the monetary and environmental benefits of various plug-in vehicles and equivalent legacy models. States currently covered are Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

“The new guidance tool helps consumers compare the cost of owning different electric-drive powertrain technologies, as well as the environmental impact of these vehicles,” said Argonne’s Yan Zhou. “By entering your zip code, your results are customized to show local fuel and electricity prices, vehicle purchase price accounting for incentives, charging availability, and commute time to determine cost of ownership.”

“The climate where you reside and your commute time help the tool factor how often you need to charge each type of plug-in vehicle,” Zhou continued. “A map showing public chargers by location and type is also provided to assess your potential charging availabilities. At the end of the six steps, you will know the differences in costs, emissions, and petroleum consumption between the various types of vehicles you are considering. There is an electric-drive powertrain to fit anyone’s driving needs.”

Source: Green Car Congress