An electric vehicle, also called an EV, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion. The energy used for driving an EV is stored in the battery and the battery is charged at a charging station (at home, at the office or in public). 

That depends on many factors including: the type of vehicle, the power left in the battery, how fast your vehicle charges, and which kind of charging station you will be using. When charging your car with a standard power socket, approximately 5 to 10 hours is required. When using a fast charger (primarily located along highways), your battery will reach 80% charged in 30 minutes. Remember fast-chargers are more expensive than standard charging stations.

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An electric vehicle requires less maintenance than a combustion propelled car and an EV has fewer moving parts. As a result, the wear of an electric motor is lower. Oil changes, exhaust and gears are things of the past and the brakes are less sensitive to wear thanks to regenerative braking.

Electric vehicles are approved for all safety factors, just like conventional vehicles. In the event of a collision, there is a possibility that some parts may receive an active charge or that short-circuiting causes an electrical fire, though the safety precautions and construction have limited this risk to an absolute minimum.

Driving an EV is even more straightforward than a conventional car. The gear stick  is the same as an automatic transmission, so you only have to select Drive or Reverse to go. You will not use the brake pedal as often because the car uses a regenerative braking system that slows down the car when you take your foot off the accelerator.

Regarding comfort, safety and technology the equipment is the same. Added features can also help you manage your journey, like a connected navigation system with charge points availability on the road, or smartphone application to control your charge from your phone, and much more.

More and more electric vehicles will be available in the next two years. Currently, we can offer any of these EVs: Currently Available Electric Vehicles

All currently manufactured EVs come with the onboard capability to charge at a Level 1 or Level 2 rate, which is the rate the battery takes on power. Level 1 chargers charge at a slower rate, typically 3-5 miles per hour of charging. Level 2 chargers are faster, charging anywhere from 20 to 30 miles per hour of charging.

Also available is DC fast charging, available on a small amount of currently available EVs and the proprietary Tesla supercharger network.

EVs come with a Level 1 charger that can be plugged into a standard 110v electric outlet and connected to the port on the vehicle. This is the easiest, although slowest, way to charge your vehicle, and doesn’t require any additional parts or purchases.

Level 2 chargers can also be installed at home residences, which requires purchasing a Level 2 charger from one of the many manufacturers. You also need a 240v wall outlet (like the outlet for a home dryer), which needs installation by a professional electrician. Then you plug into the charging port on the vehicle, just like a Level 1.

Yes. If you are using the Level 1 charger that comes with your EV, you can plug it into a standard 110v electric outlet. If you have a Level 2 charger installed at home, you will also need a 240v wall outlet (like the outlet for a home dryer), which needs installation by a professional electrician.

If you are not able to recharge at home, you can use a public charging point. More and more charging points are being installed in the U.S. with 19,000 public charging points at the moment. And even more convenient, most of these stations are located at shopping centers where you can grab a bite to eat and shop until you’ve charged up. Making it easier, there are apps available for download that help drivers locate charging stations near their current location and destination.

The price of Level 2 residential EV supply equipment varies, but typically ranges from $500 to $2,000 before installation and state or utility incentives.

It depends on where you will be charging your vehicle and the vehicle model. Home charging stations are normally the most economical. Looking at a sample vehicle, the Nissan Leaf uses 30 kWh per 100 miles. Depending on your home electricity rate, your charging costs could range between $2.75 and $9.46 per 100 miles*. When charging in a public area, your rate is determined by the Charge Point Operator. A starting fee and incentive rate are often charged in addition to the kWh charge.

*Rates were calculated using the U.S. Energy Information Administration residential average electricity rates in February 2018 for the following states: North Dakota, Georgia, New York, California and Hawaii.

This varies and will depend on your state or utility incentives.