Plug-in Electric Vehicles

The document details the differences between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), noting that BEVs produce less than half the carbon dioxide of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. It highlights the U.S. market's heavy reliance on California for sales due to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program and discusses the economic benefits of PEVs, such as lower fuel and maintenance costs. The text also outlines the current state of charging infrastructure, the downward trend in battery costs, and various federal and state incentives designed to accelerate adoption.

• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) generate significantly lower emissions than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, producing less than half the carbon dioxide of a conventional ICE vehicle.
• The U.S. market for plug-in electric vehicles is highly concentrated, with seven models accounting for 81 percent of sales, and nearly half of all sales occurring in California due to rebates, infrastructure, and carpool privileges.
• A loophole in the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program's travel provision allowed automakers to meet sales quotas for nine participating states by selling vehicles primarily in California, though this provision was set to end after 2017.
• Operating a plug-in vehicle is more cost-effective than a gasoline vehicle; as of March 2017, the average gallon equivalent of electricity in the U.S. was $1.11 compared to $2.32 for regular gasoline.
• The cost of lithium-ion batteries, which make up about 40 percent of a BEV's total value, fell 73 percent between 2010 and 2016, dropping from $1,000/kWh to $273/kWh.
• Global adoption of plug-in vehicles is rising, with China leading in growth (85 percent increase in 2016) and several countries setting targets to phase out gasoline cars, including Norway (2025), India (2030), and France and the UK (2040).
• The U.S. federal government provides a tax credit for PEVs ranging from $2,500 to $7,500, which begins to phase out for an individual automaker once they sell 200,000 electric vehicles.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2017). Plug-in Electric Vehicles. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Electric_Vehicles_08.2017.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Plug-in Electric Vehicles. 2017. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Electric_Vehicles_08.2017.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Plug-in Electric Vehicles |date=August 2017 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Electric_Vehicles_08.2017.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2017plugin, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Plug-in Electric Vehicles}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2017}, month = aug, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Electric_Vehicles_08.2017.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }