An electric vehicle is a car, truck or SUV that uses an electric motor for power. They can be powered by either a traditional internal combustion engine or a battery pack, depending on the model and drivetrain configuration. Electric vehicles are quieter, more responsive and have superior energy conversion efficiency to conventional ICE vehicles. They also have a lower carbon footprint, from manufacturing to end of life (even when the electricity used for charging comes from fossil fuels).
EVs are based on lithium-ion batteries, which are engineered for thousands of charge cycles with specialized chemistries and cooling systems. Like smartphone or laptop batteries, EV batteries degrade over time, but the degradation is far slower and usually isn’t noticeable to drivers until nearing the end of their usable lifespan.
Battery performance varies by temperature, so EVs driven in extreme heat can experience faster degradation than those driven in cool climates. Battery life also varies by how often a vehicle is charged and how full the battery is kept at any given time, as overcharging can accelerate degradation. For these reasons, many EV owners follow best practices, such as keeping their batteries between 20% and 80% charge levels when possible.
Some consumers may delay EV purchases or forgo them entirely if they don’t have access to enough public charging stations. The 2025 McKinsey Mobility Consumer Pulse Survey found that a lack of charging availability was among the top barriers to adoption. NYC DOT is working to address this concern by expanding a network of Level 2 charging ports at more than 98 curbside locations in the five boroughs, in partnership with Con Edison.