What's the difference between EVs and hybrids?

The main difference between electric vehicles and hybrids is their fuel source. EVs are powered by electricity stored in a battery, whereas hybrids are powered by both batteries and gas.

There are  two types of EVs : all-electric vehicles (AEVs), which rely solely on electricity, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which use a combination of electricity and gas. While PHEVs can run entirely on electricity, they have a much shorter electric range than AEVs. Standard hybrids, AEVs, and PHEVs all use regenerative braking to charge their batteries and produce supplemental electric power; However, unlike AEVs and PHEVs, you can't plug in standard hybrids to charge their batteries.

Hybrid vehicles are designed to maximize fuel efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint. Many drivers see them as an intermediary between traditional gas-powered vehicles and AEVs in price point and emissions reduction.

 

Do electric vehicles cause pollution? 

The short answer? Yes, but not in the same way–or to the same extent–as gas-powered cars. When you drive an electric vehicle, there are no tailpipe emissions. However, direct pollution from driving is only one aspect to consider; when assessing the environmental impact of a car, it's also important to evaluate well-to-wheel emissions (ie, the pollution produced from generating fuel) and overall lifecycle emissions (ie, pollution throughout a vehicle's lifetime, including manufacturing).

Well-to-wheel emissions

If you have an EV and charge it with electricity from the grid, you're likely charging it with electricity that comes from fossil fuels (the exact electrical mix depends on your location). However, even though the majority of our grid-produced electricity comes from fossil fuels, EVs still pollute less over the same driving distance than gas-powered vehicles. EVs are also far more fuel efficient than gas-powered vehicles: according to the Department of Energy, EVs convert   77 percent of the electrical energy into movement , whereas gas-powered vehicles only convert up to 30 percent of the energy stored in gas into movement .

Lifecycle emissions

Manufacturing parts and components to build any type of vehicle causes pollution. While it's difficult to do a full lifecycle analysis of pollution caused by each vehicle type,  a study  conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that the production of EVs generates greater emissions than gas-powered vehicles due to the high energy requirements for producing batteries. However, over their lifetime, EVs still only produce about half the emissions as their gas-powered counterparts.

The difference in overall emissions is because electric vehicles do not produce tailpipe emissions during their life and also because the emissions from producing and using the electricity to run an EV are fewer than emissions from the same process for gasoline. So, although the initial emissions are greater for EVs, the day-to-day emissions are significantly less and contribute to lower total emissions over time. As the United States' electrical mix gets cleaner, the lifecycle emissions gap between gas-powered vehicles and EVs will continue to grow.

 

 

How much do EVs cost?

The lower emissions and higher efficiency of electric vehicles come at an upfront price premium. However, electric vehicles also require less maintenance costs and fuel costs over their lifetime than gas-powered vehicles.

Upfront costs

Before incentives, the upfront cost of most EVs ranges from $30,000 for the most basic models to over $100,000 for luxury models, with  popular models  typically costing between $30,000 and $50,000. Generally, AEVs and PHEVs are fairly similar in price, and both cost slightly more than comparable gas-powered vehicles.

Maintenance costs

EVs have substantially  lower maintenance  requirements than gas-powered vehicles. This stems from differences in engine composition, including fewer fluids that require maintenance and fewer moving parts within the engine that can wear down. Additionally, EVs have reduced brake wear due to regenerative braking, and the battery, motor, and associated electrical components typically require less maintenance than comparable components in gas-powered vehicles.

Fuel costs

Typically, charging up an EV is less expensive than fueling a gas-powered vehicle. A  2020 survey  by AAA found that the average annual fuel cost for a compact EV was $546, while the annual cost of fueling a gas-powered vehicle was $1,255 based on a 15,000-mile average annual mileage.

Note: If you'd like to compare the fuel efficiency and cost for different vehicles, you may find the Department of Energy's  side-by-side comparison tool  useful!

 

 

What incentives are available for EVs?

The Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Tax Credit  is the best federal incentive available for EV purchases (and both AEVs and PHEVs qualify!). Thanks to this program, you can receive a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 in the year you purchase an EV. However, not every vehicle qualifies for this credit: your EV must have a battery that has at least 4-kilowatt hours (kWh) of capacity, use an external plug-in source to recharge, and have a vehicle weight rating of up to 14,000 pounds in order to be eligible for this incentive. Certain manufacturers have also reached their cap for incentive claims.

 

 

Does my EV qualify for the  tax credit?

The one downer for EV drivers is the government's decision to introduce road tax for electric vehicles from 2025. Road tax is based on weight and electric cars' heavy batteries mean road tax will mount up to €80 per month. But  at least in 2024, you wont pay any taxes for EVs.

 

What is the average range of an EV?

The range that EVs can travel on a single charge has increased substantially in recent years, but this range still varies substantially by model. The table below breaks down some of the most popular EVs and their respective ranges:

 

How long does it take to charge an EV?