The acronym ev’’ stands for electric vehicle, and the term encompasses all vehicles powered at least partly by electricity. This includes battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than traditional cars so they require less maintenance and can achieve superior acceleration. They also use electricity instead of liquid fuel to power their motors, which produces fewer direct emissions. EVs can be charged at home, at public charging stations or on the go.
The range, or distance an EV can travel on a full charge, varies according to the size and chemistry of its battery. Lithium batteries offer the longest range. EV owners can increase their range in winter by using a heat pump or planning their trips accordingly. Automakers and battery designers are working on new chemistries and technologies that will give EVs even greater range and reduce cold weather issues.
Tesla 2024 Model S: What’s New in the Latest Model
An EV’s charging options include AC slow chargers, DC fast chargers and Level 3 home chargers. AC chargers provide, on average, 30 miles of range per hour and can be found in many parking garages, near gas stations and at some homes. DC fast chargers can add 10 miles of range per minute and are typically found in public charging stations, some EV service centers and some workplaces.
As EV adoption accelerates, concerns are growing about the strain on local power grids. McKinsey research shows that managed charging, which includes incentives for customers to charge at off-peak times and moves to enable utilities to turn charging on or off for individual drivers based on real-time demand, can help minimize this impact.