Electric Vehicles
In Massachusetts, we need to reduce our CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions. The leading source of these emissions is transportation, accounting for close to 40% of the total in 2020. (The remaining emissions come from heating buildings, electric power, and industry.) It is clear that to reduce greenhouse gas emissions sufficiently, we must rapidly increase adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Types of Electric Vehicles
References: Green Energy Consumers Alliance; and Drive Change. Drive Electric.
These are the most common types of electric vehicles.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) run only on electricity. There is no gasoline required. With a BEV, you charge the car's battery with electricity. That battery then powers the electric motor, which propels the car forward. There are a variety of battery electric vehicles on the market, many of which can be driven between 200 and 330 miles on a full charge. Some common BEVs in Green Energy Consumers Alliance’s program are the Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan LEAF, and Hyundai Kona EV.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) combine a battery-powered electric motor with an internal combustion engine. You charge your vehicle with electricity and use it much like an all-electric vehicle. However, if and when you run out of charge, the internal combustion engine serves as a back-up. The combined range from electricity and gasoline can be 350-600 miles, comparable to a gas-powered car. Some common PHEVs in Green Energy Consumers Alliance’s program are the Toyota Prius Prime, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Honda Clarity.
A related type is Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) which combine an internal combustion engine and an electric propulsion system. However, HEVs are “charged” with gasoline; you cannot plug them in to charge them with electricity, so they are not strictly speaking “EVs”. HEVs are more efficient than traditional internal combustion engines and get better mileage per gallon. The best known HEV is the Toyota Prius.
A newer type is the fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) which is powered by an electric drive motor and uses a fuel cell to convert hydrogen into electricity. According to Drive Change. Drive Electric, they are capable of refueling in 3-5 minutes, but at a hydrogen dispenser instead of a gas pump. Hydrogen fueling stations, however, are not yet widely available outside of California. These vehicles could be introduced in select northeast states if hydrogen refueling stations are built.
Charging EVs
Owners of EVs must be familiar with options for charging their cars. Charging levels impact how quickly your car will charge. Here are the options for consumers, as described by Green Energy Consumers Alliance.
Level I. Level I charging simply requires a 120 volt outlet. All electric vehicles come equipped with a cord that you can plug into a common outlet. A Level I charge uses the J1772 charging port and will typically add 4 miles of range for every hour spent charging. Level I charging is mainly installed at home.
Level II. Level II charging requires a 240 volt outlet and a charging unit. You can purchase a Level II unit online and install it in your home with the help of a licensed electrician. A Level II charge uses the J1772 charging port and has the potential add 11 to 54 miles of range for every hour spent charging (the actual speed depends upon the capacity of the charger built into your EV). Level 2” charging is mainly installed at home, at work, and in parking lots and garages around town.
DC Fast Charging. DC (Direct Current) Fast Charging is the fastest charging available for passenger cars (other than Tesla). It is increasingly available along major highways and intended for longer trips. Not all DC Fast Charging stations will have plugs for each type of charging port. As a result, you must make sure the DC Fast Charging station you visit has the correct plug to match up with the charging port on your vehicle.
To quickly locate the closest charging stations, check out apps, like PlugShare, or Alternative Fuels Data Center AFDC, or EVgo.
Good news for drivers: More EVs like Ford and GM will be able to use Tesla’s chargers in 2024. Adapters will be required at first, while automakers consider switching to Tesla’s charging connector for future models. As of June 2023, Tesla’s “North American Charging Standard” or NACS chargers outnumber the alternative “Combined Charging System” or CCS chargers in the US by a factor of two to one, according to Tesla.
Shopping for and Purchasing an EV
A helpful guide before shopping is the article How to Choose and Buy an Electric Vehicle, U.S. News and World Report, Feb. 24, 2023.
A good online resource is Edmunds' EV Buying Guide, with general and EV-specific information.
Drive Change. Drive Electric has a lengthy listing of cars and their specs that is easy to use and filter. Each description has a link to that vehicle’s website.
For recommendations on EVs, seek out ratings by credible groups like these:
Car and Driver. Best Hybrid Vehicles 2024-2025. Includes plug-in hybrids, as well as hybrids without chargers like the Prius.
U.S. News and World Report. Best Hybrid and Electric Vehicles 2023
Consumer Reports Hybrid/EV Buying Guide. (requires membership)
Green Energy Consumers Alliance offers an electric vehicle discount program intended to makes going electric easier for consumers. The electric car shopping tool is a way to:
Search for new or pre-owned vehicles.
Explore and compare car models and select the ones you're interested in. Filter by specification (type, mileage range, price, etc.).
See local dealers offering the selected cars. (Note that stock is low at many dealers, so expect waits.)
Sign-up in advance to test-drive and receive discounts when possible.
Buy or lease your new ride with our pre-negotiated discount by the deal's listed expiration date.
Rebates and Incentives
Both Massachusetts and the U.S. offer rebates and incentives in order to promote the use of EVs. The specifics can change, so consumers should look for the newest information when purchasing a vehicle or filing taxes. Ask the dealership, and refer to resources cited here.
Once again we recommend Green Energy Consumers Alliance as a good resource. A good starting point is their information on rebates, tax credits and incentives explains the latest, with links to state and federal updates.
On the federal side, while tax credits for new vehicles can be as high as $7,500, there are stipulations based on the car’s specifications and the owner’s income. See the U.S. Department of Energy website. Also helpful is Edmunds’ discussion of EV tax credits.
Massachusetts has its own program for consumers. As described by Green Energy Consumers Alliance, “the state incentive program called the MOR-EV Rebate gives residents $3,500 off the price of a battery electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicles, and $1,500 off a plug-in hybrid. The price of these vehicles has to be below $50,000 and if it’s a plug-in hybrid, it has to have 25 miles or more of electric range. This applies to both purchases and leases, but consumers must fill out a form on the MOR-EV website within 3 months of purchase in order to receive the rebate.” Read about the 2024 updates here.
There are also tax credits for EV chargers. In 2023, if you install a home EV charging station, the tax credit is 30% of the cost of hardware and installation, up to $1,000; however, most homeowners won’t qualify for the full credit because most EV charger installations don’t cost enough to hit that full amount. To claim the credit, you’ll need to fill out IRS Form 8911.
Additional articles about EV chargers: Forbes, Kiplinger, EnergySage
Additional Resources
As questions arise, shoppers and owners can look for advice from these sources:
New England Electric Auto Association (NEEAA). The New England Electric Auto Association (NEEAA) is one of over 100 Electric Auto Clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada. The website offers resources, car reviews, events, meetings, and more.
The larger organization is the Electric Vehicle Association, comprised of 100 chapters and thousands of members. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by supporting its chapters and members as they educate their communities about the benefits of driving electric.
AAA also has a collection of helpful resources and information about EVs in a dedicated section of its website.
The Green Energy Consumers Alliance and its Drive Green Program, a primary resource for this discussion, invites questions. “Have questions about electric vehicles? We're real people and we're here to help! You can reach us at: drivegreen@greenenergyconsumers.org or 617-397-5199. ... Join our Drive Green Community Group on Facebook.”
Finally, it should be understood that the sources cited here are selected from the growing information and list of organizations concerned with electric vehicles. If you want to recommend other resources for our community, please contact the Sustainable Sharon Coalition Energy Interest Group at seig@sustainablesharon.org.
Please consider Sustainable Sharon Coalition's free Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program if (1) you own or have experience with the items described on this page and are willing to be a volunteer advisor, or (2) you have questions about a possible project or purchase and would like to discuss it with another Sharon resident.
Page Updated July 2023