Local photographer Matthias Marklin captures the EV Experience vehicle with a Teton sunset backdrop during his loan of the F150 Lightning.
When purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle (EV), there can be a lot of unknowns. These unknowns can pose a barrier to EV adoption, especially in a cold and rural state like Wyoming. To address this uncertainty and promote EV adoption in Teton County, YTCC runs the EV Experience program. Generously funded by the Teton Conservation District, this program empowers those who live or work in Teton County the opportunity to loan an F150 Lightning for free to practice charging according to different range and scheduling needs.
So has this program worked to get more people to switch to a cleaner, more efficient EV? Yes! Matthias Marklin, a Teton County resident, has made the switch selling his internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle (aka gas vehicle) for a fully electric F150 Lightning, the truck he loaned when he participated in our EV Experience Program. Here’s what he has to say about buying an EV:
“Overall living with an EV has been a wonderful experience without regrets. I’d be shocked if I ever go back to an ICE vehicle, and have absolutely no desire to do so. At this stage with the public charging network it does take some planning or prep work before heading out on a trip to see where chargers are and plan ahead, but this primarily is something to consider with longer road trips outside of the typical radius closer to home.”
As for access to charging, he is looking forward to more infrastructure installments that make EV travel a viable option in the state.
“The network is constantly improving and the new DCFC stations being built in Wyoming made me realize that there really isn’t anywhere I’d wish to go that I couldn’t do in an EV. Even on longer road trips the desire to stop and stretch my legs matches up with the charging stops and it gives me a chance to enjoy the journey along the way.”
Some doubt that an EV doesn’t fit the “Wyoming lifestyle” and Matthias has found that his electric F150 has been capable of achieving everything his rural lifestyle has asked of it.
“From a utilitarian aspect, the Lightning has fit my lifestyle incredibly well, from gathering firewood in the forest to biking on the pass it’s been an exceptionally capable vehicle. The experience of off-roading in an EV is pretty wild - with the windows down you just hear the sounds of nature like the wind in the trees and the splashes of driving through a puddle that would otherwise be drowned out by the noise of an engine.”
Just like buying any new truck, the investment can be big. When doing his vehicle research, Mathias found that his new car has the same projected longevity as its gas counterparts.
“The batteries on modern EVs are also quite robust, and I fully expect this truck hitting the 100,000 mile mark and beyond.”
In addition to all of the validations he experienced after his EV purchase, Mathias noticed that the environmental benefits of his switch to an EV goes beyond the emissions of his personal vehicle.
“One thing I noticed a lot on my drive back from Chicago in the Lightning was how many fuel tankers there were on the highways. If you really think about it, the fuel used in vehicle (gas and diesel) needs to be pumped and refined somewhere in the world, and then transported in large volumes by trucks that burn the same fuel that they are transporting, only to be deposited at a fuel station to then be pumped into vehicles yet again and ultimately burned off. It’s a continuous cycle that as we’ve seen is subject to global disruptions. On the other hand, electricity is everywhere. You can have a level 2 charger in the middle of nowhere, and as long as it’s connected to the grid you never need to have a fuel truck supply it with energy. The amount of trucks that could be removed from the road just by accelerating the transition to EVs would be remarkable, and shows that transitioning from gas goes far beyond just tailpipe emissions.”
YTCC applauds Matthias on his purchase, his willingness to share his story with others and his commitment to clean air and climate action. By leading by example, he is not only validating the importance of this program but how free access to EVs can spark real change. EVs are for everyone, and those passionate about saving on gas and maintenance costs as well as reducing their own carbon footprint can see how this lifestyle change has enormous benefits. YTCC thanks the Teton Conservation District for funding this program and encourages those who have not tried out the program who live or work in Teton County to learn more about the program here.
