Electricity/Plug-ins
Electricity can be used to power electric or hybrid electric vehicles directly from a power grid, with power being stored in the vehicle’s batteries. Many electric vehicles (EVs) can be powered and charged by a simple electric outlet found in the home, increasing our energy independence. Electricity fueling costs for EVs are reasonable compared to gasoline, especially if consumers take advantage of off-peak rates. However, electricity costs vary across the US depending on location and time of use. An electric vehicle has a 50-mile range. Seen by some as a limitation, this short range fits well into the driving lifestyle of an average city or suburb dweller driving 30-40 miles on a usual day. Emissions are produced from electricity generation but the vehicles themselves produce no tailpipe emissions.
A gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle (hybrid) has a conventional internal combustion engine plus one or more electric motors to assist in propelling the vehicle. The electric motor is supplied with electricity from the battery pack and the battery is charged from an onboard generator and regenerative braking. The batteries in hybrid vehicles are expected to be longer-lived than those in purely electric vehicles. Hybrid vehicles could also potentially use other fuels besides gasoline, like ethanol, biodiesel, or natural gas. HEVs can travel approximately 40 to 70 miles on a gallon of gas, depending on the make and model.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (plug-in hybrids) are similar to hybrids but, due to larger battery packs, are able to travel some distances using only battery-supplied power. Plug-in hybrids have double the fuel economy of hybrid vehicles. An average plug-in hybrid can travel about 100 miles on electric power, achieves up to 100 miles per gallon, and is recharged by plugging the vehicle into a standard outlet. Plug-in hybrids are not yet mass-produced but some custom manufacturers will convert a hybrid electric vehicle to a plug-in hybrid.
More Resources
- To learn more about electricity as a fuel, please visit the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuel Data Center.
- For electric charging stations near you, please visit the Alternative Fuel Data Center's station locator.
- For more information on hybrids, visit the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data Center or HybridCars.com.