An electric vehicle (EV) is a motorised transportation system that uses electrical energy supplied from the power grid instead of fossil fuels to achieve propulsion. It can be powered by a rechargeable battery or by an on-board electric generator. The generator can be powered by a fuel cell, or by a nuclear reactor for submarines and other large vehicles.
Electric vehicles have many advantages over traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. They produce no tailpipe carbon dioxide, and they can also reduce other types of air pollution such as nitric oxides and particulates. By reducing these pollutants, EVs can prevent hundreds of thousands of premature deaths per year, especially from traffic-related respiratory illnesses.
The electric motor also allows for much faster acceleration than a conventional engine, and can utilize regenerative braking to put energy back into the vehicle’s batteries or the power grid. This allows high-speed rail systems such as France’s double-deck TGVs to operate at speeds of up to 320 km/h, and allow buses and trucks to have shorter stopping distances.
A key challenge is to accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure. The McKinsey Consumer Pulse Survey of 2025 found that public-charger availability was one of the most important barriers to adoption, with wary consumers holding back EV purchases until these facilities are more widespread.
Another obstacle is the price tag. Potential buyers can mitigate these costs by using state and federal incentives, which can shave thousands off the price of an EV. By ensuring that their pricing is competitive with gas-powered vehicles, manufacturers can help to tip the scales in favor of EV adoption.