What is an electric vehicle? An electric vehicle (EV) is any car, truck, bus, or van that is propelled by an electric motor that receives power from onboard batteries. There are two dominant battery types that can be used in EVs. Energy sources for charging the batteries are independent of the vehicle and include solar cells and the utility grid.
What types of electric vehicles are available?
Manufacturers currently offer numerous EVs, including electric cars, light trucks, service vans, and buses. While availability is limited to specific geographic areas, the Electric Vehicle Association of America estimates that over 4,800 electric cars and light trucks have been delivered to consumers over the last four years. In addition, specialty design vehicles, such as buses that operate on a regular route and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) that are designed for short distances, have proven successful. Technology initially developed for electric vehicles is now used in gasoline powered hybrid vehicles that use electric motor assisted propulsion and regenerative braking.
How do electric vehicles perform? As with conventional vehicles, EVs can be designed to meet a number of performance expectations. They can provide similar performance to a conventional vehicle and can maintain interstate highway speeds, carry cargo, and operate in hot or cold weather. Depending on battery selection and driving style, electric vehicles can typically operate 50 to 130 miles before requiring a re-charge. This limited range emphasizes the importance of development of charging infrastructure. Charging time varies due to the size of the battery pack and the type of charger. Some EVs can be recharged in less than 30 minutes with special equipment, but there are also chargers designed to recharge vehicles overnight that can be installed in personal garages.
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Manufacturers currently offer numerous EVs, including electric cars, light trucks, service vans, and buses. While availability is limited to specific geographic areas, the 