Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular by both car manufacturers and drivers world-wide. In addition to the environmental benefits of EVs over internal combustion engine vehicles, EVs have lower maintenance costs and lower operational costs per mile. There are two types of EVs:

• All-electric vehicles, also known as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): BEV’s run only on electricity and produce zero tailpipe emissions. Most have ranges of 100-150 miles on a fully charged battery, while some newer and luxury models have ranges up to 250 miles or more.

• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs): PHEVs run on electricity for shorter ranges (6 to 40 miles), then switch over to an internal combustion engine (ICE) running on gasoline when the battery is depleted. The flexibility of PHEVs allows drivers to use electricity as often as possible while also being able to fuel up with gasoline if needed when driving longer distances.

Dozens of popular car brands including Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Honda, Nissan, BMW, Tesla, Mercedes, Toyota and Volkswagen currently offer at least one EV model, with many more manufacturers releasing or planning to release EVs of all types (cars, SUVs and trucks) every year. Companies such as Amazon, DHL and UPS are even committing to electrifying their delivery fleets by the end of the decade.

New York State’s Drive Clean Rebate offers rebates on the purchase or lease of over 40 EV models. Tax credits are also available on various EV makes and models.

Medium and heavy-duty vehicles are also moving to electric. States across the U.S. are putting electric school buses, transit buses, utility and garbage trucks into use.

Municipalities are well positioned to lead by example within their communities in the transition away from internal combustion vehicles to EVs serving their municipal operations. The full electrification of fleets is a goal being pursued by many municipalities nationwide, and is supported by local and state agencies through programs and funding opportunities to assist in the transition. East Hampton has begun the process of reducing GHG emissions produced by its municipal fleet by adding EVs and hybrid vehicles.

The Town of East Hampton municipal fleet currently includes 4-fully electric EVs and 3-plug-in hybrid EVs. To ensure the continuation of fleet electrification, the Town has also adopted a Fleet Efficiency Policy for the purchase of new fleet EVs.