Battery electric vehicles can be charged using a traditional 110V outlet and a charging cord plugged into the car. This is called “trickle charging” or Level 1 charging and it adds about 5 miles per hour. Most drivers can replenish what was driven in a day by plugging in overnight at home.

The second way to charge is called Level 2 charging and it allows you to add about 25-60 miles per hour. This method uses charging stations that you can find around town and some folks choose to install them in their home.

The third way to charge, DC Fast-Charging, is usually found along highways and allows you to quickly recharge approximately 80% of the battery in half an hour.

Notice the two different shapes of DC fast charger connectors. The CHAdeMO connector was used by Nissan but is being phased out to CCS. Additionally, Tesla has their own proprietary charging and the shape is the same for all levels of charging. 

It costs about $31 dollars to drive 1,000 miles in an EV using home charging. To calculate those costs we use the standard conversion 33.7kW/h= 1 gallon. First, divide 33.7 by the fuel efficiency of an electric vehicle 120MPGe to get the kWh per gallon electrical equivalent. Then, multiply that number by the average cost of electricity $.11/kWh to get the cost per mile. Then we multiply by 1,000 miles, so it costs $30.89 to drive 1,000 miles on electrons.

33.7(kWh per gallon) / 120MPGe * $.11 * 1,000 miles = $30.89 to travel 1000 miles (electric).

It costs about $165 to drive those same 1,000 miles on gasoline. To arrive at these calculations we divide the cost of a gasoline per gallon $4.25 by average MPG 25.7 to get the cost per mile. Then we multiply by 1,000 miles, so it costs $165.37 to drive 1,000 miles on gasoline. 

$4.25 / 25.7MPG * 1,000 miles = $165.37 to travel 1000 miles (gasoline).

Due to the convenience and low cost, 80% of EV charging is done at home. Charging a car at home is as simple as plugging into a 110V outlet using the charging cord that comes with the vehicle. To increase charging speed, some EV drivers choose to install a Level 2 charging station at their home. That requires an electrician to install a 240V outlet and the purchase of a charging station that can be bought at many stores including Amazon. 

Around town, you can find community charging stations. These are mostly Level 2 and many are free for the electricity. However, most networked stations do require you to pre-register for the network and use a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card to activate the charging station. 

When traveling longer distances you will need to charge at a DC fast charging station(s). The Alternative Fuel Data Center maintains a list of all the EV charging stations in the country so you can map your route ahead of your trip. Additionally, apps like Plugshare can be downloaded to your phone to help map routes and show charging stations. Tesla has a navigation system that shows you where and how long you’ll need to charge in the car’s display. Thus relieving the driver of premapping charging stations and concerns about charging station availability. 

DC Fast Charging

When using DC fast charging stations the cost of the electricity does vary. It can range between $.30 and $.40 per kWh. Using the same formula as above it would cost 

33.7(kWh per gallon) / 120MPGe * $.35 * 1,000 miles = $98.29 to travel 1000 miles (electric).

The range that the vehicle can travel before being recharged depends on the size of the battery pack. The first generation electric vehicles introduced in 2011 had a median range of 68 miles before needing to be plugged in again. We’ve come a long way in the past decade and the median range for model year 2023 is 270 miles. The maximum range is now a whopping 516 miles on a single charge. 

Use the Edmunds’ EV buying guide to compare the range of available models.  

Federal Incentives

A new federal law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), includes a new EV federal tax credit program that begins on January 1, 2023. The new Clean Vehicle Credit provides up to $7,500 for new, qualified EVs. EVs must meet several requirements such as:

1. Vehicles must be assembled in North America and use critical minerals and battery components sourced domestically or from qualified partners.
2. Vehicles must have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $80,000 or less for pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and $55,000 or less for other vehicles, including sedans.

The credit runs through 2033. In order to utilize the tax credits, the purchaser must qualify based on income requirements. 

The U.S. Department of Energy provides more information about vehicles that may qualify.

In addition, the IRA includes tax credits of up to $4,000 for qualified used vehicles. Used vehicles must be at least two years old and cost $25,000 or less.

Finally, there is a tax credit for leased and commercial vehicles. Leased EVs are eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits. These credits are not subject to income or assembly requirements.

Georgia Incentives

There are Georgia-specific incentives, too. For example, there is an HOV lane exemption and a tax-credit for installing a charging station.

Georgia Power Incentives

Georgia Power also has a time-of-use electricity rate for residential customers that is targeted to EV owners. The rate incentivizes people to charge their electric vehicles overnight when demand for electricity is lower. They also provide a rebate for installing a charger at home or at a business.

Switching to an electric vehicle requires a paradigm shift on how we think and plan for fueling our vehicles.

If you have an older first-generation model with a shorter range (say 100 miles), it does require you to plan for charging. Even with a longer range model, you will need to plan for charging on long road trips or overnight hotel stays. Fortunately, many hotels are adding in charging infrastructure.

When using some apps like Plugshare, if someone else is using the charging station you may drive up and realize that the charging stations are in use and have to wait for them to finish charging before you can access it. It does take more time to recharge when on a road trip than a typical gas station fill-up.

You will need to join a network to activate the charging stations. There are several networks: ChargePoint, EVgo, Blink, Electrify America to name a few and they each require you to sign-up to access their proprietary charging stations. This typically requires them having access to your credit card and either pre-paying or allowing access for payment when charging.

The cost of purchasing a new EV is not in alignment with a comparable internal combustion vehicle yet. However, costs are coming down and are projected to be at parity within the next few years. In addition, electric vehicles are subject to an annual licensing fee in Georgia. The annual fee is $213.70 for EVs. The fee only applies to plug-in hybrids if the vehicle has an alternative fuel license plate. 

They’re Slow: False, drivers associate an electric battery with what they know about hybrids (think Prius). However, single-speed transmission and instant torque mean an electric vehicle has mind-blowing quickness. 

Short-Range: False, the average range for upcoming EV models is over 300 miles. 

Not Enough Models: False, currently, there are 61 models of plug-in hybrid and full battery electric passenger duty vehicles. By 2026, another 96 models will be coming to market. To date, there has been $460B in global investment in EVs. There are also electric school and transit buses and medium and heavy-duty trucks.

More Expensive to Own and Operate: False, typical drivers save $6,000 to $10,000 over the life of the vehicle, versus owning a comparable gas-powered vehicle. 

Just as Many Emissions with an EV as an Internal Combustion Vehicle: False, there is a misconception that an electric vehicle generates as many upstream emissions when making the electricity to power an EV as a gas-powered car. This is false. While the source of your electricity has an effect on the emissions of your electric vehicle, EVs in Georgia emit almost 70% fewer GHG emissions annually compared to gasoline vehicles. This is because electric vehicles are so much more efficient and our electricity grid is getting cleaner every day. On average in the U.S., a gasoline-powered car has to get 88 mpg to have the same GHG emissions benefits as an electric car. Also of note, these emissions reductions are improving every year as more renewable energy is added to the grid. So, EVs continue to get cleaner over their lifetime.

Absolutely, EVs in Georgia emit almost 70% fewer GHG emissions annually compared to gasoline vehicles. This is because electric vehicles are so much more efficient and our electricity grid is getting cleaner every day.

A recent study from Yale demonstrated that when looking at all emissions from cradle to grave, "the total indirect emissions from electric vehicles pale in comparison to the indirect emissions from fossil fuel-powered vehicles…..The supply chain for combustion vehicles is just so dirty that electric vehicles can’t surpass them, even when you factor in indirect emissions.”

PlugStar from Plug in America is a fantastic resource for exploring light-duty vehicle options.

The Union of Concerned Scientists created the How Clean is Your Electric Vehicle tool to help you compare the climate impact of different models of plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles.

Transportation Electrification in the Southeast is a report from SACE and Atlas Public Policy captures regional and state-specific growth in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Georgia-specific page highlights how the Peach State is number one in per-capita charging infrastructure in the region. 

Key findings from the report Retained Transportation Fuel Spending in the Southeast by SACE show that 73% of the $103 billion spent on gas and diesel leaks out of the region’s economies annually. EVs could do the same amount of work for $51.5 billion because electricity is cheaper and more efficient. Most electricity costs are local, so more than 70% of the money spent on electricity stays in the region's economies. If all the cars, trucks, and buses in Georgia were electric today, there would be an additional $8 billion circulating through the economy annually. 

Upgrading to an electric lawnmower is another great way to reduce emissions. Learn more about the benefits of electric landscaping equipment.