If you are thinking about driving greener with an electric car, you probably wonder what your options are and need answers to questions before you step away from your gas-powered vehicle.
Electric vehicles make up about 2% of the new cars on the road. Still, even 1% of the 15 million new cars and trucks sold each year is a lot of vehicles. And that figure will increase as manufacturers continue to introduce new models into the mainstream.
Below, we break down the different EV car options. We show you the basics of what you need to know about charging, range, ownership costs, safety features, and more so you can choose the right electric vehicle that meets all your needs.
An introduction to electric cars begins with an explanation of the abbreviations used to describe different types of electric vehicles.
EV is the general catch-all term for an electric vehicle. Fully electric cars get all of their power from motors that use batteries charged with electricity. Another type, the fuel cell electric vehicle, or FCEV, runs on compressed hydrogen. There’s limited availability of hydrogen fuel cell cars, and they’re mostly available in California due to limited infrastructure available to the public outside of that state.
A BEV, or battery-powered electric vehicle, uses only its electric motor or motors for propulsion. Because they lack a traditional internal combustion engine and use no gasoline, BEVs produce no tailpipe emissions. This type of car is sometimes called an AEV, or all-electric vehicle.
HEV stands for hybrid electric vehicle. An HEV is an electric car that runs on both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that uses energy from a battery. Hybrids use regenerative braking to store energy created when slowing the car to charge its battery. HEVs are known for their fuel economy because their reliance on battery power decreases how much gas the internal combustion engine uses.
A PHEV is a plug-in hybrid. PHEVs plug into a power outlet to charge their batteries and use a petroleum-based or alternative fuel to power the internal combustion engine. Some PHEVs can travel 40 miles or more on electric power alone, rather than a couple of miles with a standard HEV.
Fuel cell electric vehicles run on compressed hydrogen but are not widely available except in California. Filling up an FCEV is similar to fueling up a gas-powered vehicle. Due to the lack of availability of hydrogen fuel stations open to the public, it will take time for FCEVs to expand availability to other states.
Electric car range can contribute to apprehension that buyers might feel while deciding to abandon their vehicle that uses a traditional gasoline engine. Even while today’s EVs can easily accommodate most daily driving, electric car battery manufacturers continue to improve capacity and recharge times.
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Some EV drivers worry persistently about depleting the battery without a charging station nearby. One perk of an electric vehicle is that you can plug in and recharge at home or use EV charging stations when you’re out and about.
A searchable map of electric vehicle charging stations from the United States Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center shows at least 42,000 locations across the country. That number continues to grow.
This level refers to household three-prong outlets like those your computer or a desk lamp will use. Few electric car users charge their vehicles this way simply because of how long it takes. A Chevy Bolt EV, for instance, adds about four miles of range per hour this way. If you only need to add 20 or 30 miles of charge while at work, this can suffice.
Most people prefer level 2 charging capability, whether at home or at a public charging station. These chargers provide 240 volts of power and require an external device that plugs into a receptacle like an electric clothes dryer. For example, Level 2 can add 25 miles of charge per hour to a Chevy Bolt EV, according to the car manufacturer.
Also called a DC Fast Charger, the fastest-charging option is a Level 3 charger. These quick chargers can add 100 miles of range to a Chevy Bolt EV in 30 minutes. But you will only find Level 3 options in public charging stations that typically cost money to use.
Charging times are rough guidelines and estimates because electric cars also don’t charge at a constant rate. When looking at figures for the 5 Fastest-Charging Electric Cars, remember that manufacturers can claim whatever they’d like. No one is verifying what they say.
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A common question from potential electric car buyers is how much does it cost to charge an EV? For charging at home, the answer requires some math and depends on several factors, primarily how much you drive and the price you pay for residential electricity.
Consider this rough example. If you put 1,000 miles on your vehicle each month and pay 10 cents for each kilowatt-hour of electricity, your at-home EV recharging bill will be $25 to $33 per month (based on the calculation of 3-4 driving miles equaling one kilowatt-hour). Even if you double your electric rate to 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, your EV recharging cost will be $50 to $66 each month.
Now, look at the cost of filling a tank with gasoline. Let’s say you’re driving an economical car that has a combined average of 30 miles per gallon during a mix of city and highway driving. Using a 12-gallon tank as a reference point, you’ll have 360 miles of driving range for each fill-up.
If you’re driving the same 1,000 miles per month, you’ll need to refuel at least three times each month. With the average price of gas hovering around $3 per gallon as of this writing, according to AAA, your monthly fuel expense will be about $108.
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A desire to do something to help save the planet, along with the potential for saving money on fuel and vehicle maintenance, typically rank as the top reasons for car buyers to explore the market of most popular electric cars.
Even so, the sticker price is typically higher for EVs than for comparable models equipped with gasoline engines. Buyers of some new BEVs and PHEVs might receive a tax break from their purchase. These incentives can drive down the overall price of a new electric car, but the benefits aren’t immediate, and the rules can be difficult to navigate. We break down the facts in our article about how electric car tax credits work.
EVs have greater depreciation than their gas-powered counterparts. While this can be disappointing to a buyer who drives off the lot in a new EV, it’s good news if you’re buying a used electric car.
Also, be sure to use Kelley Blue Book’s Car Recall tool to know what recall items may affect your used electric vehicle purchase.
There are many benefits to owning an EV, whether it’s a fully electric model or a plug-in hybrid. For starters, all EVs have lower overall fuel costs.
BEVs often have lower maintenance costs because they have fewer components than gas-powered cars. Battery-powered electric cars don’t require oil changes or tune-ups, typically only tire rotation and wiper replacement. Fully electric cars never need to stop at a gas station for fuel because their batteries can be charged at home when not in use.
PHEVs strike a balance between eco-friendly motoring and go-anywhere flexibility. Most commuters can drive to and from work on electric power alone, while the gas engine stands in reserve waiting for longer road trips.
When charged, a PHEV’s battery pack powers an electric motor. Once that battery pack depletes, a gas engine kicks on seamlessly. Then the car alternates between gasoline and electric power depending on how much is needed. The car’s regenerative braking system captures otherwise lost energy when coasting or slowing down and feeds it to the battery, further reducing its reliance on its gas engine.
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Driving an electric car is no more dangerous than operating a traditional gas-powered vehicle. EVs are relatively new in the mainstream, but cutting-edge safety and driver-assist features are standard or available options for most models.
Price isn’t necessarily an indication of what level of advanced safety technology an electric vehicle packs. Every one of the following innovative safety features comes standard in a 2021 Nissan Leaf, which costs $31,670 plus destination charges of $950.
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