Overview
What is an EV?
An electric vehicle, or EV, is any vehicle that gets some of or all of the power it needs to move from electrical energy. All use electric motors for power, and almost all electric vehicles store electrical energy in batteries. A pure electric vehicle (also called a battery-electric vehicle, or BEV) is an electric vehicle that uses an electric motor powered by a battery to run the car — with no gasoline engine at all.
What types of EVs are there?
There are a handful of different electric or hybrid-electric vehicles. Compare them on our vehicle types reference guide (PDF).
What types of electric cars are currently available in the U.S.?
To find out what’s currently available in the U.S., visit Plug-In America’s electric vehicle tracker.
What about trucks and fleet vehicles?
Electric trucks are on their way to Oregon — several manufacturers have announced plans. Fleet managers should visit Plug-In America’s electric vehicle tracker for the latest updates.
What is PGE is doing to help bring electric vehicles to Oregon?
PGE is partnering with state and local governments, higher education and businesses to expand the EV infrastructure in Oregon. With more than 20 charging stations up and running — including the nation’s first quick-charge station open to the public — PGE is helping Oregon prepare to be a national leader in the EV movement. PGE is also participating in a national test market program beginning that will bring up to 2,000 charging stations and nearly 1,000 Nissan LEAF EVs to Oregon. Read more in Expanding EVs in Oregon.
What is the miles-per-gallon equivalent for an electric car?
That’s a hard comparison to make, since different plug-in vehicles have different systems — some that use gasoline and some that don’t. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that the Nissan LEAF can go 99 mpg on the energy equivalent of one gallon of gas, which the EPA says is 33.7 kWh of electricity. For city-only driving, the LEAF’s mpge increases to 106. By comparison, the Toyota Prius hybrid has a 51-mpg rating in the city. The EPA gave the Chevy Volt an overall rating of 60 mpge, with 93 mpge when driven in its electric mode and 37 mpg when it uses gasoline only. These ratings are expected to change as technology advances.
Do electric cars need regular tune-ups like gasoline cars?
Like all vehicles, electric vehicles will require regular maintenance. But unlike traditional gasoline vehicles, EVs will not require regular oil changes, will have significantly fewer moving parts and fluids, and have simpler components that will decrease the frequency and expense of vehicle maintenance. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and extended range vehicles (EREVs), which have an internal combustion engine as well as electrical drive components, will require regular maintenance on the whole system.
If so, where do you service electric vehicles?
Initially, EVs will be fully serviced by the vehicle manufactures and their dealer networks. However, like most other businesses we expect non-manufacturer-based service providers to enter the market as demand grows.
Buying an electric vehicle
How do I get started?
The best place to start is on our Get Plug-in Ready page, where individuals and businesses can learn what they need to consider, and the steps to take, to join the electric vehicle movement.
What about tax credits?
There are federal and state tax credits for EVs and charging stations. Find out more on our Resources page.
Charging and batteries
How do you charge electric vehicles?
Charging is simple: you plug in your car and go. Most consumers charge their vehicles in their garages at night, but public charging stations are also available. In fact, the network of charging stations is growing. Find more information on our Charging at Home and Charging on the Go sections.
How long does it take to charge a typical EV*?
- Level 1 – Charges an EV in 12+ hours using standard 110-volt power at 15 to 20 amps
- Level 2 – Charges an EV in 4 to 6 hours using 220-volt power at up to 40 amps
- Quick charge (Level 3) – Charges an EV in less than 30 minutes
*Charging times will vary depending on the battery level before charging, the vehicle (not all will be capable of fast charging) and the charging station’s capabilities.
When will public charging stations be available?
In Portland, public charging stations are available now. See maps of charging station locations. The EV Project aims to install more than 1,000 publicly available charging stations in Oregon, including the Ashland-Medford area.
The Oregon Department of Transportation has also received a $2 million grant to install up to 24 DC fast-charge stations throughout northwest Oregon by 2012, including points south of Eugene. These stations typically charge an EV battery to 80 percent in 20 to 30 minutes and will complement the growing network of Level 2 stations.
Where are charging stations located?
See our Charging Stations section to learn about the different types of charging stations, find out more about Oregon’s coming wave of new stations, and download charging station maps.
How do I get a charging station installed at my home or business?
Customers may install charging stations by working with PGE and various manufacturers or by participating in the federally funded EV Project in Oregon.
Does the Oregon law prohibiting the public from pumping its own gas apply to EV charging?
No. Any driver can charge an electric vehicle.
Does PGE offer a special pricing plan to customers who charge at home or at a small business?
PGE offers customers a Time of Use pricing plan, which allows customers to charge during off-peak hours (overnight and weekends) at a discounted rate. By charging an EV during off-peak hours, customers can save money and help the environment through reducing impact to the overall energy system.
What exactly is a lithium battery and how is it different from the batteries you use in your CD player or laptop?
Lithium batteries used in electric vehicles are similar to the ones found in today’s small electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops. The main difference is the total power capacity and size of these batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are attractive because they deliver superior performance in both power and energy density, allowing them to achieve a much higher weight-to-performance ratio than either of their predecessors. Li-Ion batteries (Lithium-Cobalt), such as those found in early cell phones and laptops had lifetime and safety issues. Lithium-Iron-Phosphate batteries, the ones used in most EVs, are inherently safe and will last the lifetime of a vehicle.1
How long do EV batteries last?
Nissan expects their batteries to have a lifespan of five to 10 years. Like any battery, time and age will lead to a corresponding decrease in range expected. By six years, batteries may have decreased to about 80 percent capacity, and are not affected by partial charging.
Environment
Do electric vehicles really reduce emissions?
Yes. Electric vehicles reduce or eliminate carbon emissions from the tailpipe. That’s huge, given that one-third of the nation’s greenhouse gases come from transportation, and 60 percent of that is from personal vehicle use. And even when powered by electricity generated from 100 percent coal power, battery-electric vehicles still create about 60 percent less carbon than traditional gas-powered vehicles. And while electricity is getting cleaner and more renewable every year, even the cleanest gasoline car becomes ever more polluting. An electric car, on the other hand, gets cleaner as the grid gets cleaner.
How can I reduce the impact of my driving even further?
EV drivers can further reduce their environmental impact by signing up for PGE renewable power options such as Clean Wind or Green Source. With Green Source, 100 percent of your energy use is offset with renewable energy. Add that to an electric vehicle with zero tailpipe emissions, and you’re making a dramatic difference in your vehicle’s carbon footprint.
If everyone buys electric cars, won’t PGE need to build more power plants?
PGE estimates that 90 percent of charging would be done at customers’ homes, with the remaining 10 percent at public stations, representing a potential new off-peak load. Research has indicated that the existing electric grid in the Northwest could handle a nearly 75 percent adoption rate of plug-in vehicles (PIVs). However, upgrades to infrastructure may be required in areas of PGE’s service territory with particularly high PIV adoption rates. For more information please see the Plug In Vehicle section in PGE’s integrated resource plan (PDF).
Can electric batteries be recycled?
Lithium, the main component in EV batteries, is highly recyclable and many manufacturers are planning programs to help customers recycle or repurpose batteries at the end of their useful car life.
Is the world supply of Lithium really running out?
Most experts agree that the world does not face an imminent lithium shortage, regardless of the rate of electric vehicle adoption. Concerns about lithium dependence tend to ignore a key feature of lithium — its ability to be recycled. Still, raw materials are a key driver of battery cost, and the largest known reserves are in just a few countries. Ensuring sufficient and affordable supplies of battery materials will be critical to the viability of EVs.2
Safety
Are electric vehicles safe?
All newly manufactured electric vehicles are developed, and have to pass, all of the same safety standards as their equivalent internal combustion engine counterparts. For more on the safety of a specific vehicle, visit the manufacturer’s website.
Is it safe to charge in the rain?
Electric vehicle charging cords and stations are designed to be safe in the rain. The new charging apparatus is designed so that the current doesn’t flow until the plug is fully engaged in the receptor ’ and at that point the apparatus is protected from the elements by the structure of the plug and charging station. Older and newer stations have the required safety circuits (Charge Current Interruption Devices and/or ground monitoring circuits.) Some also have surge protection to protect the station from system surges.
1Source: http://www.pluginamerica.org/
2Source: http://www.electrificationcoalition.org/electrification-roadmap.php