From Diesel to Electric: Robert Wallace’s Surprising Transition

In the north central Oregon town of Dufur, where the population may well be outnumbered by tractors, lives Robert Wallace, an irrigation and energy efficiency expert with a lifelong passion for pickup trucks. Robert’s driveway looks a bit like a used truck dealership, but he recently made a purchase that has his home town buzzing…

He bought a lightly-used Tesla Model 3.

Yes, you read that right. Robert Wallace, the local kid who served time as Dufur’s Mayor, head of the school board, and as port commissioner in The Dalles. The guy who can identify a John Deere by its engine hum is now the proud owner of an electric car: a sleek, shiny gray number that he snagged second hand at Platt Auto for about $21,000 – after the federal $4,000 used EV rebate.

“Aside from four or five bullet holes courtesy of my neighbors,” he jokes, “it’s been fantastic.”

Robert initially tried to keep the news on the down-low, but his love affair with his new ride became the talk of the town. “I never thought I’d see the day,” said his daughter Peyton, shaking her head in disbelief. “My dad’s driving an electric car. Wow!”

Wallace isn’t in it for kicks or attention. He’s just a practical guy, and his new EV is saving him more than $700 a month in fuel costs.

Cost Breakdown: Electric vs. Diesel

Robert drives about 48,000 miles a year and shelling out a small fortune on fuel. Diesel prices in Wasco County hover around $4.00 per gallon, and his big diesel truck averages 17 miles per gallon, so Robert had been spending more than $11,000 annually at the pump.

“In this part of the state, diesel prices tend to be high, but local hydropower prices are between $0.06 to $0.10 per kWh through Wasco Electric Cooperative and the Northern Wasco PUD.”

Robert switched from driving 48,000 miles in his truck to driving about 40,000 miles in his EV, and the rest in his truck, when he needs to tow or haul something. He’s saving a lot of money on fuel. Here’s the math:

Fuel cost comparison:

• Diesel: $4.00/gallon @ 17 MPG = 23.5 cents/mile

• Electricity: 10 cents/kWh @ 4 miles/kWh = 2.5 cents/mile

Annual fuel cost:

• BEFORE (truck only): 48k miles x 23.5 cents/mile = $11,280

• AFTER (mostly EV driving):

  • 40k miles x 2.5 cents/mile for the EV = $1,000

  • 8k miles x 23.5 cents/mile for the truck = $1,880

  • Total fuel cost = $2,880

That’s annual fuel cost savings of $8,400.

No wonder Robert loves his new EV. “It’s like finding $700 in my couch cushions every month!” But his actual savings are even higher, because EVs require very little maintenance other than tires, cabin filters, wiper fluid, and blades. His truck used to require $1,600 in annual maintenance, but since he shifted to driving mostly an EV, that’s come down to $400 a year.

What about range anxiety?

“It’s really not an issue for me,” says Wallace. Like most EV drivers, he does about 90% of his charging overnight at home. “I plug it in when I get home, feed the dogs, and wake up the next morning with a full battery. And now I never need to wait for the Dufur gas station to open up before heading out on a road trip.”

He also sometimes charges at work, where there’s a free charger, or at one of the constantly-increasing number of public fast chargers. Robert is quick to point out that fast charging away from home costs a lot more — between $0.25 and $0.45 per kWh. “I only use fast chargers about once every week or two on really long trips, but it’s still cheaper than diesel… though it doesn’t smell as good,” he chuckles.

A New Era in Rural America

Robert still has his big diesel pickup and he’s not selling it anytime soon. But he prefers to drive his EV. It’s constantly sparking curiosity, and maybe even a bit of envy, among colleagues, friends, and family. As his brother Ritchie, a local construction contractor, grudgingly admits, “Robert’s a lot smarter than he looks, and it’s obvious that he’s suddenly got a lot more walkin’ around money. I never thought I’d say this, but I may start to look into getting an EV myself. But if I do, I’ll get a truck.”

“I never thought I’d be promoting electric cars,” Robert laughs. “But here I am. This car has been good for my wallet, it’s easy, and it’s also super fun to drive. Economically it just made sense.”

So, if you find yourself in Dufur and spot a gray Tesla cruising past a wheatfield, suspend your disbelief, hold your fire, and give a friendly wave. It’s probably Robert Wallace, driving on electrons, passing the gas pump, and saving up some dollars to buy another classic Ford Bronco.