How Electric Cars Work

The last few years have also shown that automakers are not afraid to push the envelope when it comes to electric vehicles. Here's just a small sampling of the 2023 and 2024 electric cars on the market.

Of course, these electric vehicles vary in functionality, purpose and efficiency. Don't expect to achieve the F-150 Lightning's 321-mile range if you're towing a boat or a camper. But these electric cars certainly show how far the technology has come.

While the earliest EVs on the road, like the GM EV1, were all awkward little wedges on wheels, automakers are investing heavily in producing EVs that appeal to a wide variety of consumers.

The EV industry also checked a lot of boxes in 2022. The Biden administration passed several different pieces of legislation that allocated funding for more federal rebates for people who purchase or lease electric cars, more funding to develop and build out EV infrastructure and the electric grid, and more investments in domestic battery and component manufacturing. All of these measures are designed to support EV adoption and accelerate the phasing out of new gasoline vehicles.

The nationwide charging infrastructure, as we discussed, still needs to be expanded for more Americans to switch to electric cars, but that is happening. Tesla's Supercharger network, which is widely recognized as the most robust in the country, was previously available only to Tesla owners, but is gradually opening up to other brands.

Automaker Mercedes-Benz announced it is developing a high-speed charging network with 400 charging hubs in North America. Other charging networks, like Electrify America and EVgo, also continue to expand. And the Biden administration is committing funds to focus network development along interstate highways and in areas that are currently underserved.

So, while the U.S. government isn't coming to take your gas-powered cars, it is likely that sometime in the future, your new car will be electric.

Related Articles