When you buy a cars electrics, you can save up to $1,000 per year in gas money. EVs also don’t need oil changes or smog checks, and the regenerative braking system extends brake pads’ life by 40%. Plus, many EVs are eligible for federal and provincial rebates.

EVs use one or more electric motors to drive the wheels, powered by electricity from rechargeable batteries that store energy for long-range driving. Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) combine a battery and an internal combustion engine, with power delivered first from the battery and then the combustion engine. Extended-range electric vehicles (E-REV) have a larger battery and provide longer range than regular all-electric cars, which have the smallest batteries.

Cars Electrics: Understanding the Electrification of the Automotive Industry

Most of today’s EVs have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which have a high energy density and are lightweight and compact for better vehicle performance. They can be charged in three to four hours using a standard wall charger.

Electric car batteries are built to last, and most come with a warranty that covers 8-10 years or 100,000 miles. Some EVs have an additional battery-backed warranty that extends the warranty to 15 or more years, which can be very appealing for those who plan to keep their car for a long time.

Some people are worried that EVs are heavier than gasoline-powered cars. But Norway, where about 80% of new cars are fully or partially electric, has shown that the extra weight is no big deal. Plus, the nation’s electricity is largely renewable—91.8% hydropower and 6.4% wind—and has reduced air pollution, including particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter by nearly three-quarters.