Many electric vehicle (EV) models can easily travel more than 200 miles on a single charge, with battery capacity improving in new models.
If a battery electric vehicle (BEV) doesn’t meet your needs, there are plenty of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options that use electric range for shorter trips with backup fuel that kicks in for longer trips.
Shift2Electric lists all models currently available in the U.S. including sedans, hatchbacks, minivans, SUVs, and trucks.
If you're traveling in an EV, those longer distances provide more opportunities to save on fuel costs and maintenance. Even though the up-front cost of an EV can be higher than a gas- or diesel-powered vehicle, EVs offer significant savings on fuel and maintenance costs — about four cents/mile. This results in a lower lifetime cost of ownership of an EV, on average $8,000. The more miles an EV is driven, the more savings on fuel and maintenance.
The State of Minnesota is focused on building out transportation corridors with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities. Utility, business, city, and community investments and actions will make Minnesota’s charging network even more robust. Find available chargers through PlugShare and Alternative Fuels Data Center.
A standard 120-volt outlet will provide 2-5 miles of range per hour of charging. A 240-volt outlet (like the outlet that powers an electric clothes dryer) can charge an EV even faster. Some electric utilities offer a special off-peak charging rate, which makes home charging even cheaper.
With more consistent acceleration and a lower center of gravity, electric vehicles often perform better in cold weather than gasoline vehicles.
Another consideration is that for long trips in the winter, reduced range can be a concern: -10 F and below can reduce range by up to 40%. If you make frequent long trips during the winter months, a plug-in hybrid is likely to be a good fit for you, while all-electric is likely to be a better fit if most of your driving is shorter trips or if your household has a second vehicle better suited to long winter drives.
CERTs Co-Director Melissa Birch lives in the north central region of Minnesota and bought her first EV in 2019.
She shared what she's learned along the way, why driving habits matter so much, and what the real cost were for her (money and time). Find out what it's really like to drive an EV in rural Minnesota.
Organize an event for your community to try different EV models.
Learn about the five principles to become an electric-vehicle ready community.
Check out Minnesota GreenStep program's best practices for efficient fleets (including EVs).
Educational EV resources you can easily filter to your needs.
