Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), also sometimes referred to as Plugin Electric Vehicles (PEVs), run completely on electricity stored in batteries and have an electric motor rather than a gasoline engine. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) combine two propulsion modes in one vehicle: a battery-powered electric motor that can be plugged in and recharged and a gasoline engine that can be refueled with gasoline.

MPGe stands for Miles Per Gallon Electric. This is a unit derived from the EPA to describe fuel economy for EVs, and it is based off of the estimate that one gallon of gasoline is equivalent to 33.7 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

EVs produce no tailpipe emissions. Even when considering the electricity generation to charge the battery, EV emissions are still typically less than those for gasoline cars—particularly if the electricity is generated from renewable energy sources like wind, solar, or hydro. Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) produce tailpipe emissions when gasoline is being used as a fuel source.

More than 50% of the lithium-ion battery used in most BEVs can be recycled. Once the batteries are no longer usable for BEVs, they often retain 70-80% of their charge capacity which allows them to be reusable for storage needs such as projects supporting clean and renewable power.

Yes.  Most vehicles will charge in the evening, when there is less demand.

Most dealerships either have electric vehicles on their lots or are able to get them in a reasonable amount of time.

The initial cost of a BEV may be higher than comparable cars.  However, when you take into consideration the total cost of ownership, you may actually come out ahead.  The purchase price differential continues to narrow between electric-powered and gas-powered vehicles.

For most Americans, the average daily miles driven is less than 30. The average range of a full-electric vehicle is around 200 miles on a single, full charge.

The safety and reliability standards BEVs offer are equal to or better than traditional vehicles. They are held to the same national safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration that gasoline-powered vehicles are held.  There are electrical and safety standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Working Council that BEVs must adhere to also. The charging equipment is evaluated and tested by certified and independent labs (i.e. Underwriters Laboratories and Edison Testing Laboratories).

BEVs can save owners 100% on oil; 35% on scheduled maintenance, and 30% on repairs compared to gas-powered cars.

Studies would indicate electric vehicles are here to stay.  Sales of electrified vehicles — particularly plug-in hybrids and full battery electrics — are growing faster than expected, according to a recent study from Boston Consulting Group.

Electrified vehicles — which stand at about 8 percent of global sales — will account for a third of sales by 2025, according to a report released this month, up from the company's previously forecast one-fourth of sales.

EV sales are expected to surpass internal-combustion-engine vehicle sales by 2030, taking 51 percent of the market.

This uptick in sales comes as traditional and new automakers have more than 100 electric vehicle models in the pipeline over the next three years. Automakers have committed $300 billion to EV development.

Electric utilities across the U.S. and other third-parties continue to invest in vehicle charging infrastructure.

Your electric bill will go up, but that will be more than offset by how much you save at the gas pump. Depending on your driving patterns, your BEV may get the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon or more. This is equal to getting a few cents per mile compared to around 14 cents per mile in a traditional car.

Actual savings will depend on the current car you drive and your daily driving habits.

Each state is different, but many add an alternative fuel charge to the annual registration. 

You may email electric.vehicles@libertyutilities.com.

More information about EVs can be found at fueleconomy.gov.  There you can compare different vehicles side by side and even to their gas counterparts.  In addition, you will find information about available tax incentives and upcoming models.