Electric Vehicles

What are EVs?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are vehicles that use one or multiple electric motors powered by a rechargeable battery. EVs can significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
There are two main types of EVs on the market:
  • Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV)
  • Battery electric vehicles (BEV)
PHEVs use both an ICE and electric motor to power your vehicle while a BEV uses only a battery motor. PHEVS can run on battery alone, often at ranges around 30 to 40 miles. BEVs have become the most popular type of EV, outselling PHEVs in NJ since 2018. The average battery range of a BEV as of 2020 is 250 miles.

Benefits of EV Adoption

On top of being more environmentally friendly, EVs have other surprising benefits you may not think about!

Less Expensive to Fuel

EVs have much lower fuel costs on average than conventional gasoline-fueled vehicles. Overall, electricity has a more stable price and is less expensive than gasoline.

Less Maintenance

BEVs have much simpler drivetrains than an ICE vehicle, so there are less parts to break. EVs also use the motor’s resistance to slow down, reducing wear on brake pads and rotors. Best of all, electric motors do not require oil changes!

More Space

An engine and fuel tank take up a lot of space. In a BEV, the electric motors and the battery are under- neath the car and not under the hood, freeing up space to allow for roomier interiors and extra storage.

Performance

BEVs are fun to drive! Torque delivery (what actually makes the car go) is linear, meaning you get the maximum power from the get go! A Nissan Leaf goes 0-60 in 7 seconds. That’s half a second faster than a 1967 Mustang GT!

Range Anxiety

One of the biggest barriers to EV adoption is range anxiety. Range anxiety is the fear of running out of battery charge before getting to a destination. Virtually any EV currently on the market has the necessary range to easily handle everyday driving. An American Automobile Association (AAA) survey finds that the average person drives 31.5 miles per day. The average range of BEVs in 2020 reached 250 miles per charge, meaning a typical driver will not often have to worry about charging while on the road before arriving home.
A Volvo and Harris Poll survey found that prior to purchasing an EV, current owners overestimated how often they would need to charge somewhere other than at home. Among EV owners polled, 65% had range anxiety prior to purchase, but found that fear disappeared after a few months. In fact, according to the US Department of Energy, 80% of EV charging is done at home.

Overcoming Range Anxiety

As of 2020, from most locations in New Jersey, at worst, you are within a 25-mile radius of a DC Fast Charger. While this is a good start, drivers want to see more public charging infrastructure to instill confidence that they can switch to an EV. Charging stations in visible and convenient locations is the best way to address a prospective EV buyer’s fears. In most parts of New Jersey, a gas station is often no more than a few miles away.
For those who still have concerns, a plug-in hybrid may be the way to go since it has a gas powered engine as a back-up source of power that will not leave you stranded

Charging Station Types

Not all EV chargers are created equal. Some charge faster, while others are better suited for overnight charging. Here is an overview of charger types.
  • Level 1 – Refers to simply plugging into a normal 120 volt outlet found at home. Adds 2-5 miles of range per hour
  • Level 2 – Adds 10-20 miles of range per hour. Good for use at offices and places an EV will be parked for a few hours
  • DC Fast Charger (Level 3) – Adds 60-80 miles of range per 20 minutes of charging time. These include Tesla stations, however Tesla stations are only compatible with their vehicles, though Teslas can charge at any Level 3 station
Ready for your next commute to be electric? Are you a business that wants to install an EV charging station? Contact Cross County Connection and we can help you get started?
Also check out our EV programs for local governments to see how your town can become EV friendly.

Resources

Find out more information about EV technology and infrastructure in Cross County Connection’s EV Primer, EV Resource Guide and SJ EV Map.

In addition to our EV primer, the resources below provide a good overview of EVs:

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