Electric Car Buying Guide: How to Buy the Right EV

By Sean Tucker 06/09/2023 12:00pm

Youtube Video

Quick Facts About Buying the Right Electric Car

  • Fully electric cars use no gasoline. You can also find hybrids or plug-in hybrids, both of which use gas.  
  • Buying an EV means making a mental shift in thinking about how you refuel your car. The good news is most EV charging gets done at home.
  • There are pros and cons of buying an EV. Range and infrastructure continue to be limitations.  

Electric cars will drive the future of the automotive world. Because many automakers plan for an all-electric future, there is little doubt in the industry that most cars Americans buy 15 years from now will be electric vehicles (EVs).

But we live in the present. And years of infrastructure got built around the assumption that we’ll all drive gasoline-powered cars. Charging stations and electricity policies necessary to make owning an EV even more effortless than owning a gasoline-powered car will take time. The country is in the early stages of building them.

So, we know of good reasons to believe you’ll eventually own an electric car. But is now the time? Could an EV be right for you? You’re probably reading this because you know it’s a complicated question. We’ll break down the issues and the current state of the EV market for you.

What Is an EV?

An electric vehicle is a car that uses electricity instead of gasoline to provide the energy it uses to move.

When researching which electric car to buy, you may see the term “electrified vehicles.” That typically does not refer to cars that use only electricity, but rather cars powered by at least some electricity to provide the energy they need to move. The exception is Genesis. The carmaker calls its fully electric vehicles electrified, like the Genesis Electrified GV70.

What Is a Hybrid?

Hybrid cars use both electricity and gasoline. They run on both a gasoline engine and a small electric motor. They use their electric motor to get up to a certain speed, after which the gasoline engine takes over. Using gasoline for only part of their power makes them more fuel-efficient than regular gasoline-powered cars.

RELATED: What is MPGe? Everything You Need to Know

The Hyundai Elantra, for instance, is available with a gasoline-only powertrain or a hybrid powertrain. In gasoline-only form, it gets an EPA-estimated 33 mpg in the city and 42 on the highway, depending on the model. In hybrid form, it gets 53 mpg in the city and 56 mpg on the highway. But hybrids are not EVs. This guide does not cover hybrid cars.

What Is a Plug-in Hybrid?

Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) cars also use both electricity and gasoline for power. But they have a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor. They can travel under electric power up to their full speed. A PHEV uses electricity alone until its battery is nearly depleted and then turns on its gasoline engine and begins to function as a hybrid. In practical terms, owning a PHEV is much like owning an EV. But PHEVs can take long trips when fueled with gasoline.

For instance, the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV can travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone. The average American drives less than 37 miles a day. So many Pacifica PHEV owners can effectively operate an EV on an average day. But they can take longer road trips without worrying about their car’s EV range and use gasoline for greater distances. A handful of PHEVs like the Pacifica also qualify for tax incentives of up to $7,500 that help Americans buy electric cars, lowering their costs versus traditional hybrids. This guide will not cover PHEVs.

Fully Electric Cars Use No Gas

Electric vehicles do not have internal combustion engines (ICE). They operate with large batteries, usually placed underneath the car’s floor, that store all their power. They use small electric motors attached directly to their axles that do the job of an engine.

EVs travel with limited range because their batteries can deplete. Recharging their batteries takes longer than refilling a gas tank. But even the shortest-range EV on the market today drives many times longer than the distance most Americans do each day. As technology improves, charging batteries keeps getting faster.

 

Are EVs Really Going to Replace Gas-Powered Cars?

Electric vehicles just might replace gas-powered cars. California and other states like Massachusetts, Maryland, and Washington plan to ban sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. Other states may soon follow.

However, broader adoption will take time. According to Cox Automotive, electric vehicles made up a 5.8% share of the total market in 2022, up from 3.2% in 2021. Manufacturers offered five electric car models to buyers in the United States five years ago. Today, you can find nearly 40 models offered.

Here’s a list of what some of those plans include:

  1. Volkswagen: The world’s largest automaker pledged to build a lineup of almost all electric cars by 2030. Yes, even its Porsche performance car brand.
  2. General Motors: America’s largest automaker aims to build mostly electric cars by 2035.
  3. Volvo: The manufacturer expects its lineup will be 100% electric by 2030.
  4. Mercedes-Benz: The company wants to be all-electric in every market where the infrastructure can support that by 2030.
  5. BMW: The automaker said it hopes its Mini brand will be all-electric by 2030 and expects to build one EV for each gas-powered BMW.
  6. Audi: According to news reports, Audi hopes to be 100% electric by 2026.
  7. Dodge: Even automakers who’ve tied their image to big, snarling gasoline engines expect some EVs in the future. Dodge, which built its reputation on the Hemi V8, wants to unveil its first “electric muscle car” by 2024.
  8. Pickups: There’s a growing trend toward electric pickups with the release of the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and GMC Hummer EV pickup. Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500 will bring electric versions to their lineups in the next few years. Tesla plans its Cybertruck.

So, yes, manufacturers take EVs seriously. Fully electric vehicles could probably replace most gasoline-powered cars in the coming decades. Most of the world’s largest automakers have bet profits on it.

RELATEDElectric Car Companies Guide

How About EV Infrastructure?

An EV charger with an Out of Order sign

Buying an EV means making a mental shift in thinking about how you refuel your car.

Drivers became accustomed to filling up their gas tanks while traveling. Most EV charging, however, gets done at home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 80% of EV charging happens at home.

PRO TIP: “When I test electric cars, I mostly charge them at home. However, I also found it easy to quickly charge up at a Level 3 DC fast charger when doing grocery shopping locally. At public fast chargers, it took about 18 minutes for our long-term Kia EV6 to get charged to 80%. A year later, the EV6 still charged in the same timeframe at a fast charger.” — Renee Valdes, lead advice editor of Kelley Blue Book.

Charging at Home

You can charge an EV from a simple household outlet. But, for efficiency, charging your electric car from a faster Level 2 at home is what most buyers prefer. You can also charge at a public Level 2 or Level 3 DC fast charger (more on that in a moment). Most car dealers selling EVs can coordinate installing Level 2 chargers at your home if you own it, since Level 3 is cost-prohibitive to install in residential settings. Some public utilities offer special incentives for installation.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About EV Charging Stations

Charging a vehicle is more challenging if you live in an apartment building. However, many corporate apartment owners have begun installing fast chargers. Even if yours hasn’t, building owners might be willing to upon request. It makes the building more attractive to renters. In many cases, local electric utilities can help defray installation costs.

Public Charging Stations

Having access to chargers in your community is convenient. But right now, America operates more gas stations than electric charging stations. One day, those numbers will switch places. According to NACS, the leading industry association for convenience stores and fuel retailers, at least 150,000 gas stations operate in the U.S.

U.S. Department of Energy data shows that at least 62,600 public EV charging stations exist as of this writing. Of those, the vast majority are Level 2 chargers.

Expanding the Network of Charging Stations

A patchwork of companies operates charging networks around the country. One of the largest, Electrify America, wants to more than double its network by 2025. A group of major electric companies joined forces to announce a new charging network across at least 17 states.

It’s also worth noting that charging infrastructure in your area may be better than you think. A recent analysis found that the two states with the greatest number of chargers per EV are, believe it or not, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Can I Charge My EV From Any Plug?

A woman charges a Cadillac Lyriq electric vehicle at a GM-branded public charging station

Nearly every EV for sale in the U.S. comes with a charging unit you can plug into a standard 110-volt household outlet. This is called a Level 1 charger. Charging via a regular outlet can take a long time.

Many people choose to install a so-called Level 2 charger at home. A Level 2 charger requires a 240-volt electrical supply. These are less common, but most houses have one for the clothes dryer. An electrician can install a 240-volt outlet in most homes, and dealerships will often arrange installation as part of purchasing an electric car. A Level 2 charger is much faster.

RELATED ARTICLE: How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

Some public chargers are faster Level 3 fast chargers. These use direct current. It’s impossible to give an accurate generalized estimate for all EVs because each vehicle can accept electricity at a different rate. But some electric cars can charge their battery fully from a Level 3 charger in about 20 minutes.

Types of Plugs

Electric vehicle charging connectors

There are several different types of plugs on electric cars sold in the US this year, and using a public charger can require you to find the right kind of connector. The most common connection is the J1772, used for Level 1 and Level 2 charging.

Most European- and American-made electric cars use a CCS Type 1 plug. Japanese-built EVs use a plug design called CHAdeMO, though it’s being phased out. Most public charging stations can accommodate both.

Tesla uses a proprietary plug design no other automaker uses. The carmaker also operates a network of chargers it calls Tesla Superchargers. Tesla sells its cars with an adapter that allows them to use chargers from other brands.

Currently, other brands can use only a select number of Tesla Superchargers. Tesla plans to make at least 7,500 of its chargers available to all EVs by the end of 2024. Cars with CCS and CHAdeMO plugs will need a special adapter to use Tesla Superchargers.

MOREAn EV Charger Buying Guide: See All Your Options.

EV Benefits

Though electric cars remain a small percentage of the vehicles on American roads, their numbers are growing faster than any other type of car thanks to several factors.

1. Fuel Cost

Electricity costs less than gasoline. Because electricity rates and gasoline prices fluctuate, it’s impossible to give you a single figure explaining the cost difference between using gas and electricity for your driving needs. But most drivers would spend less than a quarter of their annual gasoline budget to drive an EV instead.

Read a detailed analysis in our article How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV?

2. Maintenance and Repair Costs

EVs use fewer moving parts than gasoline-powered cars. An analysis by We Predict found that EV owners spend about $7 for every $30 a gasoline car owner spends on maintenance. And while costs to repair an electric car were higher, study authors noted that electric vehicles experienced fewer problems that required repair and that repair costs continue decreasing as more mechanics become certified in repairing electric cars.

3. Environmental Benefits

One of the most compelling reasons to buy an electric car is to help reduce your impact on the climate. Recent studies have shown that while building a new car has an immense environmental impact, EVs are better for the environment after just a few years of ownership.

4. Improved Driving Experience

Gasoline engines build up their power gradually, beginning when you step on the gas pedal. Even the fastest gasoline engines take a few seconds to reach full torque.

Electric motors make 100% of their power available at all times.

This means that electric cars accelerate dramatically faster than their gasoline-powered counterparts.

It’s difficult to overstate the impact of electric power on automotive performance. Thanks to the rise of electricity, the Kia EV6 reaches 0-60 mph faster than even Lamborghini or Ferrari had achieved just 10 years ago.

EV Limitations

There are still good reasons for some car buyers to look elsewhere, including the following:

1. Range

Some people routinely drive farther than an EV can go on a single charge.

Most of us don’t. The average American drives less than 30 miles per day. The shortest-range EV on the market (currently the Mazda MX-30, with just 100 miles of range) can do more than three times that distance on a single charge. The longest-range electric vehicle, currently the Lucid Air, can travel up to 516 miles before recharging.

However, most EVs get below 300 miles of range per charge. Some manufacturers attempt to offset range anxiety by giving owners access to gasoline-powered cars for longer trips at no cost. Buyers of that MX-30, for instance, can borrow another Mazda from a local dealership for up to 10 days a year, free of charge.

But an EV isn’t practical for those who routinely drive long distances. Battery technology is constantly improving, and some technologies currently in development (like solid-state batteries) could provide EVs with dramatically more range in several years.

READ MORE: Electric Car Range: Everything You Need to Know

2. Infrastructure

You can find far more public chargers in densely populated areas than rural communities, though most EV charging is done at home. While infrastructure is improving, it still has limitations, including broken chargers and fewer locations than gas stations.

3. Towing and Hauling

Manufacturers have begun introducing electric trucks and SUVs. While carmakers have published range claims, range drops significantly when the vehicles haul or tow a heavy load. Electric trucks are not practical heavy work vehicles just yet.

4. PHEVs Offer Most of the Benefits, Few Drawbacks

Plug-in hybrids provide many of the same strengths as electric cars without some of the limitations. A PHEV can functionally serve as an electric car for the average driver on an average day, while also allowing owners to take long road trips without renting or borrowing a different vehicle.

They can also refuel at both gas stations and charging stations. If you’re unsure whether you can live with the compromises of an EV, a PHEV might be right for you.

5. Cost

Most electric vehicles cost thousands more than their gasoline equivalents. Government incentives help lower the cost of some eligible vehicles but often don’t make the two equal investments.

This factor could ease with time as EVs grow more common. Every new technology grows less expensive as it gets mass-produced. A few EVs have seen their prices slashed, like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

EV Generations

2021 Hyundai Kona EV

First-Generation EVs — Built From Gas-Powered Cars

Some electric vehicles are modified versions of gasoline-powered cars. The Hyundai Kona, for instance, is available with either a gasoline powertrain or an electric one.

These EVs may feel more familiar to drivers and may be less expensive to repair because they share many parts in common with a more common electric car.

But they do not gain all the advantages of an EV because engineers have had to shoehorn electric drivetrain parts into spaces built for gasoline-powered cars.

Second-Generation EVs — EVs From the Ground Up

Kia EV-9 concept car with open doors

Automakers now design most EVs as dedicated electric cars. This allows new design possibilities. For instance, electric vehicles lack a traditional transmission, so a clean-sheet EV design does not require the traditional transmission hump separating the driver and passenger in a vehicle’s cabin. An electric vehicle’s moving parts can fit beneath the cabin floor and in the wheel wells.

This allows designers to create uniquely spacious vehicles. For instance, the Audi Q4 e-tron got built as a compact SUV. But the car offers almost as much passenger and cargo space as Audi’s larger, full-size Q7 SUV.

Government Programs Offer Incentives

The U.S. government’s electric car tax credit is the most well-known incentive program.

  1. Qualified electric car buyers can claim a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500 on select new EVs.
  2. For leases, the Internal Revenue Service lets dealers claim credits of up to $7,500 on EVs. The dealers can apply the credit to EV vehicle costs before setting lease terms, effectively lowering shoppers’ costs.
  3. Qualified used car shoppers looking to buy EVs older than two model years can get up to a $4,000 tax credit.

READ MORE: How Do Electric Car Tax Credits Work?

Some state and local governments offer incentives. For example, a substantial rebate in California offers up to $12,000 in rebates when purchasing a new EV. The initiative, called Cars 4 All, helps low-income buyers.

Also, some electric utilities offer rebate programs to help customers buy electric cars and install home charging stations. Electric companies are often happy to help you buy more electricity from them.

READ MORE: Electric Car Rebates and Incentives: What To Know by State

Current and Upcoming EVs by Class

Electric cars exist in virtually every class of vehicle. The list of available and upcoming EVs keeps changing quickly, as automakers introduced new models every month this year. The list includes:

Affordable Small Cars

  1. Chevy Bolt EV
  2. Chevy Bolt EUV
  3. Kia Niro
  4. Nissan Leaf

Affordable Midsize Cars

  1. Hyundai Ioniq 6

Luxury Small Cars

  1. Mini Cooper Electric

Luxury Midsize Cars

  1. BMW i4
  2. Tesla Model 3
  3. Polestar 2

Luxury Large Cars

  1. Audi A6 e-tron: Upcoming
  2. Genesis Electrified G80
  3. BMW i7
  4. Lucid Air
  5. Mercedes-Benz EQE
  6. Mercedes-Benz EQS
  7. Tesla Model S

Affordable Small SUVs

  1. Hyundai Kona Electric
  2. Mazda MX-30

Affordable Midsize SUVs

  1. Ford Mustang Mach-E
  2. Hyundai Ioniq 5
  3. Kia EV6
  4. Volkswagen ID.4
  5. Nissan Ariya
  6. Toyota bZ4X
  7. Subaru Solterra
  8. Honda Prologue: Upcoming
  9. VinFast VF 8: Upcoming
  10. VinFast VF 9: Upcoming

Luxury Small SUVs

  1. Audi Q4 e-tron
  2. Genesis GV60
  3. Mercedes-Benz EQB 
  4. Volvo C40 Recharge
  5. Volvo XC40 Recharge
  6. Polestar 2

Luxury Midsize SUVs

  1. Audi e-tron
  2. Audi e-tron Sportback
  3. Cadillac Lyriq
  4. Genesis Electrified GV70
  5. Jaguar I-PACE
  6. Tesla Model Y

Luxury Large SUVs

  1. BMW iX
  2. GMC Hummer EV SUV
  3. Rivian R1S
  4. Tesla Model X

Minivans

Volkswagen ID. Buzz: Upcoming

Full-Size Trucks

  1. Atlis XT: Upcoming
  2. Canoo Pickup Truck: Upcoming
  3. Chevy Silverado EV: Upcoming
  4. Ford F-150 Lightning
  5. GMC Hummer EV Pickup
  6. GMC Sierra EV: Upcoming
  7. Lordstown Endurance: Upcoming
  8. Ram 1500 REV: Upcoming
  9. Rivian R1T
  10. Tesla Cybertruck: Upcoming

Affordable Performance Cars

Dodge Charger EV Muscle Car: Upcoming

Luxury Performance Cars

  1. Audi e-tron GT
  2. Porsche Taycan
  3. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo