All You Need To Know About Buying and Owning Electric Cars

  • The 2018 Toyota Prius Prime provides an EV-only range of 25 miles thanks to its 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. After those miles, the Prius Prime delivers 54 mpg when running on gas compared to the Volt's 42 miles per gallon. That's impressive and so is the versatility of the Prius's well-known hatchback design. However, the Prius Prime is strictly a four-passenger vehicle.

    Toyota Prius Prime (Plug-in Hybrid)

    The 2018 Toyota Prius Prime provides an EV-only range of 25 miles thanks to its 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. After those miles, the Prius Prime delivers 54 mpg when running on gas compared to the Volt's 42 miles per gallon. That's impressive and so is the versatility of the Prius's well-known hatchback design. However, the Prius Prime is strictly a four-passenger vehicle.

  • The Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid is Chrysler’s first plug-in car—and the industry’s first plug-in hybrid minivan. The editors of Good Housekeeping, in partnership with Car and Driver, named the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid a 2018 Best New Car award winner in the Hybrid category.

    Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

    The Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid is Chrysler’s first plug-in car—and the industry’s first plug-in hybrid minivan. The editors of Good Housekeeping, in partnership with Car and Driver, named the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid a 2018 Best New Car award winner in the Hybrid category.

  • If you like the styling and road manners of a BMW 3-Series, but want to push the envelope on efficiency, then the 330e is the answer.

    BMW 330e

    If you like the styling and road manners of a BMW 3-Series, but want to push the envelope on efficiency, then the 330e is the answer.

  • The Tesla Model S is more than a car. It’s the embodiment of the electric-car movement. The Model S is not just a great EV, but one of the world's best luxury sedans. While still technically in its first generation, Tesla makes significant updates and improvements every year—bringing longer range, more power, and enhanced features.

    Tesla Model S

    The Tesla Model S is more than a car. It’s the embodiment of the electric-car movement. The Model S is not just a great EV, but one of the world's best luxury sedans. While still technically in its first generation, Tesla makes significant updates and improvements every year—bringing longer range, more power, and enhanced features.

  • The Nissan LEAF is by far the most popular EV in the world. It is a well-equipped, all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and, with its second-generation model, can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge. The LEAF is available to test-drive and purchase at Nissan dealerships throughout the United States.

    Nissan LEAF

    The Nissan LEAF is by far the most popular EV in the world. It is a well-equipped, all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and, with its second-generation model, can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge. The LEAF is available to test-drive and purchase at Nissan dealerships throughout the United States.

  • With the Bolt, General Motors introduced the industry's first affordable long-range electric car, rated to provide 238 miles on a single charge. It's a milestone for the EV market.

    Chevrolet Bolt

    With the Bolt, General Motors introduced the industry's first affordable long-range electric car, rated to provide 238 miles on a single charge. It's a milestone for the EV market.

  • The Model X is Tesla’s powerful long-range sports utility vehicle. The style, speed, and safety of the Model X are unprecedented in a full-size SUV. Depending on the specific package, the Model X can travel between 237 and 295 miles on a single charge. The vehicle's signature design feature is its double-hinged falcon doors, which rise up and over the top of the car.

    Tesla Model X

    The Model X is Tesla’s powerful long-range sports utility vehicle. The style, speed, and safety of the Model X are unprecedented in a full-size SUV. Depending on the specific package, the Model X can travel between 237 and 295 miles on a single charge. The vehicle's signature design feature is its double-hinged falcon doors, which rise up and over the top of the car.

PluginCars Monthly Newsletter

Stay current with new car reviews, the latest plug-in electric vehicle tech, and tips for getting the most out of your electric car! Don't worry, we will never share your email with anyone.

Join Our Mailing List

Best Sellers Browse all Plug-In Cars ›

  • The Nissan LEAF is by far the most popular EV in the world. It is a well-equipped, all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and, with its second-generation model, can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge. The LEAF is available to test-drive and purchase at Nissan dealerships throughout the United States.
    Nissan LEAF

    The Nissan LEAF is by far the most popular EV in the world. It is a well-equipped, all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and, with its second-generation model, can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge. The LEAF is available to test-drive and purchase at Nissan dealerships throughout the United States.

  • The Chevy Volt is the world’s most popular plug-in hybrid. While the first-generation model was designed to attract early adopters, the current edition has mass appeal. It has more all-electric range. It's faster, and the design is more pleasant.
    Chevy Volt

    The Chevy Volt is the world’s most popular plug-in hybrid. While the first-generation model was designed to attract early adopters, the current edition has mass appeal. It has more all-electric range. It's faster, and the design is more pleasant.

  • The 2018 Toyota Prius Prime provides an EV-only range of 25 miles thanks to its 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. After those miles, the Prius Prime delivers 54 mpg when running on gas compared to the Volt's 42 miles per gallon. That's impressive and so is the versatility of the Prius's well-known hatchback design. However, the Prius Prime is strictly a four-passenger vehicle.
    Toyota Prius Prime (Plug-in Hybrid)

    The 2018 Toyota Prius Prime provides an EV-only range of 25 miles thanks to its 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. After those miles, the Prius Prime delivers 54 mpg when running on gas compared to the Volt's 42 miles per gallon. That's impressive and so is the versatility of the Prius's well-known hatchback design. However, the Prius Prime is strictly a four-passenger vehicle.

  • The Tesla Model S is more than a car. It’s the embodiment of the electric-car movement. The Model S is not just a great EV, but one of the world's best luxury sedans. While still technically in its first generation, Tesla makes significant updates and improvements every year—bringing longer range, more power, and enhanced features.
    Tesla Model S

    The Tesla Model S is more than a car. It’s the embodiment of the electric-car movement. The Model S is not just a great EV, but one of the world's best luxury sedans. While still technically in its first generation, Tesla makes significant updates and improvements every year—bringing longer range, more power, and enhanced features.



GuidesBrowse all guides ›

Seven Things To Know About Buying a Plug-In Car

Shop around. Consider the incentives. Have faith in the battery. And four other essential things to consider when buying a plug-in vehicle.

Incentives for Plug-in Hybrids and Electric Cars

We're doing our best to track the growing list of federal and state-based incentives for purchasing an electric car or plug-in hybrid. See how much you can save to get behind the wheel of an electric-drive plug-in vehicle.

Buying Your First Home EV Charger

It’s not rocket science, and you should not overthink the selection and installation of a home charger, also known as an EVSE. That said, there are important differences to consider.

Electric Cars Pros and Cons

Like almost anything in life, electric cars have advantages and disadvantages. You can expect a site like PluginCars.com to generally promote EVs as having, on balance, a lot more benefits than shortcomings—but that doesn’t mean we can’t offer an honest assessment of the pros and cons.

News Browse all news ›


  • Volkswagen Will Launch Its Electric “People’s Car” in Late 2019

    News emerged this week that VW is getting closer to introducing an affordable, mainstream electric car—as it has promised for years. The company presented a few more details about its modular electric platform, giving credence to reports that a model that’s slightly larger and roomier than the Golf will go on sale in some global markets by the end of next year.


  • Audi Unveils the E-Tron, Its First of 10 All-Electric Vehicles

    Audi unveiled the all-electric e-tron sports utility vehicle this week, the brand’s first pure EV. It’s been nearly a decade since the company’s exhilarating electric R8 sports car was introduced—and three years since the battery-powered e-tron Quattro concept was first shown. Those vehicles generated a lot of excitement among auto enthusiasts and EV fans alike. But the e-tron that was revealed in San Francisco this week was aimed at wider appeal.


  • Are Electric Car Batteries Getting Too Big?

    The race for big-battery EVs now includes the Chevy Bolt and Hyundai Kona EV (both with 64 kWh packs), as well as 95 kilowatt-hour batteries carried by the Jaguar I-Pace and Porsche Taycan. These big-battery EVs solve the range problem by providing as much as 300 miles of driving on a single charge. However, it is now dawning on automakers and analysts that bigger is not always better when it comes to EV batteries.