A battery electric vehicle (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a passenger car, truck, SUV, van or other light-duty vehicle with an electrically powered drive system. It has zero tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides or nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMHC), and nitrous oxide. It also has fewer emissions of fine particulates, less than 2.5 microns in size, which are known to cause a variety of health problems.
EVs are not only greener than conventional vehicles, but also quieter and more economical. A typical BEV can travel between 200 and 350 miles on a full charge, although this varies by model. Some also have a range extender to help with longer trips or if driving conditions eat up batteries, such as when climbing steep hills.
Batteries can be recharged at home with a standard 120 V outlet or 240 V charging station, as well as at public recharging stations. They can be charged to almost 100 percent in under four hours.
The energy to make EVs comes from electricity, which is generated with a wide mix of sources around the world. A 2025 McKinsey Mobility Consumer Pulse survey found that EV buyers place significant importance on the sustainability of the energy source that charges their cars and trucks. This is important because battery production primarily takes place in regions with fossil fuel-powered grids—and the exact type of coal varies from region to region. The same study found that recharging an EV consumes about 3 to 6 times as much energy as driving it.