All About Electric Vehicles | Orange & Rockland

Electric Vehicle Benefits

Cost Effectiveness

The total cost to own and operate an electric vehicle is often cheaper than the total cost of a traditional car. On a standard residential rate, it costs approximately $1 for the current all-electric models to travel the same distance as traditional cars would on a gallon of fuel. That means you could save up to $1,000 per year in refueling costs alone—and charging off-peak can increase those savings. Many businesses and municipalities offer incentives to customers who own electric vehicles, such as free public Level 2 charging.

Environmental

The benefits of a cleaner, greener ride go further than your individual impact. Transportation accounts for 36% of New York State’s greenhouse gas emissions, and gasoline-fueled vehicles produce roughly double the CO2 emissions compared to their electric counterparts. By driving an electric vehicle, you can help reduce the emissions that contribute to smog and climate change, improving the health of our communities and our planet. The energy from the grid powers electric vehicles, and as the grid becomes greener, so does driving the electric vehicle. With less or no tailpipe emissions, hybrid and fully electric cars help preserve the air quality, so you can breathe easy about your influence on the surroundings we all share.

Convenience

Plugging in electric vehicles at home helps to avoid a detour to the gas station. If you’re on the go and need to power up or don’t have charging at home, a growing number of charging stations are available in our service area—and across the country. DC fast chargers will fill up to 80% of your battery's capacity in roughly 30 minutes.

Performance

Light-touch, instant torque and whisper-quiet operation are just a few of the advantages of fueling with electricity. Electric vehicle motors typically require less maintenance than internal combustion engines. Even brake pads last longer in electric vehicles because they use regenerative braking to slow down, converting the energy used to reduce the car’s speed into power that can be stored in the battery. For most drivers, the electric vehicle is ideal for commuting. The average New Yorker’s round-trip commute is less than 20 miles. However, electric vehicles are also designed to go the distance. The newest electric vehicles have a range of 140-400+ miles on a single charge.

Electric Vehicle Types

Different kinds of electric vehicles process power in different ways. The car you choose will determine how often you need to use your home power supply to charge your car.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric: Use both a gasoline engine and a battery-powered electric motor. The battery is charged by electricity generated by the brakes and plugging in the car. Battery Electric: Also called all-electirc vehicles, they rely solely on electric motors to make them go. Large batteries give them a longer range. They need to be plugged into a power source to charge. Extended Range: A gasoline engine powers a generator that charges the battery, and an electric motor turns the wheels. The run solely on electricity until the battery is depleted.

How to Save on Your Electric Vehicle Purchase

Federal Tax Credits

All-electric and plug-in hybrid cars purchased new in or after 2023 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500.

You qualify for additional savings just by living in our service area.

EV Rebate Program

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides rebates of up to $2,000 for purchasing or leasing a new EV.

EV Emissions Inspection Exemption

EVs powered exclusively by electricity are exempt from state motor vehicle emissions inspections.

HOV Lane Exemption

Through the Clean Pass Program, eligible EVs may use the Long Island Expressway HOV lanes, regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle. This exemption expires Sept. 30, 2025.

How to Charge Your Electric Vehicle

See our charging guide to learn more about how and where to charge your electric car.