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By Cars.com Editors
September 26, 2024
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EV 101 Series: Learn about electric cars

Sit back and let our EV 101 videos walk you through everything you need to know before buying an electric vehicle. We’ll answer common questions about what it means to own an electric car and what to focus on while shopping.
Shopping for an EV? Here’s What You Need to Know

5:42

Shopping for an EV? Here’s What You Need to Know

Many EV shoppers aren’t sure where to start when considering an EV. Our experts share the various considerations when shopping for an EV, such as charging at home, thinking through range needs and how EVs drive compared to gasoline-powered vehicles.

Many EV shoppers aren’t sure where to start when considering an EV. Our experts share the various considerations when shopping for an EV, such as charging at home, thinking through range needs and how EVs drive compared to gasoline-powered vehicles.

How Much Range Do I Need?

3:58

How Much Range Do I Need?

For many EV shoppers, range anxiety is real. Becoming an informed EV shopper can relieve some or all of those concerns. We’ll dive deep into how much range you really need and factors that can impact an EV’s estimated range.

For many EV shoppers, range anxiety is real. Becoming an informed EV shopper can relieve some or all of those concerns. We’ll dive deep into how much range you really need and factors that can impact an EV’s estimated range.

How to Preserve Your EV’s Battery Capacity and Range

3:34

How to Preserve Your EV’s Battery Capacity and Range

EV shoppers have concerns about electric car batteries, but those concerns likely are focused on the wrong thing. We’ll explain how to best preserve your EV’s battery capacity and range.

EV shoppers have concerns about electric car batteries, but those concerns likely are focused on the wrong thing. We’ll explain how to best preserve your EV’s battery capacity and range.

How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

4:48

How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

The answer can vary from minutes to days, so we’ll arm you with the info you need to better understand the factors that affect how long it takes an EV to charge, including battery size and condition, as well as charging capability of the EV and charging equipment.

The answer can vary from minutes to days, so we’ll arm you with the info you need to better understand the factors that affect how long it takes an EV to charge, including battery size and condition, as well as charging capability of the EV and charging equipment.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home?

3:45

How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home?

Our experts will walk you through the many factors that determine how much it will cost to charge an EV at home.

Our experts will walk you through the many factors that determine how much it will cost to charge an EV at home.

Public EV Charging Stations: How Much They Cost and How to Find Them

4:19

Public EV Charging Stations: How Much They Cost and How to Find Them

We’ll guide you through the variety of ways to locate public charging stations, what to expect when you’re at a station, and how much time and money it could take to charge an EV on the go.

We’ll guide you through the variety of ways to locate public charging stations, what to expect when you’re at a station, and how much time and money it could take to charge an EV on the go.

Electric cars FAQ: What they are and how they work

What are electric cars?

Electric cars, or electric vehicles (EVs) to be more inclusive, are fully electric and rely on batteries for their power. There are plug-in hybrids that act like EVs but also can operate like gas-electric hybrids when the charge is depleted. Automakers often speak of “electrifying” their lineups, but that can include anything from hybrids to full EVs. On Cars.com, the EV designation typically means fully or “pure” electric, as it does most places.

Are electric cars more efficient than gas-powered cars?

Technically, electric motors are more efficient than gasoline or diesel engines and can provide cheaper operation per mile — but it depends on the cost of electricity and gasoline (or diesel) where you live, and EVs tend to cost more up front. EVs are the technology of choice for eco-friendly car buyers because they have no localized emissions tied to their operation. They can be powered with clean, renewable energy, and even when charged with power from nonrenewable sources, they release less carbon per mile compared with similar vehicles.

Can I use public chargers to charge my electric car?

Public charging should be viewed as an occasional convenience or a way to go farther from home. That’s because it’s often more expensive (or can become so without warning). Additionally, fast chargers that can recharge a mostly depleted battery in under an hour are still a rare find, and it’s not uncommon to encounter broken or poorly maintained chargers. Owning an EV without home charging is only for the truly devoted.
That said, public charger availability is likely to improve in the near future. Several automakers recently announced the adoption of the North American Charging Standard plug to open up more options for fast-charging EVs, most notably through the relatively reliable (but previously brand-exclusive) Tesla Supercharger network.

How do cold temperatures affect electric cars?

Cold is the Achilles’ heel of EVs regardless of make or model. Range can plummet as the battery pack cools, and heating the interior further reduces range. According to a study by AAA, EVs can lose more than 40% of their range at 20 degrees compared with 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Preheating the cabin while the car is still plugged in, as well as the use of heated seats and steering wheels, can lessen the pain, but the effects of cold must be factored in when determining how much range you need before purchasing.

Which EVs are eligible for the federal tax credit?

Some new EV and PHEV buyers can receive a federal tax credit of up to $7,500, and used EV buyers can for the first time claim a tax credit of up to $4,000. Better still, you no longer have to wait until you file taxes to claim that credit; instead, the credit can be transferred to your dealership when you purchase your car, at which point you can take it as a discount off the car’s purchase price or receive it as a lump sum.
Vehicles must be assembled in North America and meet certain other sourcing and manufacturing requirements to qualify, the specifics of which tighten on a year-by-year basis until 2029. This phase-in period allows manufacturers to adjust where they build EVs and source materials in order to remain eligible. For the time being, buyers need to recheck whether their EV of choice still qualifies for the tax credit at the start of each new year. Click here for the full list of which EVs and PHEVs qualify in 2024.
Buyers’ household incomes must be under certain thresholds to qualify for these tax credits, as well. For new cars, it’s $150,000 for individual filers, $225,000 for heads of households and $300,000 for joint filers. For used cars, it’s $75,000 for individuals, $112,000 for heads of households and $150,000 for joint filers. There are also price limits for tax credit eligibility: $55,000 for a new car, wagon or hatchback, and $80,000 for a new pickup, van or SUV. Used cars must be purchased from a dealership, be at least two model years old and cost no more than $25,000.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

The answer: It depends. Charging an EV could take anywhere from 20 minutes to 40 hours or more due to numerous variables, such as the EV’s charging capabilities, its battery capacity, the charging equipment’s capabilities and the ambient temperature.
Using a Level 1 charging setup that plugs into a standard 120-volt household outlet, you can expect to wait some 40 hours or more for a full charge; that means it should be a last resort for EV charging. Level 2 charging is the fastest means of charging an EV at home and uses a 240-volt outlet. Depending on your charging hardware and the vehicle’s capabilities, a Level 2 home charger can take as little as four hours to as many as 15 to fully charge an EV. Lastly, DC fast chargers found in public lots are your quickest option. These can vary considerably in maximum power delivery, but most new EVs typically are capable of charging from 20% to 80% in about 20 minutes to one hour.

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