BENEFITS
Electric Vehicles are fun to drive, can save you money, and produce less emissions than gasoline-powered vehicles. When charged using electricity supplied by SJCE, you can be confident that EVs are powered by 60% renewable energy.
Types of EVs
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) have a battery that can be charged at home or at public charging stations. EV batteries are paired with electric motors to propel the car. These EVs are powered by electricity all the time, no gasoline needed.
- Examples: Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona EV, Tesla Model 3, and Volkswagen ID.4
Plug-in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs) have a standard gasoline motor and an electric motor paired with a chargeable battery, allowing them to switch between electric-only mode and hybrid mode. Many PHEVs can drive for more than 30 miles in electric only-mode before switching to hybrid mode.
- Examples: Toyota Prius Prime, Kia Niro, Subaru Crosstrek, Hyundai Tucson, and Ford Escape
Other EVs, such as Hybrids and Fuel Cell EVs, utilize a combination of technologies to fully or partially power cars by electricity, but these EVs cannot be charged using renewable energy provided by SJCE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do EVs cost more than gasoline-powered cars?
With incentives like the Federal Tax Credit and other local rebates, most new EVs are cheaper to own and operate than traditional gas-powered vehicles. EVs can save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the vehicle through savings on fuel and maintenance costs. Charging an EV can cost about half as much as filling up a gas-powered vehicle on a per-mile basis. Also, EVs require less maintenance with no oil changes, longer-lasting regenerative brakes, and fewer moving parts.
Are Teslas and luxury cars the only EVs that are available?
Each year, car makers introduce many new EVs in each vehicle class. Today, there are more than 100 different EV models available. EVs can be very affordable. Before incentives, some new EVs can cost less than $30,000 and great used EVs can be found in the $10,000 range. After factoring in incentives, some new EVs can even be picked up for less than $10,000. Find the right EV for you.
Do EVs have enough range to meet my driving needs?
The average Californian drives less than 32 miles per day, while the average EV has greater than 200 miles of range. Even when charged using a standard wall outlet overnight, all modern EVs should be able to get you where you need to go each day.
Does it cost a lot to charge an EV?
It is cheaper to charge an EV at home during off-peak hours compared to charging at public charging stations. Even with the increased cost of electricity at public charging stations, charging an EV costs about half as much as filling up a traditional gas-powered vehicle on a per-mile basis.
I don’t have access to EV charging at home. Are there public chargers readily available in my area?
San José has over 1,600 public EV charging stations. The State of California, along with local investments from SJCE, is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure that public EV charging is available for all. California now has over 100,000 public and shared private EV chargers available.
Are EVs actually better for our environment?
EVs produce no tailpipe emissions, which means cleaner air for your neighborhood. Taking into account the emissions from production, battery manufacturing, operation, and disposal, EVs only produce around half of the emissions compared to the average gasoline car. When EVs are charged using electricity supplied by SJCE, you can be confident that they are powered by 60% renewable energy.
Resources
SJCE’s EV Shopping Tool &
Electric Vehicle (EV) Overview (PDF)
SJCE’s guide to EVs where you can estimate costs, incentives, and find charging.
The Alternative Fuels Data Center
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) comprehensive database of information on EVs and other alternative fuel vehicles.
FuelEconomy.gov
The DOE and Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) official source for fuel economy information.
Access Clean California
Application assistance for clean energy and transportation electrification programs.
Electric for All
EV and charging education and resources.
Consumer Reports
Independent information and recommendations on EVs.
Social Media
