When it comes to cars, David Hopper has never been a trendsetter: He drove his last car for 17 years. But this year, Hopper became a poster child for Oregon’s electric-vehicle future.
A PGE customer, Hopper is one of Oregon’s first owners of the all-electric Nissan LEAF — named the 2011 World Car of the Year — which has no tailpipe emissions and runs about 100 miles per charge.
In February, he became Oregon’s first homeowner to receive a free home charging station as part of the EV Project. The $230 million project will roll out electric-vehicle infrastructure in select areas around the country, including about 1,000 publicly available charging stations in Oregon.
Pragmatists and parents of two, Hopper and his wife try to be conscious about the family’s impact on the environment. “We’re not tree huggers,” he laughs, “but we like to do our part.”
When he first read about the LEAF, he was curious but unsure of its practicality. Hopper signed up for more information about the car, not thinking he’d really buy one.
“Then you start thinking about it when you’re in line at the gas station or getting your oil changed,” he says, “or when you’re watching the news about big oil spills.”
He began tracking his daily mileage, wondering if the LEAF’s range would suit his driving habits. “I realized that it’s rare for me to drive even 70 miles a day,” he says. So when final details about price and the 100-mile range came out, Hopper was sold.
“After the tax credit, it wasn’t much more than a gas-powered equivalent,” he says. “I realized that a car like this was now practical for a consumer like me.”
Fuel cost: $20 a month
Since owning his LEAF and its charging station, Hopper’s electric bill has gone up $18 to $20 per month — less than a single tank of gasoline. At PGE’s recommendation, the Hoppers signed up for the Time of Use plan, which offers lower rates for off-peak electricity. The car’s timer allows him to plug it in when he gets home, but it doesn’t charge until after 10 p.m., when rates are lowest.
And because they pay higher electric rates for peak-time use, the family has now become more conscious of how and when they use power — which Hopper considers a side benefit.
“I feel like it’s important for our family to do what we can to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help the environment,” Hopper says.
That said, Hopper says the LEAF’s size, performance and total cost of ownership are what really sell the car: “I wouldn’t have bought one if it weren’t practical.”