Comparing Electric Vehicles

The document compares four categories of electrified vehicles. Conventional hybrids use regenerative braking to charge batteries and improve fuel economy. PHEVs combine an internal combustion engine with a plug-in battery, allowing for short distances of gasoline-free driving. BEVs run exclusively on electricity, producing no tailpipe emissions and offering the longest electric ranges. FCEVs use hydrogen gas to generate electricity, emitting only water from the tailpipe, though their environmental impact depends on the hydrogen production method and infrastructure is currently limited primarily to California.

• Conventional hybrids combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor and charge their batteries through regenerative braking rather than plugging into an outlet. These technologies can significantly increase fuel economy, as seen in the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue, which achieves 52 mpg compared to 31 mpg for the non-hybrid version.
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) differ from conventional hybrids because they can be charged via an electrical outlet, allowing them to use grid electricity instead of gasoline for certain distances. For example, the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid can travel approximately 48 miles on electricity alone.
• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are powered exclusively by on-board batteries and produce no tailpipe emissions. While charging them involves emissions, the average BEV has lower carbon emissions than gasoline vehicles. A range of 60 miles would meet the weekday driving requirements of 69 percent of drivers in the US.
• Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) generate electricity by combining stored hydrogen gas with oxygen, emitting only water from the tailpipe. The total emissions of an FCEV depend on the hydrogen source; hydrogen from natural gas produces emissions similar to a plug-in vehicle using natural gas electricity, while hydrogen from solar power is nearly emission-free. Currently, fueling infrastructure is mostly available in California.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2020). Comparing Electric Vehicles. https://www.ucs.org/resources/comparing-electric-vehicles

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Comparing Electric Vehicles. 2020. https://www.ucs.org/resources/comparing-electric-vehicles.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Comparing Electric Vehicles |date=26 June 2020 |url=https://www.ucs.org/resources/comparing-electric-vehicles |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2020comparing, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Comparing Electric Vehicles}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://www.ucs.org/resources/comparing-electric-vehicles}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }