Parth Vaishnav is an assistant professor of sustainable systems, climate and energy at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. His research aims to understand how technology can help solve social problems, primarily focusing on the environmental and human health consequences of energy production and use.
Vaishnav explores how economic, political and operational realities constrain technology deployment. His current work focuses on finding equitable strategies to decarbonize the economy and examines the consequences of automation for the environment, equity and work.
Vaishnav joins the Michigan Minds podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of electric vehicles, debunking myths about battery degradation and affordability. He also details how EV owners can turn their cars into home power plants and why the industry must look beyond a \"one-to-one replacement\" of gas cars to truly solve environmental challenges.
For people weighing their options, how can electric vehicles still make sense as a cost saving and environmentally friendly choice?
Two-thirds of car sales in the U.S. are used cars. Most people buy used, and today, used EVs are the cheapest vehicles to own in any category—sedans, SUVs or trucks.
Because of this, people should really consider buying a used EV. While people often worry about battery degradation, batteries made after 2020 have improved so much that degradation isn't a major concern anymore.
For new cars, consumer options are growing steadily. If you factor in lifetime refueling and maintenance—like skipping oil changes—electric vehicles are cheaper over their lifespan than gas cars in many places, though they can still be more expensive in others. Home charging overnight also makes a huge difference. Currently, the higher total cost of an EV is often driven by higher insurance rates. However, that should improve as EVs prove their reliability and repair costs come down, leading the insurance industry to adjust its pricing.