What is Electricity?

Electricity is unique among the alternative fuels in that mechanical power is derived directly from it, whereas the other alternative fuels release stored chemical energy through combustion to provide mechanical power. Motive power is produced from electricity by an electric motor. Electricity used to power vehicles is commonly provided by batteries, but fuel cells are also being explored. Batteries are energy storage devices, but unlike batteries, fuel cells convert chemical energy to electricity.

How is Electricity Made?

Electricity is produced from power plants located throughout the country, transmitted to substations through high voltage transmission systems, stepped down to lower voltages, and carried to homes and businesses through distribution systems.The Electric Power Research Institute describes the electric vehicle infrastructure as being 98% in place. The remaining 2% involves developing the connection from the grid to the vehicle and determining how recharging vehicles might affect the grid.Some utilities have developed special time-of-use meters and off-peak electric rates to separately monitor EV electricity use from the home and provide incentives to recharge at night when the overall load is down.

Electricity to power vehicles can also be made from renewable resources using solar and wind technologies. 

Electricity Benefits

Vehicles that run on electricity have no tailpipe emissions. This is the primary benefit of owning an electric vehicle (EV). Emissions that can be attributed to EVs are generated in the electricity production process at the power plant.

EVs have lower "fuel" and maintenance costs than gasoline-powered vehicles. The cost of an equivalent amount of fuel for EVs costs less than the price of gasoline. Also, maintenance for EVs is less—EVs have fewer moving parts to service and replace, although the batteries must be replaced every three to six years.

Furthermore, some federal and state dollars help provide incentives for fleets and private individuals to purchase AFVs.