An electric vehicle (EV) is a motor-driven vehicle powered by an electrically charged battery. It can range from small electric vehicles such as scooters and golf carts, to neighborhood electric vehicles, public transport buses, trains, heavy trucks or even industrial fork-lifts. EVs use more efficient motors to achieve comparable performance and torque and are quieter than conventional vehicles. They can also utilize regenerative braking to return energy back to the electrical grid, further improving efficiency.
The production, operation and disposal of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles create greenhouse gases and other environmental burdens. While EVs lack tailpipe emissions, they still rely on electricity that is produced through fossil fuels, which means that to be truly low-carbon, they need to be powered by renewable sources or nuclear power.
EVs can be recharged at home, at work or in growing numbers of public charging stations. EV drivers can easily locate public charging locations using mobile apps or online tools such as PlugShare, ChargeHub or Google Maps. EV owners can also install their own charging station at home, with most EVs capable of plugging into a standard 120 V outlet or dedicated 240 V charging system.
The driving range of EVs, or how far they can travel without needing to recharge, is an important factor in their popularity. Scientists and engineers have been working to increase the range of EVs, while public charging networks are expanding. EVs are becoming more affordable as well, with many models reaching price parity with the cost of an equivalent combustion engine car in 2023.
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