Electric vehicles are more efficient
Electric vehicles are more efficient at turning stored energy into motion than gasoline vehicles and have the added advantage of recharging the batteries during braking. An electric car is roughly twice as efficient as a gasoline vehicle at turning energy into motion.
Efficiency analysis of electric and gasoline vehicles
Electric vehicles |
Gasoline vehicles |
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| Power grid to wheels | Percent efficient | Oil well to wheels | Percent efficient |
Electric power plant |
35% |
Petroleum extraction, refining and delivery | 81% |
Electric transmission lines |
93% Source: U.S. Climate Change Technology Program |
Gasoline engine & automatic transmission | 18% |
Battery charger |
95% Source: eTec Minit Charger |
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| Battery charge and discharge | 92% for lithium battery 85% for lead acid |
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| Electric motor | 92% Source: Reliant Energy Co. |
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| Net efficiency | 26% for lithium battery 24% for lead acid |
Net efficiency | 14.5% |
In this section
Electric vehicles are more efficient
Electric vehicles emit less greenhouse gases (GHG)
Practical approaches to recharging electric vehicles
Government policies to encourage electric vehicle recharging infrastructure
Electric vehicles on the market and in the future
Electric vehicle definitions
EV = Electric Vehicle: a vehicle powered only by electricity
BEV = Battery Electric Vehicle: another term sometimes used for an EV
HEV = Hybrid Electric Vehicle: powered by gasoline plus electricity, no plug (example: Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Honda Civic, Ford Escape)
NEV = Neighborhood Electric Vehicle: a 25 mph EV, meant for in-town use
PHEV = Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle: an HEV with an electric plug for recharging that reduces gasoline use
EREV = Extended Range Electric Vehicle: A PHEV with an on-board generator for longer trips