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Why do our products and services differ based on state? Because our business is regulated by state. We have regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. The different regulatory body for each state we serve determines what products and services we deliver in that state.
Electric Vehicle Basics
Electric Vehicle Basics
Learn more about electric vehicles
There are generally two types of electric vehicles. Hybrid-electric vehicles combine a conventional gasoline engine with a battery-run electric propulsion system to help improve fuel efficiency or performance. Hybrid-electric cars have been available in the U.S. for about a decade. Some examples include the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape and Fusion Hybrids.
Automakers are introducing plug-in electric vehicles that are operated by a battery, which is charged or “fueled” by plugging into an electrical outlet. Today, there are basically two types of plug-in electric vehicles – all electric and hybrid. An all-electric plug-in vehicle is dependent solely on the battery and must be recharged when the battery is depleted. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle operates on both a battery and a gasoline engine. The car initially runs on power from the battery, and when the battery is depleted, it can continue to operate on gasoline.
Some benefits we see with electric vehicles include:
- Lower fuel and operating costs
- Reduced dependence on foreign oil
- Air quality and other environmental improvements because these vehicles produce lower greenhouse gas and tailpipe emissions
Dozens of automakers have announced plans for plug-in electric vehicles, so over the next few years we expect to see the availability increase. Some experts predict that by 2025 one in six households will own an electric car and by 2030 one in three will have one. How widely adopted they become depends on a number of factors, including:
- Pace of battery and vehicle development
- Government policy
- Vehicle costs and performance
- Energy costs
- Charging accessibility
