Electric Vehicles

With electric vehicles (EVs) rapidly becoming more widely available, we’ve provided some information to help you decide if an EV is right for you.

Electric-powered vehicles aren’t a new technology. They have been around for more than a century. In the 1890s, electric cars were more popular than gas-powered automobiles because o their simplicity, reliability, and low cost of operation. Did you know that Henry Ford’s wife drove an electric vehicle? However, for various reasons, electric vehicle technology languished as gas-powered automobiles took precedence. Today though, electric vehicles are moving to the forefront of auto transportation.
We’re most familiar with conventional combustion-engine vehicles but this list ranges from most to least amount of fossil-fuel used in operation:
  • Conventional Vehicles have an internal combustion engine, the most common fuels are gasoline and diesel.
  • Hybrid Vehicles (HEVs) have both a gasoline engine and an electric motor and battery; both gas and electricity power the wheels. The electric motor and battery are designed to improve fuel economy so less gasoline is used to operate the vehicle. The battery is charged solely by operating the vehicle; plug-in is not required or possible.
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have larger batteries than hybrids and use both gas and electricity to power the wheels of the car. These vehicles vary in their electric range but shift to gasoline-only operation when battery power is depleted. These vehicles must be plugged in to recharge the battery.
  • Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are powered solely by electricity and are recharged by plugging in the vehicle.

There are safety features built into electric vehicles and charging equipment. The charging cable is not live while you handle it, only when the cable is connected to the vehicle. The charger senses that the connection is properly made before the electric current is turned on. Also, the charger has a ground-fault interrupter (GFI). To prevent shocks, charging stops immediately if even a few milli-amps of current leak.

Important information if you are purchasing a plug-in electric vehicle (EV)

Electric vehicles offer an increasingly attractive option to reduce the cost of “filling up” and America’s dependency on foreign oil.

If you are considering the purchase of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PEV) or an All-Electric vehicle (EV) we’ve listed links to several websites below that provide helpful information:

GoElectricDrive.org
plugincars.com
fueleconomy.gov
energy.gov
plugstar.com

If you’ve decided an electric vehicle is right for you, you’ll also need to consider “what’s the best way to charge your new car.” Charging needs depend on a number of factors; such as vehicle type, driving distance, frequency between trips, etc…

Electric car charging is simple, cost-effective and convenient, particularly when you are plugged in at home—filling up your car even while you’re asleep. How long it takes to charge depends on the charging equipment and the size of the car’s battery and its available charging capacity.

Although electric car drivers primarily charge at home, workplace and public chargers are increasingly available in communities nationwide. Below you will find chargers in our area.