Plug-in Electric Vehicles

As of June 2014, the U.S. plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market was characterized by rapid growth, with sales increasing 85% between 2012 and 2013. The market was dominated by the Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius Plug-in, and Tesla Model S. While PEVs offer zero tailpipe emissions and lower total cost of ownership due to cheaper fuel, challenges remain regarding the availability of public charging infrastructure (8,000 stations vs 150,000 gas stations) and high battery costs. Federal tax credits up to $7,500 and various state-level incentives in places like California, Colorado, and Georgia are used to drive adoption.

• Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are categorized into two main types: all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). These vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions and can utilize regenerative braking systems to convert kinetic energy into electricity for the battery pack.
• The U.S. market for PEVs is dominated by four models: the Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius Plug-in, and Tesla Model S, which together account for 81 percent of sales. Total U.S. sales reached 210,114 units through May 2014, with sales growing 85 percent between 2012 and 2013.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) to rate PEV efficiency, equating 33.7 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity to one gallon of gasoline. However, this methodology is criticized for assuming 100 percent efficiency in power plants, meaning real-world MPGe may be lower.
• Despite the pollution generated during electricity production, a 2012 study indicated that PEVs running on the most coal-heavy electric grids in the United States still produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the average gasoline-powered vehicle.
• Charging infrastructure in the U.S. consists of approximately 8,000 public stations compared to 150,000 gasoline stations. Charging options range from standard 110 volt wall outlets (8-14 hours) to 220 volt chargers (1.5-8 hours) and 400 volt direct current (DC) chargers, which can fully charge most EVs in one hour.
• Battery costs are the primary expense for PEVs; for the Nissan LEAF, the battery initially cost one-third of the vehicle. Battery prices fell to an estimated $500 per kWh by late 2013 from 2009 levels, with projections suggesting they could drop to $160 per kWh by 2025.
• Federal tax credits under the 2009 American Clean Energy and Security Act provide $2,500 for qualified PEVs plus $417 per kWh of battery capacity over four kWh, capped at $7,500. This credit is available for the first 200,000 eligible vehicles produced by each automaker.
• Various U.S. states provide additional incentives: California offers rebates up to $2,500 and HOV lane access; Washington provides sales and motor vehicle tax exemptions; Colorado offers tax credits up to $6,000 and charger installation rebates; and Georgia provides an income tax credit of up to $5,000.

APA

Andrade, I., & Querejazu, D. (2014). Plug-in Electric Vehicles. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/plug-in-electric-vehicles-2014

Chicago

Andrade, Ivana, and Daniel Querejazu. Plug-in Electric Vehicles. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2014. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/plug-in-electric-vehicles-2014.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Andrade |first1=Ivana |last2=Querejazu |first2=Daniel |title=Plug-in Electric Vehicles |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=9 June 2014 |url=https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/plug-in-electric-vehicles-2014 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{andrade2014plugin, author = {Andrade, Ivana and Querejazu, Daniel}, title = {{Plug-in Electric Vehicles}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2014}, month = jun, url = {https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/plug-in-electric-vehicles-2014}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }