Electric vehicles are taking the roads by (quiet, efficient) storm all across the world.
There are approximately four million EV on the roads in the USA, a figure makes up 1.4% of all vehicles on the road in 2024, with global sales growing significantly. In 2023, electric car sales increased by 35% year-over-year globally. According to Car and Driver, the Chevrolet Blazer EV is the most sold electric vehcile, with 20,825 units sold. Tesla comes in a close second with 22,100 units of the Cybertruck sold.
Electric cars are changing the way Americans travel. Electric vehicles are said to be better for the environment, as they do not produce any tail-end emissions, reducing air pollution. Gas prices increasing could be a reason we are starting to see more electric vehicles all over the road. Hybrid vehicles have also been becoming increasingly more popular in recent years.
When most people think of an electric car they think of Tesla. Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s founded Tesla in 2003. In 2008 Tesla released it first fully electric vehicle, the Roadster. The Roadster reaches up to 245 miles on a single charge. A range this far was new for the Tesla and all other electrics vehicles. The performance of the 2008 Tesla Roadster was comparable to sports cars going 0-60 in less than four seconds. The Roadster achieved a top speed of 125 miles per hour.
Ford has its own spin on electric vehicles. Ford came out with an electric pickup truck, the Ford F-150 Lightning, in 2022. Ford offers five different trims levels of the Lightning ranging from F-150 Lightning Pro to F-150 Lightning Platinum, ranging from the starting price at $54,780 up to more than $84,995.
According to Ford.com, the F-150 Lightning delivers the full-size truck capability you expect from an F-150 — with “acceleration only an electric vehicle can provide.” An interesting thing about electric vehicles is you can charge them right at your house. The standard-range battery for the F-150 Lightning yields up to 452 horsepower, while the extended-range battery delivers up to 580 horsepower, with both configurations producing 775 lb-ft of torque. This towing capacity is relatively new to the electric vehicle world.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2014 global sales of electric vehicles were at .1 million. This took a huge jump in recent years; in 2024, over 12 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide. In the last 10 years sales have steadily increased.
Many car brands sell hybrid vehicles, including Toyota, Honda, Kia, Ford, Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and others. These different car manufacturers have a variety of hybrid models, from sedans and SUVs to trucks and performance cars. Most car brands offer a selection of either electric or hybrid.
The landscape and facts may be changing, however. According to a New York Times article published on Oct. 8, 2025, it might not be cheaper or more efficient to drive an electric vehicle. The Times article shows a chart which states how much it costs to drive 100 miles in the United States. Home charging electric cars cost about $5.26, while a gas hybrid vehicle cost about $6.15 to drive 100 miles. A standard gas vehicle cost about $12.80. An all-electric vehicle at a fast charger cost $15.62 to travel 100 miles. Prices vary between different states.
California and Hawaii are the most expensive states to charge your EV at home, with California costing $10.52 and Hawaii costing $12.32. Idaho is the cheapest to charge your EV at $3.57. The Times also shows the states where E.V. drivers have the biggest advantage, places where electricity is cheap and gas is expensive. Washington tops that list. Connecticut, on the other hand, is the opposite — cheaper gas and more expensive electricity — and so it has the smallest gap between home E.V. charging and filling at the pump.
Ansel Garvey, Williston Athletic Trainer, has a F-150 Ford Lightning he charges right at his house.
“I can charge it on a 120v outlet or a 240v outlet. I did not need a special outlet though I did have a 240v outlet installed for faster charging (240v charges about 6x faster than 120v),” he said.
Garvey finds benefits in the low maintenance of the Lightning.
“The obvious benefit is the decrease in maintenance costs like no more gas or oil changes,” he said. “With less moving parts than an ICE (internal combustion engine), there are less maintenance costs in general.”
Garvey is impressed with the torque on the Ford Lightning.
“With my truck the ‘available mileage’ is basically cut in half while towing, which has been, to date, the biggest knock on full electric pick-up trucks,” he said. “My old truck had around 400 lb-ft of torque, and this truck has a very impressive 775 lb-ft which allows it to tow very well.”
Garvey prefers his electric truck rather than his gas truck he previously had, not just for the decreased maintenance costs, but because the “instant power is honestly one of the most fun things about the truck.”
Alex Tancrell-Fontaine, a College Advisor, has a hybrid vehicle: a Jeep Grand Cherokee. She enjoys the car and, but said she dislikes the time it takes to charge. However, TF, as she’s known, rarely gets gas and has a great mileage when her Jeep is in hybrid mode.
“I fill my tank I would say every three weeks or so during the school year, maybe even longer,” TF said. “In the summer, it’s different because I am driving more. With a full charge and a full tank of gas, my range is about 500 miles.”
The benefits of a hybrid played a role in TF’s decision to buy her car.
“I was excited about the prospect of only using my car on electric mode when driving up to practice and back since I do not drive that far each day,” she said. “Also, purchasing a hybrid came with rebates and incentives.”
Incentive for hybrid vehicles could include federal tax credits and state/local rebates depending on where you purchase your vehicle. Massachusetts has the MOR-EV program, offering rebates for eligible vehicles, and other states may have similar programs. Different vehicles are eligible for different rebates.
Head of School Bob Hill and his wife, Kathryn, bought a Hyundai Ioniq5, his first foray into the world of EVs. He charges the car off a 240 volt circuit in the garage, “which is the same as a clothes dryer at your home.”
Hill said he and Kathryn “had been considering hybrid or electric for our next car—since we knew that the car we replaced was not going to last long, and indeed it died last summer as we headed up I-91.”
Hill said the advances in technology contributed to their decision to purchase the Ioniq5.
“We chose fully electric since we felt the technology had advanced, charging stations are everywhere, and since we hold onto our cars for at least ten years, we were offered a warranty that conformed to that timeline,” he said. “While we need to plan a bit for longer trips more than with a gasoline car, it’s also nice to run errands and do local travel without thinking about filling up while knowing that we are doing a bit to help lower emissions.”
