Harvard economists calculate that EV sales will accelerate rapidly in the US, despite last year’s sharp U-turn in federal energy policy.
Harvard economists calculate that EV sales will accelerate rapidly in the US, despite last year’s sharp U-turn in federal energy policy.
I’m very impressed with how long batteries are lasting now. I had a friend buy a hybrid Honda Accord in 2006 or so, and within just a couple of years the batteries were shot and it became just a regular car with decent fuel mileage. That tainted my view of EVs and hybrids for a long time, but a couple of years ago I heard that the batteries had actually gotten much better and they are lasting longer than anyone had really anticipated.
A little over a year ago I bought a used 2018 Chevy Volt, and to this day I’m still getting around 60 miles out of the battery (on a perfect day). It cost me around $20k (after rebates) and I couldn’t be happier.
Hybrids are a completely different animal though. They can run on a traction battery alone, but at very low speeds, and not for long. The main point of it to keep the engine at peak performance at all times, giving much mileage than ICE car ever could. The fact that it can turn off the engine when the car is stopped and power the low-voltage stuff like the light and radio and A/C is just a nice bonus.
Battery packs of plug-in hybrids are more like EVs, but much smaller.