Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered either fully or partially by electricity and store the electricity in batteries. There are three types of EVs: battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have electric motors powered by a battery. BEVs must be plugged into an electric power source to charge. Because they are entirely electric dependent and do not use gasoline, they produce zero tailpipe emissions. BEVs examples include the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, Chevy Bolt, and Audi e-tron S.

charging_redcarPlug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) contain both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. They can be powered purely by electricity, fueled completely by gasoline, or a combination of the two. PHEVs are charged by plugging into an electric power source and filled up at a gas station to refuel. PHEV models include the Mitsubishi Outlander, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, and the Kia Niro PHEV.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have an internal combustion engine that runs on conventional gasoline or alternative fuels. While HEVs are powered in part by electricity, the electric energy is generated via the braking system and therefore does not need to be plugged into an electric power source. HEVs only need to refuel at the gas station to refill the gas tank. Toyota Prius is an example of an HEV.

Cost Savings and Reduced Maintenance: Cost savings come to EV drivers through fuel and maintenance costs. EVs are less expensive to charge because electricity rates are lower than gasoline prices. Additionally, EV maintenance costs can be up to 50% less than gas-powered cars. Compared to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, EVs have less maintenance requirements. EVs have fewer moving parts and don’t require oil changes, tune-ups, cooling system flushes, and other common maintenance services needed for traditional vehicles.

Lower Emissions: In Cincinnati, greenhouse gas emissions caused by the transportation sector accounts for 31% of total emissions. EVs do not emit tailpipe emissions, making them a cleaner option to operate compared to gasoline or diesel vehicles- especially if charged with renewable energy. Lower emissions lead to better local air quality.