HOW MANY MILES DOES A TYPICAL EV GET PER CHARGE?

The driving range of Battery electrics (BEVs) and plug in hybrid electrics (PHEVs) vary greatly depending upon the design and/or cost. Most BEVs have a range of between 114 and 315 miles depending upon model. They must be recharged when the battery gets low, which can be done at home (typically overnight while you sleep) or more quickly using a public fast charging station. PHEVs typically have a much shorter range (often the distance of a daily commute) as they seamlessly switch to a full tank of gasoline if the battery gets low, typically for use on long trips. Today’s PHEVs have a battery range between 14 and 114 miles. When operating in hybrid mode, they also get better gas mileage than comparable gasoline only vehicles.

 IS A BEV OR PHEV RIGHT FOR ME?

The most important question to answer to see if a plug-in car is right for you is: Do you have dedicated access to a place to charge, preferably at home overnight, or secondarily at work? The second important question is: Which model of plug-in vehicle meets my functional needs for passenger and cargo space, and other functionality you might require? Therefore, which electric car you’ll want, whether a BEV or PHEV, depends on how many miles you typically drive per day, what types of long trips you plan to take in your vehicle, and what vehicle features are important for you. Answering these three personal questions before car shopping will also lead you to the electric models that best fit your lifestyle and needs. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE A CAR TO CHARGE?

It depends on the car’s capability and what level charger is being used. Most charging is done overnight, so the charging speed in that case is not very important. The amount of your time that’s required is only a few seconds to plug the car in, and then it’s typically back to a full charge before you even wake up. Total time using home Level 2 charging is typically 4 to 8 hours from “empty” (typically adding around 25 miles of range per hour of charging), and less if topping off from higher state of charge. The second most common place to charge is at the workplace. Since most people are at work for 7 or more hours, the time to charge is also not typically a concern.

The third most common charging happens at a place you can catch an “Opportunity Charge”: Typically, a shopping area, restaurant, or recreation destination where you’d already planned to visit for one or more hours. Already numbering in the tens of thousands, more Workplace Charging and Opportunity Charging sites are being added every year. These Level 2 charging sites add 12 to 70 miles of range per hour, depending upon the vehicle and station type.

In other situations, such as charging in public or at a rest stop on a long trip, charge time can be important and is fastest when it is Level 3 charging, also known as DC fast charge. This type of charging can add up to 100 miles or more of range in 20-30 minutes, and improves with each new generation of vehicle and charging equipment. 

CAN I TAKE MY EV ON LONG TRIPS?

Choosing a PHEV (Plug in Hybrid Electric) means you can drive and refuel on any trip just as you do now, conveniently at the next gas station rest stop. But you can still charge up as well, whenever it’s convenient to do so. It’s the best of both worlds, as you can still drive electric miles every day while taking very long trips.

Choosing a BEV (Battery only Electric) means you’ll want to look for fast charging (also known as Level 3) along your route and/or overnight destination charging (such as hotels that have charging) where you’ll stay or plan your trips to look for fast chargers along the route.

Today’s fast charging can add from 60 up to 180 miles of range in under 30 minutes, depending on model and station. Recently, automakers are offering more and more higher range BEVs. Thousands of fast chargers and destination chargers are being added every year, and the next generation of fast charging coming in just a few years will add twice the range in half the time! To get a handy online map and mobile app to find charging station near you, visit PlugShare or install their mobile app. 

WHAT WOULD MY COST TO BUY OR LEASE BE?

In Massachusetts, an electric car can be as affordable to buy or lease as a comparable gas fueled car. This is due to the available state and federal incentives, combined with special local deals this Drive Electric program can connect you with.

Massachusetts State Rebate: The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) Program issues rebates to help MA drivers purchase or lease a new vehicle. Any Massachusetts resident is eligible for a rebate of up to $3,500 after the purchase or lease of an eligible electric vehicle.

CMLP DriveEV Rebate: Concord residents can get a rebate of up to $1,000 after the purchase or lease of a new or pre-owned plug-in electric vehicle.

Federal EV Tax  Credit: The federal  government also offers a tax credit for qualifying electric vehicles to qualifying tax payers. The tax credit offsets up to $7,500 of your tax liability for the year of purchase.

Local group-buy and dealer-incentive programs: There are additional local incentives that can lower the monthly payment costs even further, sometimes to under $200 a month and with no money down. In some cases, combined incentives can mean up to $15,000 off MSRP. To learn more about how to take advantage of each of these rebates, incentives and special offers, contact our EV Specialists at 833-443-8363, ev@concordma.gov or via the support request form.  

HOW MUCH WOULD I SAVE IN FUEL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS?

On average, the cost of electricity to charge and drive an electric car is significantly lower than gasoline. In areas served by a municipal electric utility, the average cost of this electric “fuel” is even lower! In addition, electric cars require far less regular maintenance than their gasoline only cousins, saving you hundreds more due to fewer or no oil changes, filters, belts, etc. Even the brakes on electrics last longer, thanks to regenerative braking.

In fact, over the life of an EV it will cost will significantly less than an average “economy” gasoline only car – by thousands of dollars! Just how much you’ll save depends on how many miles you drive a year and what vehicle you select. For a free assessment of your estimated personal cost savings, contact our EV Specialists at 833-443-8363, ev@concordma.gov or via the support request form. Or, try our online Drive & Save Wizard, which will help you create a customized 2-minute estimate of cost and carbon savings based on the plug-in vehicle that best fits your lifestyle.. 

CAN I EXPECT GOOD RELIABILITY FROM AN ELECTRIC CAR?

Electric cars are actually more reliable on average than their gasoline only counterparts. An electric vehicle’s motor has basically just one moving part, and most of the rest of the drive train uses solid state electronic devices with no moving parts, that require little or no maintenance for the life of the vehicle. Therefore, EVs require far less scheduled maintenance and are inherently more reliable because there are fewer mechanical systems to maintain or that could break down. EVs still require an annual safety inspection, but this only takes a few minutes because there is no exhaust system to analyze. 

WILL THE BATTERY PERFORM WELL FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR?

Every new electric car’s battery carries a minimum replacement warranty of up to 10 years or up to 150,000 miles. Several brands of plug-in electrics (BEVs and PHEVs) are already proving that they in fact will perform very well for hundreds of thousands of miles, and even go beyond the warranty period while showing very little to no noticeable loss of the original electric range.

DID YOU KNOW: There are already owners of multiple brands of EVs who have had their vehicle for over 10 years and put over 160,000 miles on the original battery? 

DOES AN ELECTRIC CAR PROVIDE ME WITH ENOUGH DRIVING POWER?

The amount of sheer acceleration that an electric car has will vary from model to model, but the universal truth is that electric cars typical have more instant power from a full stop, than a gasoline-only equivalent – in fact, often by 50% or more. This is because an electric motor reacts instantly and has more torque. 

IS AN ELECTRIC CAR AS SAFE AS THE CAR I DRIVE NOW?

Most electric cars have an overall 5-star crash safety rating from the Nation Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Any high voltage wires are colored bright orange, and most manufacturers install battery kill switches in easily accessible locations on their vehicles. First responders regularly complete training on hybrid and electric vehicles to ensure they know how to handle them. While any vehicle contains a large amount of potentially hazardous and/ or flammable energy in its “fuel” system, a typical gasoline only car has a greater amount of potential energy and higher volatility. In fact, a 2017 NHTSA study concluded the propensity and severity of fires and explosions from battery electric cars are “expected to be less because of the much smaller amounts of flammable solvent released and burning in a catastrophic failure situation.” (Lithium-ion Battery Safety Issues for Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles, NHTSA, 2017). 

HOW MUCH LOWER ARE THE EMISSIONS ON AN ELECTRIC CAR?

According to EPA power plant data for New England electricity generation, driving electric already reduces carbon emissions by at least 70% versus driving a comparable gasoline only vehicle. Emissions impacts have also been assessed independently as significantly lower by several prominent institutions. 

WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRIC CAR AND ITS BATTERY?

The Union of Concerned Scientists concluded in its 2015 analysis that even accounting for the impacts of battery manufacturing, EVs already reduce life cycle emissions by at least 50%. While any manufactured product has a variety of potential environmental and social impacts, the batteries used in electric cars do not contain any toxic materials nor any rare-earth metals, and are increasingly being incorporated into end of automotive life reuse and/or recycling programs. In addition, automakers and battery manufacturers are increasing their supply chain diligence to ensure that battery raw materials are responsibly sourced from areas with ethical labor and environmental practices. Read more about the Responsible Minerals Initiative.

WHO CAN I CALL IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Contact our EV Specialists at 833-443-8363, ev@concordma.gov or via the support request form.