Gasoline-powered cars have been the norm for over 100 years, but electric vehicles (EVs) are starting to take over! EVs have electric motors, not internal combustion engines (ICEs). They run on electricity stored in a rechargeable battery, which can be plugged in similar to any electronic device.
Some electric cars are hybrids, meaning they run on both electricity and gas. The purpose of a hybrid is to be more environmentally friendly without losing the range of a gas-powered car. Still, as pure EV technology improves, no-gas cars are catching up to the range and convenience of ICEs, with many other benefits in-store as well.
Range of Electric Vehicles vs. Gas-Powered Cars
Long-range EVs can travel more than 200 miles on a single charge, while gas-powered cars need to be refilled about every 300 miles. Combined with regenerative braking, it’s easy to get around town without charging your EV every day. Even if you plan a road trip, the 54,000+ EV charging stations in North America make it easy to get where you’re going.
Recharging Electric Vehicles vs. Refueling Gas-Powered Cars
While it takes a matter of minutes to refuel a gas car, how quickly you can charge your EV depends on where you plug it in. Level 1 chargers can generate 4 miles of driving range per hour of charge time, while Level 2 chargers average 32 miles of range per hour. Public DC fast chargers take about 15 to 45 minutes to charge an EV 80% of the way.
Maintaining and Operating Electric Vehicles vs. Gas-Powered Cars
While EVs tend to cost more upfront, they are more cost-efficient in the long run, thanks to their lower maintenance and operating costs. First, electric vehicles don’t require oil changes, transmission work, and other standard maintenance.
Then, charging an electric car costs about half as much as filling up at the gas pump—less if you have solar panels or charge at free public stations! The eGallon price tool from the Department of Energy (DOE) shows you how much you can save based on local gasoline and electricity prices.
Selection of Electric Vehicles vs. Gas-Powered Cars
Currently, there are only around 30 purely electric vehicle models to choose from, with many hybrid gasoline/electric options available as well. EVs only represent about 3% of all vehicle sales worldwide, but the market is growing fast. Indeed, US car buyers bought nearly 330,000 electric cars in 2018, a 75% year-over-year increase, proving that mass adoption of EVs is underway.