Powered by electricity instead of gasoline, electric vehicles are simply a better way to drive. They are more powerful, deliver a clean and quiet ride, and easily save you money over time compared to gas cars.
This helpful guide is designed to familiarize you with the basics of electric vehicles. Keep scrolling to discover more.
Sometimes called “all-electric” or “pure-electric” vehicles (as opposed to hybrids), battery electric vehicles run on electricity stored in battery packs that are recharged when plugged into a charging station.
Just like with gas-powered vehicles, you’ll need to “refuel” every once in a while. Today many new EV models get up to 200–300+ miles on a single charge. That means the average commute to and from work in Indianapolis should be a breeze.
While you’ll never have to stop at another gas station again (unless you need a few snacks for the road) you will still need to “fuel” your vehicle. Whether it’s at one of thousands of chargers across the nation (including many offices, grocery stores, and public parking facilities) or simply plugging in when you get home, “filling up” with electricity has never been easier.
Filling up used to mean finding a gas station and waiting there while you filled. With EVs you now have more options for where you fill up. You can still get your “electric fuel” at one of the over 30,000 public charging stations nationwide when you’re on the road, but you can also charge at work, while you shop, or even from the comfort of your own home.
With widely available public fast charging stations and increasingly high miles-per-charge, you can hit the open road knowing there is a way to fuel on the journey.
Whether it’s a long trip on the highway or a day spent running errands in town, there are over 30,000 public chargers in the US (and growing by the day) that you can stop at to fill up. Many public store and offices also have their own chargers, so while you shop for groceries or hold a meeting your EV can be filling up while it is parked.
Rather than making those extra trips to the gas station, you can simply plug in your EV at home before slipping into your favorite pair of sweatpants and binging your favorite TV show.
There are two ways you charge up: Standard and Fast. Standard charging is what you might typically have at home or work. These are lower level chargers that fill up your car slowly when it is parked for a long time. For road trips along the highway or a quick fill up away from home, higher level Fast Chargers can provide faster fill up times when you need it.
The different types of chargers all have a number rating that tells you how much power they offer your EV. Standard Levels 1 and 2 are the slowest and cheapest way to fill up, while Fast Charging Levels (3 to 7) offer more power as the level number increases.
While EVs are known for being environmentally friendly they also pack a performance punch. EVs come equipped with some of the latest and greatest features on the market, driving range that competes with gas-powered cars, and all-weather dependability that gets you where you need to go.
Oh, and did we mention 0-60 times that can make a supercar nervous?
You may have heard people talking about “instant torque.” With electric motors, power goes directly from the battery to the tires. No waiting for spark plugs, air, gas and a transmission to get tires to move. Electricity from your battery instantly gets your wheels moving giving EVs super quick acceleration. Go ahead! Test drive an EV today to see what we mean:
EVs are reliable cars for all of your driving needs year round. No matter the weather, you’ll be ready to drive powered by electricity with confidence. Even better, many EVs are offered in all-wheel drive thanks to their design, giving you better handling and performance in poor weather conditions.
Unlike gasoline-powered vehicles, EVs begin slowing down the moment you let off the accelerator. The electric motor helps slow you down creating extra electricity that goes back into your battery. Not only does this help recharge batteries a little while you drive, it also saves you money because your brake pads are used far less.
Does your gas power create more gas while you drive? Nope! Electric fuel is awesome.
We all shop for new cars the same way: How much will it cost? When you add up your monthly payment, fuel, maintenance, and more, EVs are often less expensive than equivalent gas cars. Here are a few ways that purchasing an EV can help you save in the long run.
Will buying a gas car help you save money on your taxes? Nope. The EV federal tax credit applies to most EVs available today, saving you money on your taxes. Plus, many local EV rebates and credits are often available.
EVs don’t require the same maintenance as gas-powered vehicles. Fewer parts means cash in your pocket. No more oil changes, spark plugs, belts, and filters. While all of those have small price tags individually, over the life of your vehicle that will add up to big savings. What else would you buy if your car wasn’t costing you money all the time?
There’s another big bonus to spending less money on your car: Time. Instead of planning your life around trips to the gas station or figuring out how your car will get fixed, you can get on with more fun in your life. Because EVs require less maintenance and you can fill up at home, on the go, or at work, your car is now more ready to be part of your life like never before.
It’s simple: Electricity is a cheaper fuel than gasoline. On top of that, EVs are so efficient that gas-powered vehicles would need to increase their efficiency by over 50% just to catch up.
For example a trip to Cincinnati will cost you only $1.53 to fill up at home with electricity, but $8.80 in gasoline.*
*Comparing mpg of Chevy Malibu, gasoline at $2.20 and Tesla Model X, electricity at $1.12
Did you know that gas-powered vehicles are responsible for 45% of air pollution?
Because they use a cleaner fuel, not only do EVs produce zero emissions while driving, the electricity used to fuel them comes from renewable energy sources like solar and wind, meaning over their lifetimes they produce an 85% smaller carbon footprint than their gas-powered counterparts. Even better.