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 1.3 million EVs on our roads today. The top 5 EV models are the Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Volt, Tesla Model S, Nissan LEAF, and Toyota Prius. Three new battery EV models were released in 2019: the Audi e-tron, Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro. 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.

In a recent executive order aimed at combating climate change and spurring our economy, President Biden has required replacing 650,000 federal vehicles, including those in the Postal Service, with US-made electric vehicles.

Pending Legislation: H.R.2852 - NO EXHAUST Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Rush (IL)
Status: House Subcommittee on Energy (Energy and Commerce)
Chair: Rep. Bobby Rush (IL)