What Makes Electric Cars Different – NYSERDA

Both plug-in hybrid and battery-powered cars qualify for the Drive Clean Rebate.

What Powers Your Car?

Cars can be powered in several different ways, from gasoline to electric batteries and a spectrum of choices in between.

Conventional Gas Cars

Conventional vehicles use an internal combustion engine fueled by gasoline or diesel to power the wheels. Electricity is used for some accessories, but is not used to move the vehicle.

Conventional Hybrid Cars

Conventional hybrids, also referred to as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), supplement the internal combustion engine with electrical power produced by an on-board electric motor. The electrical system acts as a generator when a driver applies the brakes, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy that is stored in a small battery pack. The primary fuel is gasoline or diesel.

Plug-in Hybrid Cars

A plug-in hybrid, also called a Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) or an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV), has a larger battery than a conventional hybrid car, and is charged by plugging into an electric outlet. Plug-in hybrids also keep a gasoline or diesel engine as a backup. After the battery energy is exhausted, the engine starts and the vehicle acts like a conventional hybrid until it is plugged in to recharge.

Battery-Powered Cars

A battery-powered car, or Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), does not have a gasoline or diesel engine and instead has an electric motor, power electronics, and a battery pack. Battery cars have a longer all-electric range than a plug-in hybrid, but they do not have a fuel backup. Just like a plug-in hybrid, battery-powered cars plug into an electric outlet to refuel.

Which Types of Cars Qualify for the Drive Clean Rebate?

Both of the plug-in electric cars, which consist of the battery-powered car and the plug-in hybrid, are eligible for the Drive Clean Rebate. Hydrogen fuel cell cars will also be eligible when they are available in NYS. New purchases and leases of 36 months or more qualify for up to a $2,000 rebate.

Learn more about how you can take advantage of the Drive Clean Rebate or view all electric car models that qualify for the Drive Clean Rebate.

Not only will the Drive Clean Rebate save you money, but using electricity as a vehicle fuel is currently less expensive per mile than gasoline, and is forecasted to be for the foreseeable future. You can save even more money by charging your car when electricity prices are less expensive.