Advancing Clean Energy

Ask the Expert: Electric Vehicles 101

July 1, 2022
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Navigating the emergent electric vehicle industry can be intimidating. To help customers make informed decisions about electric vehicles (EVs), ComEd expert, Ladi Ogunnubi, large customer strategy and programs senior manager, took the time to answer the most frequently asked questions about all things EV!

  • EVs are environmentally friendly – EVs running only on electricity produce zero tailpipe emissions, avoiding carbon emissions that have dire climate impacts. While emissions may be produced depending on the source of electrical power, it is still cleaner than burning gasoline or diesel.
  • EVs have health benefits – In addition to reduced carbon emissions, EVs also avoid the emission of harmful air pollutants that are known to increase the risk of lung and heart disease. EVs will reduce pollution and improve health in our communities.
  • Never go to the gas station again – An all-electric vehicle does not require gasoline and can be charged at home with a standard 120V outlet. For faster, more efficient charging, a 240V level 2 charger can be installed.
  • EV performance benefits – Electric motors provide quiet, smooth operation, stronger acceleration, and require less maintenance than gasoline-powered internal combustion engines.
  • EV driving range & recharge time – EVs can typically travel from around 80miles to over 330 miles on a full charge. For context, the average American’s daily round-trip commute is less than 30 miles. Fully recharging the battery pack for most EVs can take four to eight hours with a level 2 charger. A “fast charge” to 80% capacity can take 30 minutes.

Like fuel-powered vehicles, the price of electric vehicles depends on the brand, model year, and other contributing factors. To get a cost estimate of the EVs available in the market click here

EVs have fewer moving parts, and considerably lower overhead and maintenance costs. No more oil changes! Newer models allow you to drive over 300 miles on a full charge and recharge your battery in less than 8 hours with a Level 2 charge. In addition, driving an EV can be three to five times cheaper than gasoline and diesel-powered cars, depending on your local gasoline and electric rates.

Click here to estimate how much you can save on fuel costs a year by switching to an EV.

Electric vehicle batteries are typically designed to last for the expected life of the vehicle. The rate at which batteries expire depends on the type of battery and how they are used.

The failure rate of some electric vehicle batteries on the road is as low as 0.003% Several manufacturers offer multi-year and 100,000 miles+ warranties on the batteries in their vehicles. Review manufacturer information carefully when selecting an EV model.

Public charging infrastructure and battery technology is continually growing. You can use this map to plan ahead for your charging rest stops using public charging stations across the country.   

With more than 874 public charging stations in Illinois and counting, it’s likely there’s a public charger closer than you think. Click here to find a public charging station near you.

While ComEd delivers electricity and supports infrastructure to make EV charging more accessible it does not install EV chargers in private or public spaces.

A study led by Argonne National Laboratory found that, even when accounting for CO2 emissions from electricity consumption, electric vehicles have cumulatively reduced CO2 emissions by 6.9 million metric tons.

  • Reduced emissions – EVs produce no tailpipe emissions. Even when the electricity is generated using fossil fuels, electric vehicles usually show significant reductions in overall global carbon emissions over gasoline vehicles due to the highly carbon-intensive process of mining, pumping, refining and transporting gasoline.

 

  • Energy efficiency – Internal combustion engines are relatively inefficient at converting fuel energy to propulsion as most of the energy is wasted as heat. Electric motors are more efficient in converting stored energy into propulsion, and electric-drive vehicles do not consume energy while at rest or coasting. Typically, conventional gasoline engines effectively use only 15% of the fuel-energy content to move the vehicle or to power accessories, while electric-drive vehicles have on-board efficiency of around 80 percent.

There are many factors to take into consideration when trying to make your home or business EV ready. Click here to follow a step-by-step guide for installing a charging station in your home or business.  

There are many charging types of equipment available in the market. Click here to compare EV chargers in the market and click here if you are ready to make a purchase.

If you’re looking to save money while charging your EV at home hourly pricing may be right for you. Residential electric rate options may be available for your home. To learn more if this is the right option for you call ComEd at 1-800-334-7661. Questions to consider include: What time of day do you expect to charge your EV? Can you benefit from charging your EV at night? How will the electricity rate plan you select and the added EV charging load impact your monthly energy bill?

Want to learn more about EVs? Click here for more resources.