Author Archives: Ellen Sirull

About Ellen Sirull

Ellen covers clean energy finance, electric vehicles (EVs), and EV charging as part of EnergySage’s consumer education team. She brings twenty years of experience helping consumers navigate complex topics. Ellen’s writing and insights have been featured on sites such as Money Tips, Experian, and CNBC. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and earned an MBA at Kennesaw State University. Ellen and her family are proud owners of both a solar system and an EV, with a $0 monthly electric bill being their favorite part of using clean energy.

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle? EV vs. gas fuel comparison

If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), one thing you’ll want to know is how much you’ll pay to charge it. While you likely have experience with filling up a gas tank, charging an EV battery is a bit different. In this article, we’ll explain how much you should expect to pay to charge your EV and how this compares to similar internal combustion engine (ICE) — AKA gas-powered — vehicles. We’ll also walk you through some of the significant factors that will impact the cost of charging your EV. (Spoiler alert: the best way to lower the cost is to go solar!)

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Which vehicles qualify for EV incentives?

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) drastically changed the incentives available for electric vehicles. While there are many great new opportunities for electric vehicle (EV) incentives, the details can be challenging to follow. In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about which EVs qualify for incentives now and in the coming years.

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Understanding solar loan fees

If you’re looking to finance solar panels for your home, there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of to select the best option for you. A typical 10-kilowatt solar installation can cost anywhere from $20,500 to $25,800 and financing options are widely available. Several factors may impact the cost of your solar loan, including your credit score and current debt-to-income ratio (DTI), the loan’s interest rate, and any solar loan fees.

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Most popular EVs of 2023

With more electric vehicles hitting the market, it might be hard to decide which one’s right for you, but we’re here to help! According to Kelley Blue Book, electric vehicle (EV) sales are increasing rapidly: they jumped 65 percent year-over-year to over 800,000 EVs sold in 2022. When it comes to choosing an EV, the options keep expanding. We cover some of the best-selling EVs, what’s coming in 2023, and other factors to consider when going electric.

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A complete guide to Tesla destination chargers

Tesla destination chargers are Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers designed to help you power your Tesla away from home, particularly overnight or if you’re not in a rush. They’re just like the Tesla Wall Connectors you can install at home but are located in public places like hotels, restaurants, and parking garages. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Tesla destination chargers, including what they are, where to find them, how to use them, and how much they cost.

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Environmental impact of electric vehicles vs. gas cars

Electric car sales continue to break records each month. Electric cars now make up 4.5 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. with California making up the largest amount. If you choose to purchase an electric car, you’ll likely receive some tax credits, rebates, and incentives (some from the Inflation Reduction Act), and you’ll help the environment while not needing to worry about fluctuating gas prices. However, electric cars, also known as electric vehicles or EVs, have received criticism over the years because their carbon footprint isn’t zero. In this article, we’ll explain the environmental impact of electric cars, including both all-electric vehicles (AEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles.

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The Tesla Wall Connector home EV charger complete review

If you’ve bought an electric vehicle (recently or are considering one, you’re not alone! And while there are many more options, Tesla still dominates electric vehicle (EV) sales with 75 percent of the market share. While there is a network of Tesla charging stations throughout the U.S., having a charger at home allows you to more efficiently and quickly charge your Tesla while managing and monitoring your charging and energy usage. (Bonus: if you have solar, you can power your car with the sun!)

The Tesla Wall Connector (also known as the Tesla home charger) is the only Tesla-specific home EV charger for charging your Model 3, Model S, Model X, or Model Y (though you can use other home EV chargers with an adapter). In this article, we’ll cover the Tesla Wall Connector’s features – including price, charging speed, pros and cons, and more – so you can decide if you want a Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector to charge your Tesla at home.

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How much does it cost to use a Tesla charging station?

Tesla continues leading electric vehicle market sales: their two best-selling electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S., the Model 3 and the Model Y, make up nearly 70 percent of all EV sales according to Kelley Blue Book. When you’re on the go in your Tesla, finding Tesla charging stations is important to help you travel for long ranges. You’ll also need to plan for stops at chargers on a road trip.
Tesla currently has one of the largest charging networks, with five percent of overall charging happening at commercial chargers. In this article, we’ll break down the different types of chargers, where they’re located, how to find them, how long it takes to charge with them, and how much they cost.

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Why is my electric bill so high?

If you own a home, you’ve probably experienced the shock of opening your monthly electricity bill in your mailbox or email and seeing a higher dollar total than expected. It’s a standard part of home ownership, and you can hear homeowners lamenting as electricity rates increase – “Why is my electric bill so high? Why does my power bill keep going up?”

Luckily, you can take steps to find the source of high electricity bills and resolve them to minimize the impact on your wallet. Here are some ideas to start the troubleshooting process, along with some suggestions on what to do about your high electric bill.

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2023 complete guide to Tesla Superchargers

Tesla Superchargers are incredibly fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers to help you quickly charge away from home, including on road trips. Specifically, a Tesla Supercharger is a Level 3 charger (the fastest available today) that adds up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Currently, Tesla Superchargers are available only for Teslas in most locations – however, Tesla is piloting sites where other EVs can quickly charge using a Tesla Supercharger for an added fee. In this article, we break down everything you need to know about Tesla Superchargers, including what they are, where to find them, how to use them, and how much it costs to use one.

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