Electric Vehicle Benefits and Considerations

All forms of new energy vehicles help improve fuel economy, reduce fuel costs and reduce emissions.

The U.S. became a net oil exporter in 2020, exporting more than it imported, although imports of 7.86 million barrels per day remain an important part of balancing supply and demand in domestic and foreign markets. Overall, the transportation sector accounts for approximately 30% of total U.S. energy demand and 70% of U.S. oil consumption. Support the U.S. economy and help diversify the U.S. transportation fleet with more energy-efficient vehicles such as hybrid and electric vehicles. Multiple fuel sources for power generation provide safer energy for the electrified portion of the transportation sector. All of this increases our nation's energy security.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) typically use less fuel than similar conventional vehicles because they employ electric drive technology to increase vehicle efficiency through regenerative braking – recovering energy that would otherwise be lost during braking. Both plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and fully electric vehicles, also known as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), are capable of being powered solely by electricity, which in the United States produces energy from natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, hydro, and solar.

Although the energy cost of an electric vehicle is generally lower than that of a similar conventional vehicle, the purchase price can be much higher. As production ramps up and battery technology continues to mature, prices could be on par with conventional cars. Additionally, the initial cost can be offset by fuel cost savings, federal tax credits, and state and utility incentives. The federally eligible plug-in electric vehicle tax credit can be used to purchase electric vehicles from manufacturers that have not met certain vehicle sales thresholds.

It offers a tax credit of $2,500 to $7,500 on new purchases, depending on the size of the vehicle and the capacity of the battery. Some states and power companies also offer incentives, many of which can be found in the Laws and Incentives Database. 

Use the Vehicle Cost Calculator to compare the lifecycle cost of ownership of electric and conventional vehicles across models.

Electric vehicles can significantly reduce fuel costs due to the high efficiency of electrically driven components. Because all-electric vehicles and PHEVs rely in whole or in part on electricity, their fuel economy is measured differently than conventional vehicles. Miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) and kilowatt-hours per 100 miles (kWh) are commonly used metrics. Depending on how they're driven, today's light-duty all-electric vehicles (or PHEVs in electric mode) can exceed 130MPGe and travel 100 miles while consuming only 25-40kWh.

The fuel economy of medium- and heavy-duty all-electric vehicles and PHEVs is highly dependent on the load and duty cycle carried, but in the right application, all-electric vehicles maintain a strong fuel cost advantage over their conventional counterparts.

All-electric vehicles and PHEVs have the advantage of flexible charging because the grid is close to most places where people park. To safely transfer energy from the grid to the vehicle battery, a charging station, sometimes called an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), is required. Drivers can charge overnight at the residential, multi-family, workplace, or public charging stations (if available). PHEVs add flexibility as they can also be refueled with gasoline or diesel (or possibly other fuels in the future) if necessary.

Public charging stations are not as ubiquitous as gas stations. Charging equipment manufacturers, automakers, utilities, the Clean Cities Alliance, municipalities and government agencies are rapidly building a nationwide network of public charging stations. According to the Alternative Fueling Station Locator, by 2021, the number of public charging stations will reach more than 41,000, offering more than 100,000 charging locations.

Electric and hybrid vehicles offer significant emissions advantages over conventional vehicles. All-electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, while PHEVs produce no tailpipe emissions when operating in all-electric mode. HEV emissions benefits vary by vehicle model and hybrid system type.

Life-cycle emissions from electric vehicles depend on the source of electricity used to charge them and vary by region. In geographic areas that use relatively low-polluting energy sources to generate electricity, electric vehicles often have lifecycle emissions advantages over similar conventional vehicles that run on gasoline or diesel. In regions that rely heavily on conventional power generation, EVs may not exhibit strong lifecycle emissions benefits. Use the Power and Emissions tool to compare lifecycle emissions across vehicle models at a given location.

Advanced batteries in electric vehicles are designed to last longer, but eventually, wear out. Several EV manufacturers offer 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranties. Data from the Predictive Modelling (PDF) National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests that today's batteries can last 12 to 15 years in mild climates (8 to 12 years in extreme climates).

The above briefly describes the benefits and precautions of electric vehicles. If you want to buy a new energy vehicle, please contact us.

Yitongda is a professional used car comprehensive service provider. We are committed to building the largest used car export industry foreign trade base in central and southern China and an important window for China-Africa electromechanical exports. As of August 15, the export orders for used cars and construction machinery reached 1,034 units this year, with a total export value of 16.95 million US dollars. Products are mainly exported to more than 30 countries and regions in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America, Russia, etc., including new energy vehicles (pure electric and hybrid), gas vehicles, commercial vehicles, excavators, concrete pump trucks, semi-trailers, tractors, dump trucks, graders, loaders and other categories.