How to Use This Site
We’ve rounded up information about PEVs and every level of PEV user, with additional links to more detailed sources of assistance from government, trade groups and industry.
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Your Public Information Partner
Local municipalities have an opportunity to partner with Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CCFC) to communicate with their communities, consumers and stakeholders about the progress of PEVs in the greater Charlotte area.
GO4PEV is an umbrella outreach effort to be used for up-to-date information about what is happening locally and regionally with electric drive transportation.
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Take a Quick Spin Through PEV Basics
What is a Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV)?
- A plug-in electric vehicle is different from the more common hybrid electric cars you may already be familiar with over the past 10 years (such as the Toyota Prius).
- Plug-in electric vehicles rely either completely or partially on a battery system on board to store the electric energy that powers the motor.
- Their batteries are charged by plugging the vehicle into an electric power source (think outlet) right from the electricity supplied to homes and businesses already. Yes, just like it sounds—plugged in!
- Ten times fewer moving parts than a gasoline powered car means less to maintain or even replace, though some PEVs, like the Chevy Volt have a small gas-powered generator on board, to extend the range of the battery charge.
Why Electric Transportation?
- Concerns about the environment, the economy, and national energy security are driving the development and deployment of alternative fuel vehicles.
- PEVs emit no exhaust or toxic tailpipe pollutants (no CO2 or other emissions)—an important potential part of the solution to the Greater Charlotte Region’s non-attainment for ground-level ozone status designated by the U.S. EPA.
- While generating electricity has some environmental impacts, since North Carolina’s electricity supply is only partially coal-powered, PEVs emissions are still much less than regular gasoline or even previous hybrid cars.
- Because PEVs primarily use no other fuel, they improve our energy security by reducing dependence on foreign oil.
- The roll-out of PEVs and an electric transportation will create new jobs in vehicles and electric-charging system manufacturing, sales and installation.
Is the Technology Really Here?
- Yes! Automobile manufacturers, charging-station designers, electricity providers and government agencies focused on renewable energy and jobs have all been steadily moving to bring this technology from concept to reality. For example:
- You may have already seen Nissan’s all-electric car, the LEAF, or General Motors Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric, extended-range hybrid vehicle. And more PEV models are on the way from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, and other manufacturers around the globe.
- PEV battery systems, usually lithium, are proven safe and recyclable. Technology improvements and volume demand are expected to continue to bring costs down.
- Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is being deployed rapidly nationwide and in our region. Stations are already in the ground in Gastonia, Charlotte, and just across the state line in Rock Hill, SC. The City of Charlotte expects to have more than 50 publicly available charging stations installed by the end of 2011.