 Electric vehicles have a small but growing share of the auto market.

 In 2018, Tesla dominated electric vehicle sales, with 79%, mostly due to the debut of the
Model 3.

 As 20% of consumers consider going electric for their next vehicle purchase, there are
some key tax and other financial considerations to keep in mind.

 You’ve probably heard of the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3.

 And most car companies, if they are not selling an electric vehicle, are working
on bringing one to market.

 whether it makes sense to own an electric vehicle — both for financial and
environmental reasons.

 Electric vehicles nearly doubled their market share from 2017 to 2018,
according to car research company Edmunds. Still, they represent a small
portion of the market.

 Electric vehicles — including plug-in hybrid cars — accounted for 2% of

vehicle sales last year, up from 1.1% in 2017.

 Much of that jump can be attributed to Tesla’s cars, which represented 79% of
pure electric vehicle sales in 2018, according to Edmunds. The Model 3 was in
the lead, with 59% of electric vehicle sales.

 While the current market share may seem low, that could be poised to change.
Travel organization AAA has found that 20% of individuals indicated this year
that they plan to consider an electric vehicle when purchasing their next car.
That is up from 15% last year.

 “We do believe the future is electric,” Greg Brannon, director of automotive

engineering and industry relations at AAA, said.

 How quickly that transformation happens will depend on factors including gas
prices, which often drive alternative vehicle sales, as well the choices available
to consumers, Brannon said.

 For consumers considering an electric vehicle now, they need to weigh the
advantages — and growing pains — that come with acquiring these emerging
products.
 Tax credits
 Consumers who buy an electric vehicle are currently eligible for up to $7,500
in tax credits.
 But those credits have started to phase out for some brands. Once automakers
have sold more than 200 units, their tax credits are reduced.
 For Tesla, for example, the tax credit was cut in half on Jan. 1, and is scheduled
to be cut in half again on July 1.
 But a Congressional bill proposed last week aims to put a halt to those cuts.
The bipartisan legislation would extend the tax credits to an additional 400,000
electric vehicles per manufacturer.
 Reduced tax credits have been a “huge deterrent” for purchasing these vehicles,
said Dan Ives, managing director at Wedbush.
 “If this legislation came through, it would be a huge shot in the arm for Tesla,”
Ives said.
 The only way to reach widespread adoption — 70% of all automobiles by 2023
or 2024 — is to have these kinds of subsidies in place, Ives said.
 Charging costs
 Prospective electric vehicle owners may assume that once they cut their ties to
gasoline, they are free from the costs and guilt associated with it. But that is not
entirely the case, according to experts.
 A big issue with owning an electric vehicle is charging. As models have
advanced, the miles of range — or how far you can drive before you recharge it
— has extended. Now, consumers can expect new models to last for 200 miles
or more, according to Eric Ibara, director of residual values at Kelley Blue
Book.

 But depending on the model you drive, your transportability could be limited.

 “A nightmare scenario is you’re stuck in traffic on the freeway and your battery
dies and you need to call a tow truck,” Ibara said.

 Tesla is addressing that issue by putting charging stations across the country.
But those stations are only compatible with their cars.

 Companies such as Electrify America and ChargePoint are also establishing

charging stations that work with other car brands. But using these services will
cost you, experts warn.

 “It’s gotten very expensive to publicly charge an electric vehicle,” said Sam
Jaffe, managing director at Cairn ERA. “Tesla used to give it away for free;
they don’t with the Model 3. And with other networks, you’re paying a lot.”

 Fully charging your battery — depending on your model — could take

anywhere from 40 minutes to eight hours.
 Meanwhile, many people are turning to electric vehicles as a more
environmentally friendly option. But in some respects, electric cars can be just
as bad for the environment as traditional cars, experts say.
 “There’s no question that electric vehicles are not environmentally neutral,”
said Jack Gillis, executive director of the Consumer Federation of America and
author of “The Car Book.”
 While less emissions are produced by the cars themselves while driving on the
streets, carbon dioxide is still being emitted by power plants to charge the
electric cars, Gillis said.
 Resale value
 One catch that comes with buying an electric vehicle is that it can be difficult to
sell.
 That is particularly because the tax credits are only available to the first
owners.
 And because the technology is evolving quickly, electric vehicle owners may
be eager to upgrade.
 A first-generation Nissan Leaf, which was introduced in 2010, had a range of
about 85 miles, according to Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor at
Edmunds, while today’s model has about two times as much. Those older
models are available on the used car market, he said.
 “People always want the most range they can get, so you’re going to want to
lean towards a newer purchase,” Montoya said.

 That goes for Brian Wohlgemuth of Indiana, who has test-driven a Tesla and
liked it, but found it impractical for his family, which includes nine grandkids.

 A Model 3 would cost him twice as much as a newer SUV, he said, and a Tesla
Model X would cost more than his house payment. And other electric vehicle
brands do not compare.