1. No gas needed...EVER.

Seriously. Imagine NEVER having to go to a gas station again. Never paying for gas. None of that! Rising gas prices don't have to be your problem anymore. If you've kept track of how much you spent on gas in the past few years, you know how much it adds up. An electric car would pretty much eliminate that line from your budget.

2. Environmentally friendly

This one should be pretty obvious! Less gas use + fewer emissions = happier environment. It may not feel like you and your electric car are making that much of a difference as one entity, but it all adds up. Someday, it could be hugely impactful!

3. Possible parking discounts

My school has a "Green Initiative" that gave me a discount on my parking permit because my car was a certified Electric Vehicle. Do some research on places you regularly park, because there's a chance they'll give you a discounted rate!

4. Decreased maintenance costs

There's some maintenance that electric cars simply don't need, like oil changes and other actions required for exhaust systems. My family did the math. Our last gas car, a 2012 Prius, cost about $475/year in maintenance. So far, the 2013 Leaf has only cost about $340/year and the Bolt has cost about $270/year. Every little cut cost can help. (Especially when you're a broke college student.)

5. Free or inexpensive charging

A lot of charging stations can be used for free. The charging stations on my campus let me charge for free, and the car charging app on my phone lets me filter so that I only see free-use chargers. Charging at home is also possible - you can plug your car into a regular wall charger or install faster chargers in your garage.

It may add a little bit to your electric bill, but it's a significantly smaller cost compared to gas. Consumer Reports explains that the average cost per mile is much less for an electric vehicle. If you're charging to 30 miles, it's about $1, while gas for the same distance would cost about $3. If you're looking at it yearly, compare $485 per year to $1,117 per year.

6. Potential rebates

As an incentive and potential way to offset costs for electric vehicles, there are tax credits for purchases of new electric cars! You'll have to note it on your taxes, but it's worth it for a potentially huge rebate.

7. Less expensive than other cars.

Just from a quick search on Carmax, I found some used car pricing and compared electric and non-electric vehicles. If you sort by lowest price, the first page is about 50% Nissan Leaves like mine! Sure, there are other inexpensive used cars on Carmax, but with all the other financial benefits that come with an electric car, you'll be saving even more money.

8. It's just like any other car!

At the end of the day, a car is a car. You can drive places, which is super amazing and freeing. The only difference is how you fuel it. You may have to wait a little bit for it to charge, but a little bit of research and planning ahead can save you a LOT of money.