Plug-in electric vehicles

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides an overview of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It details the environmental and economic benefits of PEVs, the current state of the U.S. and global markets, charging infrastructure, battery technology trends, and government incentives.

• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) produce less than half the carbon dioxide of conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, despite the fact that approximately two-thirds of U.S. electricity is generated by coal and natural gas.
• A study by the American Lung Association of California estimated that gasoline vehicles cause $37 billion in annual health and climate costs; replacing 65 percent of cars with electric vehicles in 10 eastern and western states by 2050 could reduce these costs by $21 billion.
• The U.S. market for PEVs is heavily concentrated in California due to rebates, charging infrastructure, and carpool lane access. A 'travel provision' in the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program allowed automakers to meet mandates for nine other participating states by selling vehicles in California, though this provision was set to end after 2017.
• Operating costs for PEVs are significantly lower than gasoline vehicles. As of March 2017, the average U.S. price for a gallon equivalent of electricity was $1.11, compared to $2.32 for regular gasoline.
• Battery costs are a primary driver of EV pricing, with lithium-ion batteries accounting for about 40 percent of a BEV's total value. Prices fell 73 percent between 2010 and 2016, dropping from $1,000/kWh to $273/kWh.
• Global PEV adoption is led by China and Europe. In 2016, China sold nearly 351,000 plug-in vehicles (an 85 percent increase from 2015), while Europe sold around 221,000. The United States sold approximately 157,000 in 2016.
• The U.S. federal government provides a tax credit for PEVs ranging from $2,500 to $7,500. This credit is phased out for individual manufacturers once they reach 200,000 vehicle sales.

APA

Wollenberg, A. (2017). Plug-in electric vehicles. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-plug-in-electric-vehicles-2017

Chicago

Wollenberg, Andrew. Plug-in electric vehicles. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2017. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-plug-in-electric-vehicles-2017.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wollenberg |first1=Andrew |title=Plug-in electric vehicles |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=8 August 2017 |url=https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-plug-in-electric-vehicles-2017 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wollenberg2017plugin, author = {Wollenberg, Andrew}, title = {{Plug-in electric vehicles}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2017}, month = aug, url = {https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-plug-in-electric-vehicles-2017}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }