EVs: Here's what you should know as interests in electric cars continue to rise across the U.S.

PHOENIX - As gas prices rose across the country in 2022 amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, more people began to show interest in electric cars as an answer to higher gas prices.

According to the website MarketWatch, searches for new and used EVs jumped 112% from Feb. 24 to March 8, 2022 on cars.com, at around the same time as the Russian invasion began. 

Here's what you should know about electric cars, as well as some of the terms that are unique to this category of cars.

What is EV, and how it is different from hybrids and plug-in hybrids?

According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy, EVs, also referred to as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), are cars that have an electric motor instead of the internal combustion engine that powers many of the cars that are currently on the road.

"The vehicle uses a large traction battery pack to power the electric motor," a part of the description reads.

An EV is different from a Plug-In hybrid in that while both have batteries to power the motor, a plug-in hybrid also has an internal combustion engine to power the car.

"The vehicle typically runs on electric power until the battery is nearly depleted, and then the car automatically switches over to use the ICE," a part of the description for plug-in hybrids read.

Hybrids, meanwhile, are more similar to the traditional car, while featuring a battery that can, in some models, power the car for short distances on electricity alone.

How do you ‘fuel up’ an electric car?

It probably goes without saying, but your neighborhood gas station will be of no use to an electric car.

An electric car needs a special type of fueling station to power it back up. The good news is if a person has right equipment, they can charge a car at their home.

However, unlike gassing up a car, charging a car can take longer or shorter amounts of time, depending on charging speed. Different cars also use different plugs.

Charging speeds? Different plugs? This sounds complicated!

Don't worry! We will break it down for you here.

Let's start with charging speeds

As far as charging speed is concerned, part of it depends on which charger an EV owner decides to use. There are three kinds of chargers: Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging.

Level 1

Level 1 charging, according to cars.com, uses that standard home outlet that we use every day, for a variety of reasons, to charge up a car. It typically gives you three to five miles of range for every hour it is connected to the car. In some car models, this could mean taking a long time to charge up a car.

Level 2

Cars.com calls Level 2 charging the fastest means of charging an EV at home, as it uses outlets normally reserved for large appliances to charge up a car. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, Level 2 charging equipments can operate at levels up to 80 amps, but most Level 2 equipment installed in homes operate at a lower power, at up to 30 amps, and the charging unit will require a dedicated circuit.

It has been noted by cars.com that Level 2 charging can be complicated, since the category covers only voltage, and not amps. That means depending on the equipment used, the amount of miles gained via Level 2 charging can differ wildly.

In addition, each EV has a maximum charging rate that is based on the level it can convert Alternating Current (AC) into Direct Current (DC), which can also affect the charging speed.

For safety reasons, these are issues you should talk with an electrician about.

DC fast charging

Cars.com notes that in DC fast charging, the charging station would first convert electricity into from AC to DC, and then feed that converted electricity into the car.

DC fast charging stations are rated at different charging speeds. There are also stations that are rated at up to 350 kilowatts, which, in theory, means a faster charge.

However, it has been noted by cars.com that car manufacturers have included warnings in EV user manuals that using DC fast charging frequently will diminish the battery pack's longevity. According to the website of EV charger company Chargepoint, fast charging can create heat that will stress the battery more.

What about plugs?

Not all EV car models use the same car-side plug to charge up the EV.

According to the website EnelX, there are nine plug standards around the world, four of which can be found in North America: J1772, CCS, CHADeMo, and Tesla.

J1772 plugs are used in Level 1 and Level 2 charging, while CCS plugs, which is a J1772 charger with two more pins added below, are used for DC fast charging.

CHADeMo, according to EnelX, is a Japanese-developed plug standard that is widely used in Japan, but is only used by Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrids in the U.S.

Tesla cars, meanwhile, use a plug that is specific to that brand alone. The same plug is used for all levels of charging.

Where would I go to charge up my EV?

Besides your home, there are public chargers for EV drivers.

Tesla EV owners can go stations specifically set up by Tesla for the charging of their brand of vehicles. These stations can only be used by Tesla cars.

Owners of other EV brands, meanwhile, can go to stations that have plugs that fit their cars. Some charging stations charge a fee, while others are free. A website called PlugShare features a map with information on where the nearest public EV chargers are located, as well as whether it's free to use the charger or not. There are also other websites that provide similar information.

Some car manufacturers are also giving new EV car buyers free charging deals. Those looking at buying an EV should consult with a car dealership for more details.

Are there federal tax credits for those buying an EV?

Yes, but there are some caveats.

A credit of up to $7,500 will be offered to people who buy certain new electric vehicles, as well as some plug-in gas-electric hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

For people who buy a used vehicle that runs on battery power, a $4,000 credit, or 30% of the vehicle price (whichever is less) will be available, provided the used vehicle costs less than $25,000.

The question of which vehicles and buyers will qualify for the credits is complicated and will remain uncertain until Treasury issues the proposed rules in March 2023. What’s known so far is that to qualify for the credit, new EVs must be made in North America. In addition, caps on vehicle prices and buyer incomes are intended to disqualify wealthier buyers.

Starting in March, complex provisions will also govern battery components. Forty percent of battery minerals will have to come from North America or a country with a U.S. free trade agreement or be recycled in North America. (That threshold will eventually go to 80%.)

And 50% of the battery parts will have to be made or assembled in North America, eventually rising to 100%.

Starting in 2025, battery minerals cannot come from a "foreign entity of concern," mainly China and Russia. Battery parts cannot be sourced in those countries starting in 2024 — a troublesome obstacle for the auto industry because numerous EV metals and parts now come from China.

There also are battery-size requirements.

The Energy Department maintains a list of qualifying EVs.

What about incentives for buying an EV on a state or local level?

There are state or local incentives for those who purchase an EV. They range from car purchase rebates, reduced car registration fee, use of carpool lanes on freeways, and discounts on buying a Level 2 charger for at-home charging.

You can check with your relevant state and local government agencies, as well as your utility provider, for more details on any applicable incentives.

Won't EV batteries burn out eventually?

According to greencars.com, EV batteries will, over time, slowly lose the amount of energy they can store, in a process called battery degradation.

However, the website notes that it is not uncommon for modern EV batteries to last more than 10 years, and that the average EV owner will sell their car long before they need to replace the battery pack.

What would I need to do to keep that battery in good shape?

Greencars.com states that people should avoid using DC fast charging as their main way to charge up an EV's battery, keep their car charged to between 60% to 80%, and avoid extreme temperatures over long periods of time.

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.

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