A U.S. Consumer's Guide to Electric Vehicles
A U.S. CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES FEBRUARY 2018 Today’s Choices in Cars Electric cars offer consumers afford- able, efficient, and high-tech trans- portation. More models, including crossovers, minivans, hatchbacks, and sedans, become available every year. Today, new-car buyers can choose from about 40 models. By 2022, about ELECTRIC VEHICLES 90 electric vehicles are projected. Plug-in electric vehicles have batteries that recharge by An expanding nationwide charging plugging into the electricity grid. There are two main network enables more consumers to types. Plug-in hybrids are powered by an electric motor(s) consider electric cars, although most and battery, paired with an internal combustion engine. drivers still prefer to charge at home Battery electric vehicles, also called all-electric vehicles, due to convenience and savings over are powered by an electric motor and battery alone, and time. At the U.S. national average never use gasoline. price of 12.5 cents per kilowatt-hour Plug-in hybrid designs differ. Most drive on electricity alone (kWh), electricity is roughly equivalent using battery energy, and after the battery is discharged, to gasoline at $1 a gallon. Plus, many continue driving using gasoline much like conventional hybrids. (Conventional hybrids have a smaller battery and electricity providers offer special elec- do not plug in.) On average, plug-in hybrids can travel tric vehicle rates. 10 to 50 miles on electricity before they switch to Displacing gasoline with domestic elec- gasoline. Their gas tanks extend total range to between tricity cuts petroleum use and emissions, 300 and 600 miles.
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