Things to Know

Here are the three most common types of EVs:

Battery Electric Vehicles include electric motor and charge port/cable.  Battery Electric Vehicles have a battery and an electric motor instead of a gas tank and internal combustion engine. Sometimes EVs are also referred to as “All Electric Vehicles” or “Plug-in Vehicles” (not to be confused with Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles). They run entirely on electricity and do not produce exhaust from the burning of fuel.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles include gas engine, electric motor, and charge port/cable.  Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles have an electric motor AND a gas-powered internal combustion engine. Some PHEVs operate exclusively, or almost exclusively, on electricity until the battery is nearly depleted, then the gasoline-powered engine turns on to provide power. Like Battery Electric Vehicles, PHEVs can be plugged in to charge the battery when the vehicle is not in use.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles include gas engine and Electric Motor. Hybrid Electric Vehicles have an electric motor AND a gas-powered internal combustion engine – and don’t plug-in for charging.  Often called Hybrids, they can have substantial range on a single tank of gas, but they still burn fossil fuel, produce carbon emissions, require trips to the gas station and scheduled engine maintenance. Hybrids may be the choice for those with extended commutes and limited charging system access.

What is Range?

Range for Electric Vehicles  is the potential total distance a vehicle can travel on a single charge. To optimize battery longevity, many manufacturers recommend maintaining a usable range between 20% and 80% of the battery’s total capacity.

Since 78% of American commuters drive fewer than 30 miles daily, EVs with ranges between 100 and 500 miles allow for several days of travel between charges. Currently, most EVs exceed 100 miles of range, with some models offering more than 300 miles. 

Vehicle Charging  

See our page on EV Charging.

Here are Things to Know before you buy, lease or convert an Electric Vehicle in Washington State

Electricity Available – Make sure you have a regular household 120-volt outlet available to charge your new vehicle at home.  You can use any electrical outlet in a garage or on the exterior of a house. For faster charging, you can install a 220-volt charging station at home.  Thanks to Opalco for their information on Federal tax incentives, including for EV chargers (expired in late 2025).  

Please note that Opalco incentives do not apply to Jefferson PUD customers.  Please see Jefferson PUD rebate program for Level 2 EV Chargers.

Charge Anywhere – All production electric vehicles come with a 120-volt adapter for charging at any household electrical outlet. You can plug in wherever you are visiting and top off the battery. Charge your car at home, at work, while shopping, dining or enjoying entertainment, wherever a 120-volt outlet is available.

Conversions – If you buy a vehicle that has been converted from gasoline to all-electric power, it qualifies for the federal tax credit the first time it is sold (Form 8911). See the Seattle EV Association website for more information on Gas to Electric Car Conversions:

Road Usage Charge – In Washington State, electric vehicles pay an annual $150 road usage charge as part of vehicle registration, plus a $75 transportation electrification fee, totaling $225 in annual fees.  This is in lieu of paying gas taxes, to fund road maintenance and construction.  Electric motorcycles also pay this $150 charge.

Batteries – Although the EV batteries used to power today’s electric vehicles are stable and long-lasting, they do degrade over time. Factors like temperature, age, charging habits, driving style and battery chemistry all impact battery performance. Recurrent is an EV battery monitoring tool that utilizes advanced machine learning to share performance data of a given vehicle compared to similar EVs in the system. Check out Recurrent’s New study: How Long Do Electric Car Batteries Last?

Insurance – Insuring an electric vehicle generally works the same way as insuring a gasoline vehicle. However, because EVs often have higher repair costs and specialized parts, insurance premiums can be higher than those for comparable gas-powered cars.

Charging Costs – How will charging your electric vehicle at home affect your electric bill? That depends on how much your utility company charges per kilowatt-hour of energy.  In Jefferson County (with power from Jefferson PUD) the average cost is about 11.70 cents per kilowatt-hour. Most electric vehicles can travel 3-4 miles per kilowatt-hour of electricity, which equates to 3-4 cents per mile. If you drive 1,000 miles per month in an EV, your cost for electricity will be about $30-$40 per month (in Jefferson County). By comparison, if you drive 1,000 miles per month in an average gas vehicle (car, SUV or light truck at 26 mpg EPA average)your cost for gas will be about $184 per month. (calculations from March 2026).

If you haven’t already, see Car and Driver articles Best Electric Vehicles of 2025 and 2026, The Most Affordable Electric Vehicles of 2025 and 2026 and Longest Range Electric Cars We’ve Ever Tested (2026).