What began as a trickle of niche electric vehicles has become one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry. Thanks to advances in battery technology, plug-in models are now capable of covering hundreds of miles between charges and offering advanced safety and driver-assist technologies.
Many electric automotive cars also offer what is called “one-pedal driving,” which means you can accelerate and decelerate with the same pedal. And you can often control how aggressively or slowly an EV accelerates, and how fast it decelerates through its regenerative braking system.
Electric vehicles can be plugged in at home, and you’ll also be able to charge at a growing number of public charging stations across the country. Depending on your daily driving habits and how far you travel, some EVs can be charged in as little as four hours.
The Electric Car Market: Trends and Developments
An all-electric car has zero tailpipe emissions, and that is a very good thing. But the driving experience can be different. Modern EVs usually accelerate instantly and are smooth and quiet at highway speeds. In fact, some EVs post 0-to-60-mph times that put many stock gas-powered muscle cars to shame.
PHEVs use an electric motor to propel the car until the battery runs low, at which point the gasoline engine kicks in seamlessly and the vehicle alternates between gas and electricity for the remainder of its trip. Combined, they can achieve nearly double the fuel economy of a traditional car. Some models have the bonus of bidirectional charging, which allows owners to draw power from their batteries while parked. This can be handy for keeping the lights on during a power outage or supplying energy to campers, work sites or tailgate parties.