The drive to embrace electric vehicles is continuing to gather steam, with sales growing exponentially every year. Virtually every continent has recorded electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) sales growth figures of 70 to 100 percent in the past year. This is in line with a global push toward green energy reliance. World leaders are increasingly adopting measures to decrease their nations’ dependence on fossil fuels.

If you haven’t already, you should consider hopping on board the electric bandwagon. Besides doing your bit to protect the planet from the effects of non-renewable energy usage, you stand to reap many benefits. You stand to save thousands of dollars in fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

As a resident of Texas, there are many other incentives that will make you opt for an electric car over a conventional one. Here are some of the highlights.

Cash Rebate

As a resident of the State of Texas, you qualify for a rebate of up to $2,500 if you decide to go electric. This is part of the Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program, which is open to 2,000 applicants every year.

You can download and fill out the application forms if you’re a legal resident of the state or a legally registered entity in Texas. Your vehicle needs to be included in the Eligible Vehicle List for a successful application.

Tax Credit

No matter where in the States you reside, you can take advantage of the federal tax credit available to those who buy brand new EVs. Whether your car is fully electric or a plug-in hybrid, you can take advantage of this incentive of up to $7,500, depending on your car’s battery.

To benefit from this incentive, you have to pay close attention to the manufacturer when shopping. This incentive no longer covers some EV brands, and some popular brands are on their way off the list.

Charging Station Coverage

One of the initial impediments that held many Americans back from investing in electric vehicles was the availability of charging stations. Now there are thousands of charging stations in Texas alone. And you can ensure you can always access a charging station at any point in your trip when you need it using charging station maps available online.

Well before you arrive at a charge point, you can check on an app to see if it has any available charging points. You can also check how fast their charging points are and how much it will cost you to juice up your battery. Different cars have different types of fast charging connectors, but most stations in Texas support charging with any kind of connector.

There are a number of incentives that pertain to charging stations alone. For one, if you own a home and have a level 2 charging station, you stand to benefit from a $250 bill credit. If you opt to charge during off-peak hours, you can further obtain $125 as a credit.

Affordability and Maintenance

Yes, electric vehicles currently cost thousands of dollars more than their gasoline alternatives at the moment. But as an EV owner, you stand to make significant savings in the long run in lower maintenance costs. And you won’t be complaining about gas prices as you will save more than $1,000 yearly in this department.

In addition to spending less on powering up your car, you can make further savings if you schedule your charging sessions well. If you charge your car at night or during off-peak times, you stand to benefit from cheaper plans from most electric utility providers.

With an electric car, you stand to spend about 40 percent less than you currently do on maintenance. Because you won’t need to oil changes every now and then, you could spend up to $2,000 less on maintenance costs over the life of your EV.

Opponents of electric vehicles argue that they are costly in terms of insurance. But if you shop carefully among car insurance providers in Texas you are sure to find a good deal on your EV auto insurance premiums.

Smart Choice for the Long Haul

If you’ve been contemplating becoming an electric vehicle owner, the time is now. The world is moving faster and faster towards clean energy. Furthermore, gas prices are at an all-time high, driven upward by the sanctions imposed by Europe and the United States on Russia.

You may have to spend a little more initially on purchase, but the long-term savings EVs promise make them well worth considering.