An electric vehicle (EV) is an alternative fuel vehicle that uses electric motors for propulsion instead of an internal combustion engine. Electricity is used as a fuel to power battery EVs. Unlike Hybrid vehicles which often have a gas-fueled engine, a battery EV is a type of electric vehicle that exclusively uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs, with no secondary source of propulsion like a hydrogen fuel cell or an engine. Electric cars not only reduce one’s carbon footprint, but its costs are lower than owning a car that runs on gas. EV buyers can get a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 with the purchase of an all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. In 2019, 61,000 EVs were sold - or about 2.6% of the US automobile market. There are about 17 million EVs on our roads today, or about 3% of all US vehicles. Volvo recently announced it will phase out vehicles that run solely on gasoline or diesel fuel by 2025, with half of its vehicles sold to be fully electric, the other half plug-in hybrids and standard hybrids.

Beginning this year, President Biden has required replacing 650,000 federal vehicles, including those in the Postal Service, with US-made electric vehicles to spur the economy and combat climate change.

Pending Legislation: H.R.4636 - Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program Act of 2023
Sponsor: Rep. Haley Stevens (MI)
Status: Subcommittee on Highways and Transit (Transportation and Infrastructure)
Chair: Rep. Eric Crawford (AR)