If you’ve been hearing phrases like completely electric car, fully electric car, or “BEV,” it can sound like jargon. Underneath the acronyms, though, is a simple idea: a car that runs only on electricity, with no gas tank or tailpipe. In 2025, these cars are finally moving from the edges of the market into driveways on every block, maybe even yours next.
Quick definition
A completely electric car is a battery electric vehicle (BEV): it uses only an electric motor and battery for power. There’s no gasoline engine hiding under the hood, and it never needs an oil change.
What is a completely electric car?
In industry terms, a completely electric car is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Every mile you drive comes from energy stored in a high‑voltage battery pack. You plug the car in, at home, work, or a public charger, instead of filling a gas tank. Cars like the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevrolet Equinox EV, and Ford Mustang Mach‑E are all examples of completely electric cars.
- No internal combustion engine at all
- No tailpipe emissions while driving
- Propulsion comes from one or more electric motors
- Energy stored in a high‑voltage battery pack (often 50–100 kWh)
- Recharged by plugging into Level 1, Level 2, or DC fast chargers
That’s different from hybrids and plug‑in hybrids, which still carry engines and fuel systems. With a completely electric car, electricity is your only fuel, and that’s a big part of both the appeal and the anxiety.
EV terminology decoded
You’ll see terms like BEV (battery electric vehicle), PHEV (plug‑in hybrid), and HEV (regular hybrid). When people say “completely electric car,” they almost always mean a BEV.
Completely electric car vs hybrid vs plug‑in hybrid
If you’re cross‑shopping, the alphabet soup matters. Here’s how a completely electric car stacks up against the two most common alternatives.
How powertrains differ
Key differences between a completely electric car, a hybrid, and a plug‑in hybrid.
| Type | Fuel source | Electric range | Gas backup | Maintenance complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completely electric car (BEV) | Electricity only | Typically 180–320+ miles | None | Lowest (no engine, no exhaust, no transmission) |
| Hybrid (HEV) | Gasoline + small battery | 1–2 miles (can’t really drive electric only) | Yes | Higher (engine + hybrid components) |
| Plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) | Electricity + gasoline | 20–50 miles electric, then gas | Yes | Highest (engine + large battery + EV hardware) |
Only a completely electric car is 100% electric, all the time.
Watch how ads are worded
“Electrified” and “hybrid‑electric” don’t mean completely electric. If the car still has a gas tank, it’s not a fully electric car, no matter how much blue lighting is on the brochure.
Why drivers are switching to completely electric cars
The rise of completely electric cars
Beyond the headlines, the reasons people actually buy a completely electric car are surprisingly down‑to‑earth. After years of testing EVs back‑to‑back with gas cars, a few advantages come up again and again.
Everyday advantages of a completely electric car
Less drama, more smooth miles.
Smoother, quieter drive
Lower running costs
Fuel at home
When a completely electric car feels like a major upgrade
If most of your driving is commuting, school runs, and errands under 60–80 miles a day, a completely electric car can feel like switching from a flip phone to a smartphone overnight.
Common concerns about going fully electric
Of course, not everyone is racing to ditch gasoline. Surveys in 2024 and 2025 show that while EV sales are still rising, some Americans are cooling on the idea, largely because of charging, range, cost, and battery life. Let’s tackle those one by one.
“I’m worried about range.”
Range anxiety is real, especially when you’re used to 400+ miles from a gas tank. But the pattern is familiar: most drivers overestimate how much range they need. Daily mileage for many American commuters is under 40 miles. A completely electric car with 220–280 miles of range gives you several days of driving before you even have to think about plugging in.
“What about road trips?”
Long trips need more planning, no question. You’ll rely on DC fast‑charging networks along highways and build the habit of stopping every 2–3 hours for a 20–30 minute charge. For some families, that fits naturally with food and bathroom breaks. For others, it’s a deal‑breaker, and a hybrid may still make more sense.
“Will the battery wear out?”
Modern EV batteries are engineered to last hundreds of thousands of miles. They do lose capacity over time, just like your phone, typically a slow, steady fade rather than a sudden cliff. The tricky part when you buy used is knowing the batterys true health, not guessing based on age and mileage alone.
“Are EVs actually affordable?”
Sticker prices for new EVs can still be higher than similar gas models, even as prices soften. But incentives, lower fuel and maintenance costs, and the growing supply of used EVs can flip the math in your favor over a few years of ownership.
Where EVs still don’t shine
If you tow heavy loads often, drive 300+ miles a day with limited charging stops, or can’t reliably plug in near home or work, a completely electric car may feel like the wrong tool for the job, for now.
Real-world costs of owning a completely electric car
The best way to decide if a completely electric car fits your budget is to forget the window sticker for a moment and think in terms of total cost of ownership: purchase price, fuel, maintenance, and resale.
Where the money goes (and doesn’t)
Completely electric vs gas over a few years.
Purchase price
Fuel costs
Maintenance
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Look at a 3–5 year window
A completely electric car that’s a bit more expensive today can still be cheaper over 3–5 years once you factor in fuel and maintenance savings, especially if you buy used or keep the car for a long time.
Tax credits and incentives can sweeten the deal, but they’re a moving target. In the U.S., federal rules have changed several times since 2023, and many states add their own rebates or HOV‑lane perks. Before you buy, check a current incentive finder and confirm what your specific car qualifies for, not just the badge on the grille.
Charging a completely electric car: home, work, and road trips
Owning a completely electric car is less about finding charging stations and more about creating a personal charging routine. When you know where your daily electrons come from, the car simply fits into your life.
Three main ways to charge a completely electric car
You don’t need all three, just the right mix for your life.
Level 1 (120V outlet)
Level 2 (240V at home or work)
DC fast charging (on the road)
Check your panel before you buy hardware
If you’re planning a Level 2 home charger, have a licensed electrician confirm that your electrical panel has the capacity. Sometimes adding a charger is simple. Other times you may need an upgrade, which adds cost.
If you’re shopping used, ask how the previous owner charged. A car that lived its life mostly on home Level 2 charging may show less battery stress than one that lived on fast chargers at the edge of town.
Buying new vs used: how a completely electric car holds up
The used side of the market is where completely electric cars get really interesting. Early adopters are trading up to newer models with more range, which means there are more affordable, well‑kept EVs on the market than ever before.
Why consider a used completely electric car?
- Lower entry price: Let someone else take the steepest part of the depreciation curve.
- Proven reliability: You can see how a particular model has held up in the real world over several years.
- More car for the money: Features like heated seats, advanced driver assists, and big touchscreens tend to show up even in older EVs.
What makes shoppers nervous?
- Battery health: Unlike a gas tank, a battery slowly loses capacity. A 250‑mile car when new might be a 210‑mile car several years later.
- Charging standards: The move toward the North American Charging Standard (NACS) means you want to understand which connector the car uses and what adapters are available.
- Complex pricing: Incentives, mileage, and options can make it tough to know if you’re paying a fair price.
Battery warranties still matter
Most manufacturers back the high‑voltage battery for 8 years or around 100,000 miles, sometimes more. When you shop used, note how much of that coverage is left, it’s a real dollar value, not just fine print.
How Recharged makes buying a used EV simpler
If you’re leaning toward a used completely electric car, the big missing piece is trust, especially around the battery. That’s exactly the gap Recharged set out to close.
Why shoppers use Recharged for completely electric cars
Data, diagnostics, and people who actually speak EV.
Recharged Score battery health report
Fair market pricing
EV‑specialist support
Try before you commit
If you’re near Richmond, VA, you can visit the Recharged Experience Center to walk around real cars, talk through charging and trip planning, and take test drives before you ever sign anything.
Prefer to stay on the couch? Recharged offers a fully digital buying experience with financing, trade‑in, and nationwide delivery handled online, so you can shop for a completely electric car with the same ease as any other big purchase.
Checklist: Is a completely electric car right for you?
7 quick questions to test the fit
1. How many miles do you drive on a typical day?
If your daily driving is usually under 80 miles and only occasionally higher, a completely electric car will likely fit your life with room to spare.
2. Can you plug in where you park?
A garage or driveway with access to a 120V outlet is a good start; the option to add 240V (Level 2) makes EV ownership dramatically easier. If you rely solely on public chargers, plan carefully.
3. How often do you take long road trips?
If you regularly drive 300–500 miles in a single day, look at highway charging maps along your usual routes. Occasional road trips are usually manageable; constant long‑haul driving may be more work.
4. Do you own or rent?
Owners have more control over installing home charging. Renters should talk to landlords, explore workplace charging, and look for apartments that offer EV spots before buying.
5. What’s your electricity rate?
Check your utility’s per‑kWh pricing and whether off‑peak rates are available. Cheap overnight power can make a completely electric car dramatically cheaper to fuel than a gas vehicle.
6. How long do you keep your cars?
The longer you own the car, the more you benefit from lower fuel and maintenance costs. Short‑term leasing? Then incentives and residual values matter more than long‑term savings.
7. Can you live with a bit more planning?
Owning a completely electric car means thinking ahead on charging rather than reacting when a low‑fuel light pops on. Some people love that control; others prefer spontaneity.
FAQs about completely electric cars
Frequently Asked Questions
Bottom line: should your next car be completely electric?
A completely electric car can be the most relaxing daily driver you’ve ever owned, quiet, quick, and dramatically simpler to live with once charging is set up. It’s not the right answer for every family yet, especially if you tow heavy, roam far from highways, or can’t reliably plug in. But for a growing number of drivers, particularly those with predictable commutes and a place to charge, going fully electric isn’t a futuristic statement. It’s just the logical next car.
If you’re curious but cautious, starting with a used completely electric car can be a smart move. That’s where Recharged comes in, pairing verified battery health, fair market pricing, financing, trade‑ins, and EV‑savvy support so you can explore electric ownership without feeling like a test pilot. When you’re ready, you can browse cars, get pre‑qualified, and even arrange delivery without leaving your couch.
