Electric vehicles

Know the difference between hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and Electric Cars.

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Introduction: Electric cars, Hybrid cars & Plug-in Hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars also known as self-charging cars incorporate a small battery and an electric motor to boost efficiency. It requires a petrol or diesel engine as its primary propulsion and then runs in pure electric mode.

In plug-in hybrid vehicles, apart from petrol or diesel engines, a larger battery is also incorporated there, delivering an electric range of up to 50 miles, depending on its model.

The battery of a plug-in hybrid car is used to recharge with a home charging point or can also be charged using a public charging network.

Electric cars, battery electric vehicles, or all-electric battery vehicles depend completely on a battery pack as its means of propulsion. It must be plugged in when the battery is low on juice.

Remember this rule:

In a hybrid you cannot plug in, in a plug-in hybrid you should plug in, and in an electric car, you must plug in.

1. Hybrid Cars:

Electric Cars ,Hybrid Cars: Toyota Prius

The most famous hybrid car on the planet is Toyota Prius, which was launched in 1997. This was the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle.

A hybrid car pairs an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine. It means the driver has access to three forms of propulsion i.e. by engine, by pure electric, or both. Hybrid cars are more efficient and economical than conventional gas-powered engines.

Hybrid Cars: Pros and Cons:

Pros:

1. Familiarity:

The hybrid car is very familiar with the conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. While driving, you will not notice much difference between both and even need not to worry about recharging the battery.

2. Efficiency:

In hybrid vehicles, an electric motor is there to improve fuel economy and overall efficiency. Hybrids are more efficient than petrol, and more economical than diesel cars in the town.

Hybrid vehicles can recharge their batteries either by using an internal combustion engine or by regenerative braking. In regenerative braking, the energy that would have been lost under braking or when lifting off the accelerator pedal is diverted to the battery to power the electric motor.

3. Tax:

The government has announced Tax rebate on hybrid vehicles. As per rule, lower CO2 emission means lower vehicle excise duty (VED), especially in the first year of purchase of the vehicle.  

4. Towing:

For anyone looking for an electric car for towing, the hybrid car is the best choice. The maximum towing capacity might be slightly less in hybrid cars as compared to petrol or diesel cars but it is significantly more than of a pure electric car. Even many electric cars are not allowed and approved for towing purposes.

Cons:

1. Cost:

The cost of purchase is higher in the case of hybrid cars as compared to petrol or diesel cars.

2. Range:

The electric range of hybrids is very limited.

3. Ban:

As the government aims to go carbon neutral by 2050, The sale of new hybrid cars is to end in 2035 and petrol and diesel cars are already going to be a history after 2030.

2. Plug-in hybrid cars:

Electric cars Plug-in hybrid

The PHEV, a Plug-in hybrid vehicle is equipped with a battery pack to store and deliver power to an electric motor to run the petrol or diesel engine. The battery pack in the plug-in hybrid vehicle is recharged at home or a public charging network.

The plug-in hybrids are gaining popularity and in the U.K the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the best-selling car model.

Because of a large battery pack, the plug-in hybrid vehicles travel more than the hybrid on electric power.

Generally, a plug-in hybrid car should go up to 20-30 miles of electric range, and in some brands and models, it can go up to even 50 miles of range. The BMW X5 xDrive45e claims a range of 54 miles.

Plug-in hybrid cars: pros and cons

Pros:

Backup engine:

In plug-in hybrid vehicles, the petrol or diesel engine supports the running range of the vehicle, and there is no range anxiety. When the battery is exhausted, the vehicle switches to a petrol or diesel engine. Moreover, refueling petrol or diesel is just like that of conventional gas-powered vehicles.

Less Fuel Consumption:

The plug-in hybrid cars typically start in electric mode and generally, people do not require running the gas engine to complete the shorter trips. Indeed, the average car’s daily trip is generally not more than 10 miles, and for this, the driver does not require switching the gas-powered engine.

Tax:

Especially for company car drivers, it matters great in tax benefits as the Lower CO2 emission means the Tax benefits are greater.

Lower Running Cost:

Driving of Plug-in Hybrid is as easy as a regular gasoline car, only you need to plug-in the vehicle as and when required. The combination of electric and petrol and diesel power delivers improved performance without the high running costs of a fast petrol car. Although, it is a very minor thing but in case if you don’t have access to a charging point, no need to worry much, you simply use the engine until you get home or find a charging station.

Cons:

Upfront cost:

The initial investment cost of a plug-in hybrid is a major drawback. For example, the cost of the Hyundai Ioniq hybrid is around £24,000, while the plug-in hybrid and electric versions are priced at around £30,500.

Change In Driving Habits:

The plug-in hybrid drivers will have to add in their habits of recharging their car before going for the next trip, otherwise, they will have to switch on the conventional gas engine petrol or diesel mode, which will be expensive. A plug-in hybrid is not the best choice if you are not using the battery mode.

Handling:

The Plug-in hybrids are fast in a straight line, with plenty of torque for swift overtaking. The weight of the big battery pack can have a slight disadvantage on the car’s ride and handling. They are less comfortable over pitted roads and more bulky when cornering.

3. Electric cars:

Electric Cars :Tesla

Electric Vehicles in India are growing rapidly. It is a demand to go green and save the environment with sustainable development. In this way, alternative fuel vehicles are in global demand. Electric vehicles are the most popular and adopted way to go green globally. In India, many Indian manufacturers as well as foreign investors have already launched many brands in the Indian Market.

India is growing their electric vehicles market in all segments like two-wheelers, Three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and commercial buses & trucks.

Indian Government has supported with several rebates like manufacturing rebates to the producers and tax rebates to the customers.

Electric cars: pros and cons:

Pros:

Incentives:

The government is offering a rebate of £2,500 towards the cost of new electric cars costing less than £35,000.

A separate grant of £350 is available via the electric vehicle home charge scheme when buying a home charge unit.

Tax:

The government taxes on the purchase of all-electric cars are meager and rebated. These vehicles qualify for the free VED (vehicle Excise duty), lowering the purchase cost.

Low Running Cost:

An electric car is always cheaper to run than a petrol or diesel car. It will be more economical if you charge at home and take advantage of special tariff offers to electric vehicle owners. 

The servicing and maintenance cost of electric vehicles is much less as there is no engine and hence no need to do periodic maintenance like lubrication, oiling, etc.

Air quality:

The main attraction of electric vehicles is their zero-emission quality, as there is no combustion engine and no tailpipe.

Driving experience:

The instant torque makes an electric car responsive and fun to drive and gives a great driving experience.

Cons:

Quoted range:

The range of electric cars is a major part of the concern. For a long go you, if your battery juiced, then there is no other option left with you, to go further.

With the range of available electric cars, you do not even think about running long in a single go.

.

Upfront Cost:

Although the running cost is lower in the case of electric cars, the initial upfront cost is big.

A figure of around £30,000 is more realistic, while some upmarket EVs break the £100,000 mark. 

Charging:

Anyone without access to a garage, driveway, or off-street parking might struggle to charge an electric car at home, and while the public charging network is getting better rapidly, some areas remain underserved, and there are some reports of inoperative charging units.

Conclusion:

So, if you are planning to go green on wheels and are willing to purchase an alternative fuel vehicle. Think once which one either hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicle is good for you? It all depends on your circumstances, so doing some planning and market surveys is essential.

If your daily running by car is within the city and not much more range is required, then go for the hybrid. A hybrid is a better alternative to a petrol or diesel car, for short trips and city movements.

A plug-in hybrid is an excellent route to a pure electric car, only you must plug it in, before your drive.

The pure all-electric car is the best alternative fuel vehicle with many new technological advances, government rebates, and support.

“New Generation Electric Vehicles Will Get A Total $15,000 Off on Their Price.”

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If price was the only thing stopping you from buying an electric vehicles this summer, it is time to look again. With smart planning, you can even get the government to pay for part of it with EV tax credits.

Federal EV tax credits are just one factor driving a buying boom this summer. Some cars and trucks also qualify for a state rebate or tax credit. Together, those incentives could cut as much as $15,000 off the price of a new EV. And falling prices and a surge in new models of electric vehicles combine to make this big-ticket purchase less of a splurge.

Adding to the good news, General Motors (GM) just announced in its second-quarter earnings report that it has decided to reverse an earlier decision to end production of the very popular Bolt EV and EUV. GM CEO Mary Barra said GM would reintroduce a new Bolt EV soon, powered by Ultium battery technology.  The Bolt has always been one of the most affordable EVs. The Bolt’s MSRP was cut this year to as low as $27,495.

This confluence of financial carrots is why analysts expect record demand for EVs this summer. That will help EVs crack the key level of 10% of all new auto and truck sales in the U.S. later this year.

But do you know how to maximize your electric cars or Electric Vehicles tax credits?

Summer Boom in Electric cars Sales

Electric car sales in the U.S. are already strong. The U.S. ranks third globally in EV sales, after the China EV market and Europe. The U.S. market climbed 55% in 2022, reaching a sales share of 8%, according to the latest Global EV Outlook from the International Energy Agency.

This summer’s popularity of EVs is forceful enough to shift the entire economy. Changes ahead for the global auto industry have major implications for the energy sector, the IEA says. And the electrification trend could reduce the need for 5 million barrels of oil a day by 2030.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said, “Electric vehicles are one of the driving forces in the new global energy economy that is rapidly emerging, and they are bringing about a historic transformation of the car manufacturing industry worldwide.”

EV prices are falling so fast, they’re no longer just a luxury. Kelley Blue Book said last month that the average U.S. price of an electric vehicle in May was $55,488, down from almost $65,000 a year ago. Sales are increasing as prices decline, with May up 4% over April. “April’s downward movement of EV average transaction prices reflects EV automakers, particularly Ford (F) and Tesla (TSLA), seeking a balance between pricing and profitability,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive.

Electric Vehicles Prices, Tax Credits Power the Switch:

However, lower sticker prices only tell part of the story. U.S. car buyers enjoy other solid incentives to switch to an electric vehicle. They include a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500 for some new EVs. In addition, do not forget added rebates and other benefits from state and local utilities. 

While this nest of incentives sounds complicated — and it is — it is also worth thousands of dollars in savings. It is worthwhile to check out eligibility and available perks when shopping for an EV.

Promoting clean energy use was just one facet of 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act. The IRA extended federal EV tax credits for another decade and included eligibility for used EVs. However, it also added complex restrictions such as a price cap, income limitations and final assembly rules.

If you took delivery of a new clean vehicle on or after April 18, 2023, it must meet critical mineral and battery component requirements to qualify for the credit.

If drivers have been reluctant to buy an EV because of high prices, another break is coming. Starting in 2024, taxpayers can transfer the EV tax credit to the dealer at the time of purchase. That will lower the price of the vehicle by the qualifying credit amount.

Who Qualifies For the EV Tax Credit:

You may qualify for an EV tax credit of up to $7,500, according to the IRS, if you buy a new, qualified plug-in EV or fuel cell electric vehicle. The credit is available to individuals and their businesses. To qualify, you must buy it for your own use, not for resale, and use it primarily in the U.S. In addition, your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) may not exceed $300,000 for married couples filing jointly or $225,000 for heads of households. The AGI limit is $150,000 for all other filers.

You can use your modified AGI from the year you take delivery of the vehicle or the year before, whichever is less. As long as your modified AGI is below the threshold in one of the two years, you can claim the credit. The credit is nonrefundable, so you cannot get back more on the credit than you owe in taxes. Moreover, you cannot apply any excess credit to future tax years.

Vehicles placed in service April 18, 2023, and after must meet all of the criteria listed above. And they must meet new requirements for critical mineral and battery components for the buyer to get an EV tax credit of up to:

  • $3,750 if the vehicle meets the critical minerals requirement only.
  • $3,750 if the vehicle meets the battery components requirement only.
  • $7,500 if the vehicle meets both.

Which New Electric Vehicles Qualify For EV Tax Credits:

#However, that is not all. To qualify, a new vehicle must:

  • Have a battery capacity of at least 7 kilowatt-hours.
  • Have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds.
  • Be made by a qualified manufacturer.
  • Undergo final assembly in North America.
  • Meet critical mineral and battery component requirements (as of April 18, 2023).

#The sale qualifies for the tax credit only if:

  • The seller reports required information to you at the time of sale.
  • The seller reports your name and taxpayer identification number to the IRS. 

In addition, the vehicle’s manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) cannot exceed: 

  • $80,000 for vans, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks.
  • $55,000 for other vehicles.

MSRP is the retail price of the automobile suggested by the manufacturer, including manufacturer-installed options, accessories and trim but excluding destination fees. It is not necessarily the price you pay. 

You can find your vehicle’s weight, battery capacity, final assembly location (listed as “final assembly point”) and VIN on the vehicle’s window sticker.

#Used EVs Can also Qualify,

While these rules apply to EV credits for new electric vehicles, Congress threw in another carrot. If you buy a qualified used EV or fuel cell vehicle from a licensed dealer for $25,000 or less, you may be eligible for a used EV tax credit. The credit equals 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000. The credit is nonrefundable, so you cannot get back more on the credit than you owe in taxes. You cannot apply any excess credit to future tax years.

The EV Lease Loophole:

Last year’s IRA placed some new and significant limits on which vehicles qualify for the EV tax credits. The EV has to be built in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico; the battery cells must use minerals from a specific list of countries; and the cells and packs have to be made in the U.S. However, buyers can get federal tax credits for models not on the list allowed by the Inflation Reduction Act if they lease them.

In the IRA, Congress exempted commercial vehicles from the restrictions. While “commercial” is a term usually applied to vehicles like heavy-duty trucks, the Treasury Department defines leased EVs as “commercial” vehicles. Any leased vehicle may qualify for the tax credit because the North American battery-content and manufacturing rules do not apply to commercial vehicles.

When a dealer buys a vehicle and then leases it to a driver, the Treasury says that is a commercial transaction because the driver does not take title. This means the dealer or the finance company holding the lease receives the tax credit. Industry representatives and carmakers say the EV tax credit will help lower the price of leases and increase incentive programs. According to Edmunds, leases reached 34% of total EV sales in March, up from just 18% in March 2022.

“A number of lenders … have offered lease incentive programs. Everyone I have seen has offered it at the full amount,” Andy Koblenz, executive vice president for legal and regulatory affairs at the National Automobile Dealers Association, said at a Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago webinar on EV tax credits. “We’re starting to see it in the marketplace already.” Incentive programs may increase as leasing “will be an attractive way to help get the EVs into the market.” 

State EV Tax Credits and Electric Vehicle Rebates:

Some states offer credits or rebates on EV purchases or leases, while utility companies may offer breaks on home charger installations.

Colorado, for example, offers EV tax credits ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 on EV purchases. California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project provides rebates from $1,000 to $7,500 for the purchase or lease of new, eligible zero-emission vehicles.

Oregon’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program is not a tax credit but rather a cash rebate of up to $7,500 on any qualifying purchase or lease. Oregon’s generous rebate program is so popular — it’s handed out $70 million in the past five years — that it is almost out of money and was paused this year. Lawmakers and nonprofits in the state are working to replenish the program’s funding. The Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center provides updated state-by-state information on rebates and incentives. 

Get Your Federal EV Tax Credit:

If your head is spinning from all the rules but you want to maximize your EV tax credit, Investor’s Business Daily did the work for you. The table below includes all 24 vehicles that qualify for the full $7,500 credit when placed into service on or after April 18, 2023.

It also shows an additional 10 vehicles that qualify for a credit of $3,750. See all the details for various levels of EV tax credits at fueleconomy.gov.

Cars and Trucks That Qualify For The EV Tax Credit:

MakeModelYearVehicle TypeCredit AmountMSRP LimitAssembled in N. America
BMW
X5 xDrive50e2024PHEV$3,750$80,000Yes
Cadillac
LYRIQ2023-2024EV$7,500$80,000Yes
Chevrolet
Blazer2024EV$7,500$80,000Yes
Bolt2022-2023EV$7,500$55,000Yes
Bolt EUV2022-2023EV$7,500$55,000Yes
Equinox2024EV$7,500$80,000Yes
Silverado2024EV$7,500$80,000Yes
Chrysler
Pacifica PHEV2022-2023PHEV$7,500$80,000Yes
Ford
E-Transit2022-2023EV$3,750$80,000Yes
Escape Plug-in Hybrid2022-2023PHEV$3,750$80,000Yes
F-150 Lightning (Extended Range Battery)2022-2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
F-150 Lightning (Standard Range Battery)2022-2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
Mustang Mach-E (Extended Range Battery)2022-2023EV$3,750$80,000Yes
Mustang Mach-E (Standard Range Battery)2022-2023EV$3,750$80,000Yes
Jeep
Grand Cherokee PHEV 4xe2022-2023PHEV$3,750$80,000Yes
Wrangler PHEV 4xe2022-2023PHEV$3,750$80,000Yes
Lincoln
Aviator Grand Touring2022-2023PHEV$7,500$80,000Yes
Corsair Grand Touring2022-2023PHEV$3,750$80,000Yes
Rivian
R1S2023EV$3,750$80,000Yes
R1T2023EV$3,750$80,000Yes
Tesla
Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive2023EV$7,500$55,000Yes
Model 3 Performance2022-2023EV$7,500$55,000Yes
Model 3 Standard Range Rear-Wheel Drive2022-2023EV$7,500$55,000Yes
Model Y All-Wheel Drive2022-2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive2022-2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
Model Y Performance2022-2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
Volkswagen
ID.4 AWD PRO2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
ID.4 AWD PRO S2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
ID.4 AWD PRO S PLUS2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
ID.4 PRO2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
ID.4 PRO S2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
ID.4 PRO S PLUS2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
ID.4 S2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes
ID.4 STANDARD2023EV$7,500$80,000Yes

Within the next 10 years, Electric Cars Could go 745 Miles on one charge of their battery packs.

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Introduction:

At present Lucid Air is offering the longest range of battery electric cars in the market. As per EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates the present range is 516 miles in one go.

The new Toyota cars will come with solid-state battery technology and this will allow them to go 745 miles between charging stops. And also this will be charged to its full capacity within only 10 minutes.

Many automakers are working on future electric vehicle battery technologies for cell composition, range, and recharging capabilities.

Presently battery electric vehicles(BEVs) are using either lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride composition. These batteries are basically heavy and very large in size and because of huge in size and weight, they acquire most of the space between the wheel on the chassis of the car.

Solid-State Battery for electric cars:

Solid-state batteries are the next leading-edge revolution in the field of electric vehicles. They offer incredible commitment, however, they’re not yet good to go.

Solid-State Battery for Electric cars

A typical 3D pictorial View of a Solid-State Battery Cell

An automotive reporter John Voelcker told Newsweek that “For some time now the solid-state battery cell technology is really a Holy Grail, many different engineers, and researchers are working to make it sufficiently practical, scalable, and affordable to be used in production vehicles.”

Traditional batteries like lithium-ion and nickel-metal hybrid contain liquid or polymer gel electrolytes. All the different companies generally use different parameters and chemistry to get the optimum results for their brands.

Solid-state batteries are designed to be more energy dense having solid electrolytes and solid electrodes. These are smaller in size and carry less weight, so these factors will give more range for Battery electric vehicles.

R&D for Solid-State Cell Battery:

The Solid–state technology is not very new but its mass-scale application for automobiles is obviously new. In the year 1990s, the researchers & scientists of Oak Ridge National Laboratory created a new class of solid-state electrolytes, which comes to the notice of auto industries.

All the leading vehicle companies like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota Motor, Ford Motor, Volkswagen Group, Nissan Motor Company, and others have either currently started or are willing to start putting resources into the research & development of solid-state battery technology. And many others have associated with energy innovation companies to work toward their development goals.

A number of issues have to solve by the automakers and the battery makers before they come to the market like the installation of charging infrastructure to support high voltage fast charging ability.

“In some ways, the capability to charge more rapidly and the robust infrastructure to support that ability is more critical than attaining 700-plus miles range. The charge time and range claims complement each other. And the infrastructure and the charge time are the main elements that consumers talk about and question today. If the questions of ‘Can I safely and securely charge when I need to and how long will it take?’ can be answered in a way consumers trust, the range question becomes a bit less critical.”

A self-imposed deadline by many automakers is of the year 2030 or 2035 to become an all-electric manufacturer. Others are promoting their capacity to be climate neutral by 2050 or before, which is a term used to describe a sustainability focus throughout the development, manufacturing, and useable lifecycle of a vehicle, and beyond.

These initiatives include the use of solid-state batteries. Though, this does not indicate that the upcoming batteries will completely swap the cars of today. The architecture of contemporary EVs and the infrastructure for charging them are similar.

According to Chad Kirchner, vice president of content at EV Pulse, “new charging hardwires will probably be needed to take full advantage of the increased charging speeds of solid state, but future vehicles should be backward compatible with current hardware, especially with the adoption of North American Charging Standard (formerly known as the Tesla charging connector) by most automakers.”

“There might be a time in the upcoming years when the upgrading is compulsory, but it won’t be instant & overnight. This is particularly true when new vehicle possession is a decade or furthermore at a time.”

Electric cars Charging

Tesla Model Y at a Supercharger. TESLA

According to a report by S&P Global, now, most car owners keep their vehicle for a little more than 12 years, and a decade ago, the average ownership was approx. 9.7 years.

Mr. Voelcker, an automotive reporter, said, “While it’s practical to expect solid-state cells to perform in limited use by the close of this decade, it’s worth noting their checkered trajectory to date within one of the biggest, most respected, and most profitable car companies on the planet,”

To date, no actual solid-state cells have appeared so far, and expected to see them maybe around 2030.

“A more extensive change from a gas-powered motor overwhelmed market to an EV-ruled market not entirely settled by any a single turn of events or innovative leap forward. Longer reach and quicker charging times are significant, yet the foundation and buyer costs are additionally basic. The significance of Toyota’s declaration is that it is one more step along the way — and each step counts,” Brinley said.

Conclusion:

To date, all the electric vehicles are running on traditional batteries i.e. either lithium-ion batteries or nickel-metal hybrid batteries. And this battery system gives a maximum of 450 -500 miles on one charge approx.

The Solid-state batteries are designed to be more energy dense having solid electrolytes and solid electrodes. These are smaller in size and carry less weight, so these factors will give more range for Battery electric vehicles.

So the future is of all-electric vehicles and many manufacturers are doing various R&D to come up with more effective & efficient vehicles for the future.

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