Electric Vehicles

BEV, PHEV, what does it all mean?

• BEV or EV (Battery Electric Vehicle) all-electric vehicle that operate on 100 percent battery; charged by plugging into grid
• PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric) uses energy from plugging into grid; contains combustion engine that kicks in when battery power runs out.
• Learn more at afdc.energy.gov.

An electric vehicle sounds smart, but you're probably wondering, "What do they have to offer?"

• Fuel economy: PHEVs and EVs can reduce fuel costs dramatically because of high efficiency of electric motors
• Performance: high torque, immediate power, quiet and smooth ride
• Charge anywhere: plug and recharge your vehicle at home or at a charging station (work, store, highways)
• Clean: BEVs have no tailpipe emissions, PHEVs benefit from much lower tailpipe emissions
• Reduced maintenance costs for BEVs: no oil changes, no air/fuel filters, no exhaust system, no muffler or catalytic converter
• Learn more at energy.gov.

Federal and state incentives make owning an EV more of a reality.

• The federal government offers up to $7,500 in income tax credits.  
• Louisiana residents can receive a tax credit of 10 percent of the vehicle cost of up to $2,500.  
• Louisiana residents can receive a tax credit of 30 percent of the EV charging equipment up to $1,000.  

What is e-Gallon?
It is the cost of fueling a vehicle with electricity compared to a similar vehicle that runs on gasoline.

Did you know?
On average, it costs about half as much to drive an electric vehicle.

What is the cost comparison for an electric vehicle vs. a traditional combustion engine vehicle?
Assuming the average person drives 43 miles each day in Louisiana, the average cost of gasoline is $1.88 per gallon and the average cost of eGallon is $0.84.

• The daily cost to refuel a gas-powered vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon is $2.69
• The daily cost to recharge an electric vehicle is $1.20

In fact, for the cost benefit of electric cars to fall below the traditional gas-powered vehicle, gas prices would need to drop to $0.99 per gallon and electricity prices would need to almost double to $0.22 per kilowatt-hour.

Want more information?  
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center.

• Learn more here.

So now you have your electric vehicle, how do you give it life?

There are three different levels of charging systems: Level 1, Level 2 and DC Fast Charging (Level 3). Each level provides a different level of charging power for your electric vehicle. To learn more, click here.

• Open Charge Map
• PlugShare