Today’s Forecast

69º | Rainy | 87% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 5:42 p.m.

An EV explainer

Everything you need to know about buying an electric vehicle in Austin

A close-up of a charging station in South Austin.

Austin ranks No. 11 in the country for charging stations per capita. | Photo by ATXtoday

The electric vehicle market is expected to reap ~$450 billion in revenue this year, and experts expect that number to keep growing.

Given Austin’s recent transition into “Tesla town” and Texas’ status as one of the top markets for EVs, we’re giving you a quick breakdown on driving electric in ATX.

What’s the Austin EV scene like?

If you swear you’re seeing more Teslas on the streets, you’re probably not wrong. Bat City is considered the No. 4 city in the US for electric vehicles owned and available charging stations.

Austin has one charger for every 1,310 residents — that’s a total of 1,679 chargers, as of February. That puts ATX at No. 11 for charger infrastructure, which is a far jump ahead of other Texas metros. (Dallas ranked No. 31, while Houston fell at No. 43.)

A timelapse of the sky changing and cars driving in and out of the Tesla Gigafactory. — You might have seen a few more Teslas on the streets since Giga Texas opened in Austin. | Photo by @thesimplesarah

How to charge

It may seem odd, but you can charge your car with a regular old 120-volt outlet — it just might take all night.

Many EV owners choose to install a Level 2 charger, which is 240 volts, but installation could cost hundreds. That said, Austin Energy provides a rebate for up to 50% of the cost of purchase and installation.

The city is also stocked with thousands of public charging stations. Austin Energy’s “Plug-In EVerywhere” program costs $4.17 per month for unlimited access.

What other rebates should I know about?

EVs can be pricey, but tax credits can offset the cost. The federal government offers as much as $7,500 in credits for an EV purchase, depending on household income and the car’s battery size.

We know, there’s a lot more to know about EVs. If you’re in the market, take a look at Austin Energy’s buyer’s guide.

Asked

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Events

Tuesday, March 21

David Grissom | Tuesday, Mar. 21 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Saxon Pub, 1320 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin | Free | Tips are appreciated at this free South Austin show.

Wednesday, March 22

Emmer & Rye welcomes Roaming Restaurant, Slow Burn | Wednesday, Mar. 22 | 5:30-10 p.m. | Emmer & Rye, 51 Rainey St., Ste. 110, Austin | Cost of purchase | Michelin Slow Burn chefs Andy Doubrava and Tiffani Ortiz will takeover the restaurant’s menu with five special dishes.

Thursday, March 23

Laguna Gloria Open Late | Thursday, Mar. 23 | 6-9 p.m. | The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St., Austin | Free | Get lost among the trees as you explore art in the garden.
Steel Magnolias | Thursday, Mar. 23-Sunday, March 26 | Times vary | Genesis Fellowship Hall, 1507 Wilshire Blvd., Austin | $15-$25 | This southern comedy comes to life on stage.

Friday, March 24

Field of Light Silent Disco | Friday, March 24 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin | $20-$140 | This exhibit with 28,000 glowing orbs will close next month.

Saturday, March 25

House of San José | Saturday, Mar. 25, Saturday, Apr. 15 | 7-10 p.m. | Hotel San José, 1316 S. Congress Ave., Austin | Free | Dance to DJ Just Jim at this party in the hotel’s courtyard.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

Click here to have your event featured.

100+ more events

News Notes

Weather

75º | Showers | 42% chance of rain
Yesterday’s spring equinox was the coldest in Austin since 1983, and the fifth-coldest equinox on record. The average high temperature on the first day of spring is 74º — yesterday, the high temperature was in the 50s. (KXAN)

Travel

Compared to the same month last year, passenger traffic at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport increased by 37% in January, amounting to more than 1.5 million travelers.

Civic

Cedar Park’s Marie Betcher became the first and only female rabbi-cantor senior police chaplain in the US yesterday. Betcher has been a cantor — a trained leader of song and prayer in Jewish religious services — since 1999, and was ordained as a rabbi in 2011. (KVUE)
The Manor City Council will create a new nonprofit to address housing needs. The still-being-formed Manor Housing Public Facility Corporation will work with developers to ensure a portion of upcoming projects will be affordable. (KVUE)

Sports

No. 4 Texas women’s basketball lost to No. 5 Louisville 51-73 last night, ending the team’s run in the NCAA tournament. The men’s team next plays against Xavier on Friday, March 24. (ESPN)

Job

The City of Austin has officially lit the bat signal. Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission decided last week to hire a full-time chiropterologist (read: bat biologist) to care for the downtown population of Mexican free-tailed bats. (KUT)

Traffic

Multiple lanes, frontage roads, and ramps near the intersection of I-35 and US 183 will be shut down between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. this week. Expect closures during those times from now until Thursday, March 23. (KVUE)

Announced

South Congress’ Crow Bar will be demolished due to extensive damage after catching on fire in September. The bar owner said he hopes to reopen Crow Bar in a new location. (Eater Austin)

Watch

Austin’s street art is the subject of a new PBS docuseries called “Muraling Austin.” The show — which premieres this Friday, March 24 — explores and explains the Capital City’s most iconic murals in three episodes. (CultureMap Austin)

Wellness

What’s in: red light therapy. What’s out: forms of treatment that are painful and invasive. Red light therapy is non-invasive and painless, and evidence suggests it may be able to ease body aches, heal sun damage, and build collagen. Brb — we’re adding this easy-to-prop light and this facial massager to our Amazon cart.

Food

Brewery battle

ATXtoday’s brewery bracket

A bracket graphic showing Lazarus Brewing vs. Pinthouse Brewing, and Meanwhile Brewing vs. Austin Beerworks.

May the best brewery win. | Graphic by ATXtoday

We’ve got some passionate readers. After 342 votes, here are the breweries moving on to the next round:

Lazarus Brewing Co. vs. Pinthouse Brewing
Meanwhile Brewing vs. Austin Beerworks

Who will face off in the championship? Help pick the final two through Monday, March 27.

Cast your vote

The Wrap

Today’s Edition By:
London

From the Editor

After going full-speed for SXSW, I’m enjoying some serious R&R this week. One of my favorite ways to relax is diving deep into a good book series — got any recommendations for me? 📚

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