Electric Drive Cars

see Reducing Emissions on the Cheap after the section on Electric Drive Vehicle Types, on this page.

Electric drive vehicles have been around since the mid 19th century (see, for example: https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-electric-car ). When oil was found in the early 20th century, it soon supplanted electric autos because oil was easier to store on-board as compared to using the still rudimentary battery technology of that time. Of course, at that time, the tremendous environmental toll of using fossil fuels was not understood.

The modern era of electric drive vehicles was pushed along by the realization that burning fossil fuels is not sustainable for life on earth. Technologically, what really helped the development of electric drive vehicles was the effort to build batteries that hold a good charge for portable computers and cellphones. These battery technologies then migrated to the new generation of electric-drive vehicles. And with most everyone getting used to plugging in devices to re-charge them, this experience is also making it easier to migrate auto users from visiting gas stations to plugging in their vehicle when necessary. Both the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid auto, the Volt, and the first mass-produced all-electric auto, the Leaf, started selling in 2010. Because plug-in electric vehicles have now been sold for over a decade, there are plenty of "pre-owned" plug-ins available at much lower cost than brand-new plug-in vehicles.

ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLE TYPES

Standard gas-electric hybrid (sometimes referred to as a "mild hybrid"). In this design, the electric motor assists a conventional (fossil fuel) engine. Example: Standard (non-plug-in) Prius.
Plug-in hybrid. In this design, the vehicle will typically run exclusively on electric power for as long as its battery will allow. When the battery power is exhausted, either the car will run on a fossil fuel engine, or a fossil fuel engine will generate electricity to charge the battery, depending on vehicle model. Electric-only range for these hybrids is less than for all-electric vehicles.
EV (Electric Vehicle). Electric power, electric motor drive. Because there is no fossil fuel powered back-up motor, the battery range becomes much more important consideration (depending on one's needs, of course).

CHOOSING THE TYPE OF ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLE

Mild gas-electric hybrid. I used to own one; I got a multi-year average of 54 MPG. Good, but not good enough given the global heating crisis we are in. Given the large selection of plug-in models available, both new and pre-owned, I cannot recommend purchasing any non-plug in.
Plug-in hybrid. This vehicle type costs less than an EV with long-range, because the battery is smaller. If you need long range, but cannot afford an EV with adequate range, or are not willing to own an EV yet due to "range anxiety", this type of vehicle may be a good bet as a "bridge" vehicle until EV's gain range, lower prices, and more highway route fast charging stations are available. While plug-in hybrids do not have Level 3/DC Fast Charging capability, they do include Level Two charging capability. (see Charging Types, below).
EV (Electric Vehicle). If you can afford an EV with a range that satisfies your needs, then by all means own an EV. Doing so will both help the environment and make it easier for others to also migrate to electric vehicles. As the market for EVs grows, selection will increase, prices will fall (assuming that mass production savings outweighs increased demand impacts), there will be more charging stations to satisfy the demand, and a larger inventory of used EVs will be available.

Here is an EV charging station that includes solar electric (photovoltaic) power generation. Consider advocating for government-sponsored and commercial EV charging stations to include solar generation and battery storage. While EV charging is only expected to have a modest impact on electric grid demand, tying EV charging to solar generation not only reduces peak demand on the grid, it also makes the grid more resilient. And should the grid suffer a blackout, the charging station will continue to have power.

REDUCING GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS on the CHEAP

2023 - WE PURCHASE A USED EV: Because we did not need a long range for this vehicle, we could shop for an older EV that would still provide reasonable miles between charging. We chose a Nissan Leaf, which was the largest selling EV for many years (since overtaken by Tesla and several other brands). The Leaf was introduced in 2011, with a EPA estimated range of only 73 miles. We purchased a 2017 Leaf, which had an EPA range of 107 miles.

These early Leaf batteries don't appear to hold their range as well as more modern EVs and plug-in hybrids. My plug-in hybrid (see below) still usually exceeds the EPA estimated range. And our neighbor has a 2018 Leaf, which has an EPA range of 150 miles. She says that when the battery is full, the estimated range is typically about 150. But the older Leaf "aged" battery ranges don't do so well. You can find many older Leafs with ranges of around 40 to 60 miles (with prices reflecting the poor range - sometimes in the $5,500 to $7,500 range, especially if they also have high odometer miles).

How does a shopper discover a used EV's current range? Do not trust advertisements! Have the dealer (or private party owner) plug in the car until the battery is fully charged. Then read what the dashboard reports. While

Leaf battery day of purchase 4-10-23.jpg

the dashboard displayed estimated range will vary depending on weather (range is lower in cold weather, and the range estimate computer takes this into account), how the car has been driven recently, and whether the car is set to "eco" mode (or equivalent). The Leaf we bought showed 80 range miles at the dealer. Turns out that the car was not set to Eco mode. When we changed it to Eco, and first topped off the battery, it showed an estimated 85 mile range. We are happy with this purchase, for only $10,500 (less our trade-in).

2021 - WE PURCHASE A USED PLUG-IN HYBRID: We purchased a 2018 Chevy Volt for about half the cost of a new plug-in hybrid. We could not afford a new EV, nor a high mileage range / fast-charging used EV. Among plug-in hybrids, the Volt has a higher EPA estimated electric-only range (53 miles) than any other hybrid*. Interestingly, 2019 was the final production year for the Volt. I have had plenty of minor issues with my Volt, although none are with the battery, motor, or entire drive system. So in spite of the issues, I am happy because the 54 to 64 electric miles per charge means that I rarely use gasoline. Even on long vacation trips, while the drive is not entirely electric, I start fully charged (of course), charge up at the destination, and charge up again before heading home.

EV and HYBRID BATTERY LIFE: About 6 months after we purchased the Nissan Leaf, the battery suddenly failed. It is under the original factory warranty (The U.S. requires that all hybrid and EV batteries be warranted for at least 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first). Nissan says that the battery cannot be fixed, and that they may not be able to replace it due to material and supply chain issues. They offered to buy the Leaf from us instead.

Due to this incident, I did more research on EV battery life and warranties. It is very rare for EV batteries to totally fail. The first generation Leaf batteries were not as well designed as modern EV batteries. If your battery is under warranty, there should be no big concerns. However, as the warranty period approaches its end, the resale value of the car will likely drop. There are extended warranty plans available for EVs; I suspect that they are fairly expensive. EV replacement batteries, installed, may run from around $8000 to $20,000 or more. It may be that the replacement cost will be more than the trade-in value of the vehicle at the time that the manufacturer's battery warranty expires.

Bottom line: EVs, in spite of current battery technology environmental issues, are a big plus for the environment and climate. Greater consumer demand for EVs will spur further innovation - especially with batteries. Hopefully, future batteries will not only last longer, be more environmentally friendly, be lighter and hold a greater charge, and perhaps will be fixable when only certain cells fail. But consumers should understand that, with both EVs and hybrids, there is always a (very small) risk of total battery failure.

CHARGING TYPES and CAPABILITIES:

Both electric drive vehicle power/battery system designs and charging stations vary in many ways, so the amount of range miles that chargers may add over time varies.

Level One: 120 Volt. The type of power available at home in typical wall receptacles. Charging at 120 V usually adds around 3 to 5 range miles per hour (our Volt gets about 3.5 range miles/hour, while our Leaf gets about 4.5 range miles/hour). So if you plug in an EV or a plug-in hybrid at 9pm (best to avoid charging during the expensive utility peak hours of 4pm - 9pm), and charge until 7am, that provides 10 hours of charging time and likely 30 to 50 miles of range. Therefore, for many electric vehicle drivers, it is not necessary to make any electrical upgrades in order to satisfactorily charge their plug-in vehicle.
Level Two: 240 Volt. This power level is typically found at commercial charging stations, and will provide around 12 to 50 range miles per hour. While some homeowners have installed Level Two charging stations (a wall-mounted box which includes a charging cord) at their home, almost all current EV models either come standard with charging cords that handles both 120V and 240V, or such cords are available for most EV models. In this case, you would only need to install a 240V receptacle in your garage (just like those used for electric clothes dryers and electric water heaters). That said, 240V EV charging cords can be heavy and unwieldy to deal with, so some homeowners may wish to install a "charging station", because their built-in retracting charging cords are easier to handle than an EV's separate charging cord.
Level 3 (a.k.a. "DC Fast-Charging"): These are found at some commercial charging stations. They charge much faster than Level Two chargers. Range miles/hour vary widely depending on the auto's electric charging architecture, as well as that of the fast charger. Suffice it to say, if you often take long trips that would exceed a single-charge battery range, purchasing an EV with faster charging capability may be important. Auto manufacturers, dealers, and commercial charge station companies can provide the information needed to understand how specific EV models and specific charging stations vary in this regard.

ADDITIONAL ELECTRIC DRIVE & CHARGING INFORMATION

All (or most?) plug-in vehicles come standard with a 120V charging cord. So as long as you have access to a standard 120V receptacle (the standard type used in homes and offices), you can charge a vehicle at home without making electrical upgrades.
EPA range vs. actual range for long highway trips: While an EV might start a trip with full battery range, EV drivers typically charge before getting down to 20% remaining range (as a safety factor to avoid running out of power). Users of DC Fast Chargers typically charge to only 80% of full charge, because charging time slows down considerably past 80% (based on several articles about long trip EV driving). Also, EV range is reduced at faster highway speeds due to air friction. Therefore, after leaving home on a trip that exceeds your battery's range, it is best to assume that the auto's range between charging sessions will be around 50-60% if the EPA listed range. This is why, for trips that will require more than one charging stop, fast charging speed can be very important. [I say "for trips that require more than one stop", because for many people, a trip that would require only a single fast charger stop, even if relatively slow (perhaps 1/2 to 3/4 hour to reach 80% charge) may be acceptable]
Batteries may lose around 1 - 3 percent of range per year of use. Recent reports indicate that for some batteries, that range loss actually diminishes after a few years.
Electric drive vehicles will always show a computer-generated estimate of range for the current trip. This estimate is based not only on the battery condition and amount of charge, but on driving habits. For example, the EPA range for the Volt is 53. In warmer weather, I usually get around 60-64 miles per charge. On cold days, it may be around 53 - 55 miles.
When shopping for a used electric drive auto, make sure your test drive starts with a topped-off battery, and check the estimated range. This may give you an idea as to whether the battery currently holds a charge that would yield a favorable range. But keep in mind that the previous owner/driver may have driven the car in a way that yields a longer range, or a shorter range, than is typical for that vehicle model. The dealer may be able to do battery testing to assess the battery's current condition maximum charge/estimated driving range.
Finding commercial charging stations: It's easy! There are many apps available that do this, and modern EVs usually have this capability built-in.

INCENTIVE PROGRAMS (ways to save on your EV purchase): There are both federal and CA tax credits available. And there are even rebates available to purchase used plug-in vehicles for those that meet income qualifications. As these program qualifications and amounts vary by many factors, it's best to get the details from the dealer. A good summary of plug-in vehicle incentive programs has been assembled by PG&E, and can be found at https://ev.pge.com/incentives/ .

* For model years 2010-2015, the Volt EPA electric miles range was 38. Starting in the 2016 model year, the range increased to 53. As of the 2022 model year, among vehicles sold is the U.S., there is no plug-in hybrid with as high an EPA electric range as Volt's 53. I find it interesting, and odd, that the plug-in Prius (Prius Prime), introduced in 2012 in the U.S. with an electric range of only 11 miles, boosted to only 25 miles in 2016. Finally for the 2024 model year, Prius Prime has a fairly decent EPA rated electric range of 44 miles.