The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Car Electrical Components

In addition to the fully-electric battery electric vehicle, there are a few other types of electric vehicles.

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Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) have a traditional gas engine along with a battery and electric motors. The engine and motors work together to power the vehicle. You do not have to plug HEVs in; instead, you just fill it up with gas like an internal combustion engine (ICE) car and the battery is charged through regenerative braking. Vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight are examples of hybrid vehicles.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) also combine a gas engine with a battery and electric motors, and it functions much the same way as a hybrid. The main difference is these vehicles can be plugged in to charge the battery. PHEVs also have larger batteries than a standard hybrid, which allows them to have a longer electric driving range. Vehicles like the Toyota Prius Prime and Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid are examples of PHEVs.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) use a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity to power its electric motor. You pump these cars full of pressurized hydrogen similar to how you’d pump gasoline. The chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen then powers the battery and electric motor, with the only emissions being heat and potable water. Vehicles like the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo are examples of FCEVs, and have very limited availability.

Read more: Hybrids vs. Plug-in Hybrids vs. Electric Vehicles
Read more: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles: The Future or a Fad?

The most obvious benefit of owning an electric car is not having to visit the gas station—unless you need coffee or snacks, of course. Consumer Reports found that charging at home can save EV owners up to $1,000 a year, a compelling reason to leave gasoline behind. Given that they have electric motors instead of gas-powered internal combustion engines, they are also less expensive to maintain on average.

EVs can also help the environment, as electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions and get you around more efficiently. Companies across all industries are working hard to lower their carbon footprint, and electric vehicles are key to reducing emissions in transportation. And while it’s true that emissions are produced by the manufacturing process for any vehicle, you can reduce the carbon debt by shopping for used electric vehicles.

Read More: How Electric Vehicles Save You Money

Most drivers are used to driving cars with a gas-powered engine and filling up at a gas station. Electric vehicles are different by design; they are powered by an electric motor and battery pack. To recharge, you simply plug it in at home or at a public charging station. If you recharge your vehicle daily and plan around your daily commute, owning an EV can be a lot like owning a smartphone.

While it’s widely known that electric vehicles are efficient, many people don’t realize that they can also be surprisingly fun to drive. Modern examples of EVs produce instant torque, enabling them to accelerate quickly from a standstill. Even entry-level EVs like the Nissan Leaf can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in as little as 6.5 seconds, which is comparable to some sports cars.

Charging an electric vehicle at home is fairly straightforward. You can plug into a traditional AC outlet or install a Level 2 charger for faster results. How long it takes to charge an electric vehicle will vary depending on both your car and your charging equipment. If you’re able to plug in overnight, you should have enough charge to handle a short commute or run basic errands.

If it’s your first time buying an electric vehicle, you’ll probably want to have a charging solution at home. And while charging with a standard 110-volt outlet is possible, reaching a full charge using that method can take some time. A 240-volt outlet, currently the most popular option for homeowners, enables Level 2 charging. You can expect to recover 20 miles of range each hour, which is four times faster than the basic alternative.

Read more: Your Guide to Electric Vehicle Chargers

Getting a charging station installed at home can add additional costs to your EV adventure, but it’s also a long-term investment that can pay off in big ways. You’ll need to purchase the equipment and have it professionally installed by an electrician, but you may be able to claim a federal tax credit to help offset the cost. And if you live in an apartment, it never hurts to let the building management know about your interest in EV charging to see if they’ll help with the cost of a charging station.

So, how much does an electric car charger cost? The national average price for charging stations is between $1,000 and $2,500. The cost varies based on your region and the type of station you buy.

If you need to recharge when you’re away from home, you can use public charging stations and pay as you go. And as EVs increase in popularity, more charging stations are being built across the country, making long distance travel easier. You can use an app like Plugshare to find nearby stations and plan your route. The app includes user reviews, costs and hours, all thanks to the EV community.

Modern electric vehicles support Level 1 and Level 2 charging through the standard J connector. Most (if not all) new EVs sold today support DC fast charging, which uses a special CHAdeMO connector. DC fast charging converts AC power into DC power prior to entering the vehicle, which charges vehicles with up to 80 miles of range for every 20 minutes of charging. To reduce wear, fast charging is limited to 80% of your battery capacity.

New car fast charging has come a long way in recent years. For example, the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 can fast charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 18 minutes, and the Audi e-Tron GT can go from 5 to 80 percent charged in 23 minutes.

Tesla vehicles can connect to standard J outlets using an included adapter, but they also have access to Tesla Superchargers, which is a proprietary charging station that can recharge up to 75 miles in five minutes. This makes them especially viable for long distance driving.

Tesla has also set industry standards by allowing other EVs to use their Superchargers. Several automakers have signed agreements with Tesla to join the company’s charging network, with more to follow in the near future. At the moment, certain Supercharger stations across the country offer charging for non-Tesla vehicles. You can learn about the specifics here.

You might be surprised at the variety of electric vehicles available today, with many more on the way. No longer are they just electric cars, either: Today, there are multiple electric SUVs and even electric pickup trucks on the market for sale, with plenty of others on the way soon.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E represents a bold new direction for Ford’s legendary nameplate. Meanwhile, the Hummer EV will deliver an astounding level of performance and utility while producing zero emissions. Electric vehicles will soon defy common stereotypes, and they’ll be doing it in a big way.

Automakers are looking to electrify more vehicles across their entire lineup, signaling a huge shift that’s already underway in the industry. The technology is also improving all the time, particularly in the areas of range and charging speeds. It’s an exciting time to own an electric vehicle, and it’s safe to say that you’ll be seeing more of them at the dealership.

Read More: What California’s Upcoming Gas Car Ban Means for You

Electric vehicle tax credits and rebates can help offset the sticker price of EVs at the dealership. There is a federal tax credit worth up to $7,500 for battery and fuel-cell EVs and plug-in hybrids that are assembled in North America and, after Jan. 1, , that also meet strict rules regulating the origin of various battery materials. Various states also offer a variety of  rebates and credits that can be worth up to $5,000. If you’re wondering what you might qualify for, it’s easy to check. For federal tax credit eligibility under terms of the Inflation Reduction Act of (IRA), check the Department of Energy’s regularly updated listing. For other federal and various state incentives for electric vehicles check the department’s alternative fuel center site under the “laws and incentives” tab. And don’t forget about your utility company, which may offer additional rebates.

Currently, the federal tax credit can be up to $7,500. Until , the credit was limited to the first 200,000 qualified vehicles across their lineups, but that cap was lifted by the IRA. The tax benefit was recently modified by the Inflation Reduction Act through , allowing for a maximum credit of $7,500 for new EVs and up to $4,000 (limited to 30% of the sale price) for used EVs.

The electric vehicle tax credit is a nonrefundable tax credit. This means it can lower your tax bill, but you won’t see any overages back in the form of a refund. To be absolutely sure of a vehicle’s provenance before committing to a purchase, enter its vehicle identification number, or VIN, on the tool provided on the federal VIN Decoder website – it will tell you in what country that specific car, SUV or truck was made

The IRA also established a tax credit of up to $4,000 for used EVS and PHEVS starting in .  That’s a first and it is intended to help lower-income individuals and families start driving electric. The used vehicles aren’t subject to the various country-or-original requirements that the IRA imposes on new electrified vehicles.

What about leases? Unfortunately, lessees of EVs can’t claim the federal tax credit, since the credit goes to the owner, and in a lease, the manufacturer owns the vehicle. The good news, however, is that dealers often pass on the savings in the form of a lower monthly payment. This can lead to some incredible deals on electric and plug-in vehicles, which can make them a compelling choice when compared to leasing a gas-powered car.

Read More: Everything You Need to Know About EV Tax Credits in
Read More: How Electric Vehicles Save You Money

When electric vehicles were first introduced, range anxiety was a real concern for owners.  Charging stations were fewer and farther between, making longer trips less feasible. But today, electric vehicles are compelling options for all kinds of lifestyles. Many of the latest EVs offer a driving range of at least 250 miles, and the lifespan of EV batteries looks promising as well. But, there are plenty of EVs that offer even longer ranges.

The average round trip commute in the United States is just over 52 minutes, although that varies by state. As long as you can plug in when you get home, you should be able to recover that range overnight. To maximize your battery, avoid driving aggressively and be mindful of extreme weather. And while your vehicle will let you know how many miles you have left, it’s always a good idea to leave a buffer in case of an unexpected detour.

Read More: EV Driving Range: How Much Do You Really Need?

There’s a lot to consider when you’re choosing whether to buy or lease an electric vehicle. Batteries are getting more efficient, and their range is increasing greatly over a typical 3-year lease which allows you to move up to greater range and newer technology every few years while only spending a third or a half of the typical purchase price for a new EV. Leasing an EV will ensure that you have the latest and greatest. For buyers, you’ll want to make sure that the range is sustainable for your long-term needs. Either way, you can expect a confidence-inspiring warranty of at least 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Read More: Why You Should Consider Leasing a Vehicle

To shield yourself from potential unexpected costs, it may be worth considering a vehicle service contract when you buy or own an EV. A vehicle service contract is an agreement that covers the expenses of certain repairs for a specific period. These contracts are typically available from a dealer or third-party provider and can be purchased for both new and used vehicles.

By investing in a vehicle service contract, owners can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that they won’t have to bear the burden of repair costs out of pocket. While these contracts do come at an additional expense, they can save owners a significant amount of money over the life of the vehicle. Many vehicle service contracts cover items such as battery replacements and motor repairs which can be costly if paid for out of pocket.

Read More: Exploring Electric Vehicle Protection Products

Quick Facts About Buying the Right Electric Car

• Fully electric cars use no gasoline. You can also find hybrids or plug-in hybrids, both of which use gas.  
• Buying an EV means making a mental shift in thinking about how you refuel your car. The good news is most EV charging gets done at home.
• There are pros and cons of buying an EV. Range and infrastructure continue to be limitations.  

Electric cars will drive the future of the automotive world. Because many automakers plan for an all-electric future, there is little doubt in the industry that most cars Americans buy 15 years from now will be electric vehicles (EVs).

But we live in the present. And years of infrastructure got built around the assumption that we’ll all drive gasoline-powered cars. Charging stations and electricity policies necessary to make owning an EV even more effortless than owning a gasoline-powered car will take time. The country is in the early stages of building them.

So, we know of good reasons to believe you’ll eventually own an electric car. But is now the time? Could an EV be right for you? You’re probably reading this because you know it’s a complicated question. We’ll break down the issues and the current state of the EV market for you.

• What Is an EV?
• Are EVs Really Going to Replace Gas-Powered Cars?
• How About EV Infrastructure?
• Can I Charge My EV from Any Plug?
• EV  Benefits
• EV Limitations
• EV Generations
• Government Programs Offer Incentives
• Current and Upcoming EVs by Class

What Is an EV?

An electric vehicle is a car that uses electricity instead of gasoline to provide the energy it uses to move.

When researching which electric car to buy, you may see the term “electrified vehicles.” That typically does not refer to cars that use only electricity, but rather cars powered by at least some electricity to provide the energy they need to move. The exception is Genesis. The carmaker calls some of its fully electric vehicles electrified, like the Genesis Electrified GV70.

What Is a Hybrid?

Hybrid cars use both electricity and gasoline. They run on both a gasoline engine and a small electric motor. They use their electric motor to get up to a certain speed, after which the gasoline engine takes over. Using gasoline for only part of their power makes them more fuel-efficient than regular gasoline-powered cars.

RELATED: What Is MPGe? Everything You Need to Know

The Hyundai Elantra, for instance, is available with a gasoline-only powertrain or a hybrid powertrain. In gasoline-only form, it gets an EPA-estimated 32 mpg in the city and 41 on the highway, depending on the model. In the hybrid form, it gets 51 mpg in the city and 58 mpg on the highway. But hybrids are not EVs. This guide does not cover hybrid cars.

What Is a Plug-in Hybrid?

Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) cars also use both electricity and gasoline for power. But they have a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor. They can travel under electric power up to their full speed. A PHEV can use electricity alone until its battery is nearly depleted. It then turns on its gasoline engine and begins to function as a hybrid. In practical terms, owning a PHEV is much like owning an EV. But PHEVs can take long trips when fueled with gasoline.

For instance, the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV can travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone. The average American drives less than 40 miles a day. So many Pacifica PHEV owners can effectively operate an EV on an average day. But they can take longer road trips without worrying about their car’s EV range and use gasoline for greater distances. A handful of PHEVs like the Pacifica also qualify for tax incentives of $7,500 that help Americans buy electric cars, lowering their costs versus traditional hybrids. This guide will not cover PHEVs.

Fully Electric Cars Use No Gas

Electric vehicles do not have internal combustion engines (ICE). They operate with large batteries, usually placed underneath the car’s floor, that store all their power. They use small electric motors attached directly to their axles that do the job of an engine.

EVs travel with limited range because their batteries can deplete. Recharging their batteries takes longer than refilling a gas tank. But even the shortest-range EV on the market today drives many times longer than the distance most Americans do each day. As technology improves, charging batteries keeps getting faster.

RELATED: 5 Fastest-Charging Electric Cars

Are EVs Really Going to Replace Gas-Powered Cars?

Electric vehicles just might replace gas-powered cars, but the transition will not be immediate. California and other states like Massachusetts, Maryland, and Washington plan to ban sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by . Other states may soon follow.

However, broader adoption will take time. According to Kelley Blue Book parent Cox Automotive, electric vehicle sales made up an 8% share of the total new car market in , up from 7.6% in and 5.9% in . Manufacturers offered five electric car models to buyers in the United States eight years ago. Today, you can find nearly 100 configurations of models from almost two dozen automakers.

There’s a growing trend toward electric pickups with the release of the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, Chevrolet Silverado EV, Tesla Cybertruck, and GMC Hummer EV pickup. The Ram REV is also waiting in the wings.

Automakers made grand plans several years ago as excitement for EVs gained momentum. Some industry giants pledged to have all-electric lineups by , , or sooner. However, the challenge of meeting government regulations, lowering prices, and balancing consumer demand prompted some manufacturers to scale back their ambitious goals. Here’s a list of what some of those plans include:

1. Volkswagen: The world’s largest automaker previously pledged to build a lineup of almost all electric cars by but now plans to adjust the EV strategy and expand its PHEV lineup.
2. General Motors: America’s largest automaker scaled back its EV production and sales target.
3. Volvo: The manufacturer adjusted its EV sales target to include hybrid models.

So, yes, manufacturers take EVs seriously. Fully electric vehicles could probably replace most gasoline-powered cars in the coming decades, just not as quickly as initially thought.

RELATED: Electric Car Companies Guide

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How About EV Infrastructure?

Buying an EV means making a mental shift in thinking about how you refuel your car.

Drivers became accustomed to filling up their gas tanks while traveling. Most EV charging, however, gets done at home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 80% of EV charging happens at home.

PRO TIP: “When I test electric cars, I mostly charge them at home. However, I also found it easy to quickly charge up at a Level 3 DC fast charger when doing grocery shopping locally. At public fast chargers, it took about 18 minutes for our long-term Kia EV6 to get charged to 80%. A year later, the EV6 still charged in the same timeframe at a fast charger.” — Renee Valdes, lead advice editor of Kelley Blue Book.

Charging at Home

You can charge an EV from a simple household outlet. But, for efficiency, charging your electric car from a faster Level 2 at home is what most buyers prefer. You can also charge at a public Level 2 or Level 3 DC fast charger (more on that in a moment). Most car dealers selling EVs can coordinate installing Level 2 chargers at your home if you own it. Some public utilities offer special incentives for installation. Level 3 chargers are cost-prohibitive to install in residential settings

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About EV Charging Stations

Charging a vehicle is more challenging if you live in an apartment building. However, many corporate apartment owners have begun installing fast chargers. Even if yours hasn’t, building owners might be willing to upon request. It makes the building more attractive to renters. In many cases, local electric utilities can help defray installation costs.

Public Charging Stations

Having access to chargers in your community is convenient. But right now, America operates more gas stations than electric charging stations. One day, those numbers will switch places. According to NACS, the leading industry association for convenience stores and fuel retailers, about 120,000 convenience stores sell fuel. Roughly 20,000 other locations are gas-only stations, grocery stores with fueling centers, etc.

U.S. Department of Energy data shows that at least 69,720 public EV charging stations exist as of this writing. Of those, the vast majority are Level 2 chargers. Thanks to public- and private-sector funding, the number of public EV chargers doubled from to . Earlier this month, the Federal Highway Administration announced grant funding for projects that will deploy 11,500 EV charging ports and hydrogen and natural gas fueling infrastructure across 27 states.

A patchwork of companies operates charging networks around the country, which can lead to reliability problems. One of the largest networks, Electrify America, is slowing its expansion to devote resources over the next couple of years to improving reliability. Meanwhile, eight of the world’s largest automakers teamed up to announce a coast-to-coast charging network, known as IONNA. Tesla’s Supercharger network is the largest charging web and is highly rated for its reliability.

It’s also worth noting that charging infrastructure in your area may be better than you think. A recent analysis from Zutobi, a company that provides driver’s education and training materials, found that the three states with the greatest number of chargers per EV are, believe it or not, Wyoming, North Dakota, and West Virginia.

Can I Charge My EV From Any Plug?

Previously, nearly every new EV for sale in the U.S. included a charging unit that could be plugged into a standard 110-volt household outlet. Today, those portable chargers are sometimes offered as optional equipment or acquired as an aftermarket accessory. Level 1 charging is the slowest method, providing up to five miles of range per hour, and is rarely used as a primary source of recharging.

Many EV owners choose to install a so-called Level 2 charger at home. A Level 2 charger requires a 240-volt electrical supply, the type of connection used for a clothes dryer. An electrician can install a 240-volt outlet in most homes, and dealerships will often arrange installation as part of purchasing an electric car. A Level 2 charger is much faster.

RELATED ARTICLE: How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

Some public chargers are faster Level 3 fast chargers. These use direct current. It’s impossible to give an accurate generalized estimate for all EVs because each vehicle can accept electricity at a different rate. But some electric cars can charge their battery up to 80% from a Level 3 charger in about 20 minutes.

Types of Plugs

There are several different types of plugs on electric cars sold in the U.S. this year, and using a public charger can require you to find the right kind of connector. The most common connection is the J, used for Level 1 and Level 2 charging.

Most European- and American-made electric cars use a CCS Type 1 plug. Japanese-built EVs use a plug design called CHAdeMO, though it’s being phased out. Most public charging stations can accommodate both.

For its Supercharger network, Tesla uses a proprietary plug design known as the North American Charging Standard, or NACS. Tesla sells its cars with an adapter that allows them to use chargers from other brands.

Currently, other brands can use only a select number of Tesla Superchargers. Tesla plans to make at least 7,500 of its chargers available to all EVs. Cars with CCS and CHAdeMO plugs will need a special adapter to use Tesla Superchargers.

MORE: An EV Charger Buying Guide: See All Your Options.

EV Benefits

Though electric cars remain a small percentage of the vehicles on American roads, their numbers are growing faster than any other type of car thanks to several factors.

1. Fuel Cost

Electricity costs less than gasoline. Because electricity rates and gasoline prices fluctuate, it’s impossible to give you a single figure explaining the cost difference between using gas and electricity for your driving needs. But most drivers would spend less than a quarter of their annual gasoline budget to drive an EV instead.

Read an analysis in our article How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV?

2. Maintenance and Repair Costs

EVs use fewer moving parts than gasoline-powered cars. An analysis by We Predict found that EV owners spend about $7 for every $30 a gasoline car owner spends on maintenance. And while costs to repair an electric car were higher, study authors noted that electric vehicles experienced fewer problems that required repair and that repair costs continue decreasing as more mechanics become certified in repairing electric cars.

3. Environmental Benefits

One of the most compelling reasons to buy an electric car is to help reduce your impact on the climate. Recent studies have shown that while building a new car has an immense environmental impact, EVs are better for the environment after just a few years of ownership.

4. Improved Driving Experience

Gasoline engines build up their power gradually, beginning when you step on the gas pedal. Even the fastest gasoline engines take a few seconds to reach full torque.

Electric motors make 100% of their power available at all times.

This means that electric cars accelerate dramatically faster than their gasoline-powered counterparts.

It’s difficult to overstate the impact of electric power on automotive performance. Thanks to the rise of electricity, the Kia EV6 reaches zero-60 mph faster than even Lamborghini or Ferrari had achieved a decade ago.

MORE: The Coolest Electric Car Features You’ll Want in the Future

EV Limitations

There are still good reasons for some car buyers to look elsewhere, including the following:

1. Range

Some people routinely drive farther than an EV can go on a single charge.

Most of us don’t. The average American drives less than 40 miles per day. The Nissan Leaf, the least-expensive and shortest-range EV for the model year, has a 149-mile range. That’s more than three times the average daily driving distance on a single charge. The longest-range electric vehicle, currently the Lucid Air, can travel up to 516 miles before recharging.

However, most EVs get below 300 miles of range per charge. Still, road trips are doable in EVs, even when traveling long distances in the winter.

But an EV isn’t practical for those who routinely drive long distances. Battery technology is constantly improving, and some technologies currently in development (like solid-state batteries) could provide EVs with dramatically more range in several years.

READ MORE: Electric Car Range: Everything You Need to Know

2. Infrastructure

You can find far more public chargers in densely populated areas than in rural communities, though most EV charging is done at home. While infrastructure is improving, it still has limitations, including broken chargers and fewer locations than gas stations.

3. Towing and Hauling

Manufacturers have begun introducing electric trucks and SUVs. While carmakers have published range claims, range drops significantly when the vehicles haul or tow a heavy load. Electric trucks are not practical heavy work vehicles just yet.

4. PHEVs Offer Most of the Benefits, Few Drawbacks

Plug-in hybrids provide many of the same strengths as electric cars without some of the limitations. A PHEV can functionally serve as an electric car for the average driver on an average day, while also allowing owners to take long road trips without renting or borrowing a different vehicle.

They can also refuel at both gas stations and charging stations. If you’re unsure whether you can live with the compromises of an EV, a PHEV might be right for you.

5. Cost

Most electric vehicles cost thousands more than their gasoline equivalents. Government incentives help lower the cost of some eligible vehicles but often don’t make the two equal investments.

This factor could ease with time as EVs become more common. Every new technology grows less expensive as it gets mass-produced. A few EVs have seen their prices slashed, including the Tesla Model Y, the Volkswagen ID.4, and the Chevrolet Equinox EV.

RELATED: Ford Answers Tesla With Big Price Cut on Electric Mustang Mach-E

EV Generations

First-Generation EVs — Built From Gas-Powered Cars

Some electric vehicles are modified versions of gasoline-powered cars. The original Hyundai Kona EV, for instance, was based on and came after the gasoline version.

These EVs may feel more familiar to drivers and may be less expensive to repair because they share many parts in common with a more common electric car.

But they do not gain all the advantages of an EV because engineers have had to shoehorn electric drivetrain parts into spaces built for gasoline-powered cars.

Second-Generation EVs — EVs From the Ground Up

Automakers now design most EVs as dedicated electric cars. This allows new design possibilities. For instance, electric vehicles lack a traditional transmission, so a clean-sheet EV design does not require the traditional transmission hump separating the driver and passenger in a vehicle’s cabin. An electric vehicle’s moving parts can fit beneath the cabin floor and in the wheel wells.

This allows designers to create uniquely spacious vehicles. For instance, the Audi Q4 e-tron got built as a compact SUV. But the car offers almost as much passenger and cargo space as Audi’s larger, full-size Q7 SUV.

MORE: Our Favorite EV Safety Features and Brands That Offer Them

Government Programs Offer Incentives

The U.S. government’s electric car tax credit is the most well-known incentive program.

1. Qualified electric car buyers can claim a federal income tax credit of $7,500 on select new EVs.
2. For leases, the Internal Revenue Service lets dealers claim credits of up to $7,500 on EVs. The dealers can apply the credit to EV vehicle costs before setting lease terms, effectively lowering shoppers’ costs.
3. Qualified used car shoppers looking to buy EVs older than two model years can get up to a $4,000 tax credit.

READ MORE: How Do Electric Car Tax Credits Work?

Some state and local governments offer incentives. For example, a substantial rebate in California offers up to $12,000 in rebates when purchasing a new EV. The initiative, called Cars 4 All, helps low-income buyers.

Also, some electric utilities offer rebate programs to help customers buy electric cars and install home charging stations. Electric companies are often happy to help you buy more electricity from them.

READ MORE: Electric Car Rebates and Incentives: What To Know by State

Current and Upcoming EVs by Class

Electric cars exist in virtually every class of vehicle. The list of available and upcoming EVs keeps changing quickly, as automakers introduced new models every month this year. The list includes:

Affordable Small Cars

1. Kia Niro
2. Nissan Leaf

Affordable Midsize Cars

1. Hyundai Ioniq 6

Luxury Small Cars

1. Mini Cooper Electric

Luxury Midsize Cars

1. BMW i4
2. Tesla Model 3
3. Polestar 2

Luxury Large Cars

1. Audi A6 e-tron: Upcoming
2. Genesis Electrified G80
3. BMW i7
4. Lucid Air
5. Mercedes-Benz EQE
6. Mercedes-Benz EQS
7. Tesla Model S

Affordable Small SUVs

1. Chevrolet Equinox EV
2. Hyundai Kona Electric

Affordable Midsize SUVs

1. Ford Mustang Mach-E
2. Hyundai Ioniq 5
3. Kia EV6
4. Volkswagen ID.4
5. Nissan Ariya
6. Toyota bZ4X
7. Subaru Solterra
8. Honda Prologue
9. VinFast VF 8
10. VinFast VF 9: Upcoming

Luxury Small SUVs

1. Audi Q4 e-tron
2. Genesis GV60
3. Mercedes-Benz EQB 
4. Volvo C40 Recharge
5. Volvo XC40 Recharge
6. Polestar 2

Luxury Midsize SUVs

1. Audi e-tron
2. Audi e-tron Sportback
3. Cadillac Lyriq
4. Genesis Electrified GV70
5. Jaguar I-PACE
6. Tesla Model Y

Luxury Large SUVs

1. BMW iX
2. GMC Hummer EV SUV
3. Rivian R1S
4. Tesla Model X

Minivans

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

Full-Size Trucks

1. Chevy Silverado EV
2. Ford F-150 Lightning
3. GMC Hummer EV Pickup
4. GMC Sierra EV
5. Ram REV: Upcoming
6. Rivian R1T
7. Tesla Cybertruck

Affordable Performance Cars

Dodge Charger Daytona

Luxury Performance Cars

1. Audi e-tron GT
2. Porsche Taycan
3. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.

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