Plug-In Electric Vehicles
A plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) is a vehicle that can be recharged from an external source of electricity, store electricity in the rechargeable batteries and use the stored energy to power the vehicle. It can also be considered a vehicle that uses electricity as its primary fuel or uses electricity in collaboration with a conventional engine to improve efficiency. PEVs come in two primary configurations: battery-powered electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVS).
Battery Duration
Battery-powered electric vehicles travel distances vary by model. They can travel approximately 70 to 245 miles on one charge. PHEVs typically have smaller batteries and a shorter all-electric range, approximately 10 to 50 miles, but have a backup gasoline engine to increase range.
Charging an Electric Vehicle
Today, 80% of charging is completed at residential locations and 20% at other locations. An AC level 2 charging station is recommended for residential usage with a 240-volt circuit. Typical charging rates are up to 25 electric miles per hour. DC fast-charging stations, found at non-residential locations, can provide fast and convenient charging with the ability to charge a vehicle’s battery to 80% capacity in 30 minutes or less, depending on the size of the EVs battery. To find public charging stations, visit ChargePoint or PlugShare.
Electric Vehicle Advantages
- If you drive 12,000 miles in a year, an all-electric vehicle could save you more than $700 in fuel savings! Decreased maintenance needs can provide additional savings
- Unlike traditional engines, plug-in electric vehicles are powered by electricity – Conventional transportation is wholly dependent on petroleum and results in the U.S. spending more than $1 billion per day on foreign oil – Electricity generation in the United States uses a diverse mix of domestic sources
- Much quieter to operate, many electric vehicles have a gearless or single gear design that eliminates gear shifting, thus providing smoother acceleration and braking