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Electric Vehicles (EVs, HEVs, PHEVs)
Three types of vehicles are powered by electricity: electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and plug-in-electric vehicles (PHEV). These vehicles offset petroleum usage and cost less to refuel per mile than conventional vehicles.
EV, HEV, and PHEV basics
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are propelled by a battery-powered motor, and the battery is charged by plugging the vehicle into the electric grid either at home or at a public charging station. EVs do not have an internal combustion engine and therefore do not use petroleum.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) are powered by conventional or alternative fuels as well as electric power stored in a battery. The battery is charged through regenerative braking and the internal combustion engine. In other words, the battery captures energy normally lost during breaking by using the electric motor as a generator. Unlike EVs and PHEVs, HEVs are not plugged in to charge.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) are powered by conventional or alternative fuels as well as electric power stored in a battery. The battery can be charged by plugging it into an outside power source, by the internal combustion engine, or by regenerative breaking. Unlike HEVs, which still depend on petroleum, it is possible for PHEVs to run on only electricity when fully charged.
Side-by-Side Comparison: To learn more about each vehicle type, view the Department of Energy's side-by-side comparison of their fuel economy and fuel cost savings.
Charging Stations in Indiana
Public charging stations: Indiana has fifty-two public charging stations. Click here to view charging station locations, hours, and type of charging equipment. Be sure to call in advance to make sure the charging equipment is currently available.
Home charging stations: Once a charging station is installed in your home, charging EVs is as simple as plugging them into an electric outlet. Electricity costs vary across the U.S. depending on location, type of generation, and time of use. For average U.S. electricity prices, see the Energy Information Administration's Residential Electricity Prices: A Consumer's Guide.
The Future of Electric Vehicles
Fuel cells are being explored as a way to use electricity generated on board the vehicle to power electric motors. Unlike batteries, fuel cells convert chemical energy from hydrogen into electricity.
