Making the Transition to an Electric Vehicle

The median range of an electric vehicle with a fully charged battery is roughly 250 miles. Same page link to footnote reference ¹ With approximately 46,000 public charging stations across the United States, simple commuting and long-distance travel are both possible in most electric vehicles. Same page link to footnote reference ²

The short answer is no, EVs can be charged anywhere you can find an outlet. However, for city dwellers living in a high-rise apartment complex, townhome, or any other form of multi-family housing, home charging will require additional planning. As electric vehicles continue to become more common, newer buildings are more likely to offer home charging options for residents driving electric vehicles. Same page link to footnote reference ³

However, if you live in a high-rise apartment with a parking garage that does not provide access to a home charging option, you can discuss with building management the practicality and possibility of installing home charging equipment on building grounds. Certain states and cities offer programs that will help cover the costs associated with the installation of home charging in your parking lot, and strategies such as assigned parking for EV owners can make home charging convenient and easy for residents. Same page link to footnote reference ⁴

Other options for EV owners without a garage include finding a supercharging station close to home, charging at a location close to work, or working with your employer to coordinate a charging station on company grounds.

EV maintenance costs are typically lower than conventional automobiles. EV owners save an average of $4,600 in repair and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle compared with a gasoline-powered car. Same page link to footnote reference ⁵

Selecting a location for electric vehicle repairs depends on the make and model of the car and the nature of the issue. For standard repairs such as rotating tires, inspecting the suspension, or replacing cabin filters and wiper blades, any local shop can be of service. Same page link to footnote reference ⁶ However, for issues relating to the EV battery or other EV technology, you should bring your car to your local dealership or other qualified mechanic.

An electric car will typically add anywhere from $30-$60 to your monthly electric bill. Same page link to footnote reference ⁷

Electric vehicles tend to cost marginally more to insure than equivalent gas-powered cars. Same page link to footnote reference ⁸ That’s because insurers do not have long-standing risk assessment data for electric vehicles, as they do for gas-powered vehicles. Same page link to footnote reference ⁹

There are roughly 46,000 charging stations in the United States. Most are condensed in highly populated urban areas, but there are public charging stations available in all 50 states. Same page link to footnote reference ¹⁰ To find chargers when planning your next roadtrip, visit this mapping tool that will show you all chargers on your route along with real-time availability.

The average price of an electric vehicle is approximately $56,000. Same page link to footnote reference ¹¹ This is higher than the average price of a traditional new car, which is approximately $47,000. Same page link to footnote reference ¹²

The federal government currently offers a $7,500 rebate off the cost of a fully-electric car, and plug-in hybrids are eligible for a portion of that rebate, depending on their electric driving range. This rebate is available for the first 200,000 qualified EVs sold by each manufacturer, and then winds down over time.

There may be additional rebates and discounts offered by your state, local municipality, or local electricity provider. These may include additional rebates off the cost of the car, rebates on home charging systems, discounts on electric charging rates or perks like preferred parking or carpool lane access.

Discover the savings you may be eligible for using this incentive look-up tool.

In the U.S., the average cost of a kilowatt of energy is approximately 13 cents. Same page link to footnote reference ¹³ If you drive 1,000 miles a month, the cost to fuel your electric vehicle will be just over $30. However, the cost to charge an EV is dependent on many factors, including your location, vehicle and power source. Charging at home and charging with a public charger also have different costs.

The median range of an electric vehicle with a fully charged battery is roughly 250 miles. Same page link to footnote reference ¹⁴ If you run out of power in an electric vehicle, the car will simply stop moving. Similar to a gas-powered car being towed to a nearby gas station, an electric car can be towed to the nearest charging station to recharge. Same page link to footnote reference ¹⁵

PHEVs are Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and they have both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor that is charged by plugging it into an outlet. Same page link to footnote reference ¹⁶ Some PHEVs operate on electricity until the battery is nearly empty, and then switch over to their gas-powered engine. Other PHEVs—sometimes called “blended mode” PHEVs—use gasoline and electricity simultaneously to power the vehicle while the battery has charge. Either way, PHEVs are able to run on gasoline alone, even when the electric battery is fully depleted.