Electric vehicles (EVs) rely on a battery and electric motors instead of the tank and internal combustion engine of gas-powered vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles are another common type of EV and more recent models can usually operate in electric-only mode for a limited number of miles on a full charge before switching to the internal combustion engine. Some hybrids are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which can be charged from an external source, while others can only charge their batteries through the gas-powered engine. Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are less common in the United States and use hydrogen gas fuel in combination with oxygen to create electricity. 

Fuel is not required in EVs, so you can feel good about owning an environmentally friendly vehicle without the pollutants that gasoline-powered cars emit. Plus, with no need for fuel, you can save on the cost of gas and no longer need to worry about filling up at the gas station. Electric vehicles cost less to maintain because their drivetrains have far fewer moving parts and don't require oil changes and spark plug replacements. EVs that feature a powerful electric motor, like the Subaru Solterra, offer instant torque for better performance and have a quieter ride as there are no engine vibrations.

The Subaru Solterra can be charged at your home using a Level 1 120V charger or a Level 2 240V charger. You can charge your battery every night, just like your smartphone, so you’re always ready to go anywhere with a full charge. A Level 1 charger is included with your Solterra, or you can get a Level 2 240V charger professionally installed in your home for an even faster charge.

Since your Solterra can go over an estimated 227 miles on an overnight Level 2 full charge, the need to charge while running errands should not be a common occurrence. Should you need to charge while on the go, you have access to over 46,000 public Level 2 or Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations across the U.S. If you do need a charge away from home, your best bet is a DCFC station with a CCS plug. The super-fast DC charger can charge your battery from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes.

New 2024 Subaru Solterra models leased through Subaru’s preferred lender are eligible for a $7,500 incentive that will be used to lower the lease payment. Additional incentives, tax credits, and discounts may be available based on your location and employer. Make sure to look into your state’s information about electric vehicles.

Car shoppers in the U.S. who purchase an electric car or fuel cell electric vehicle from 2023 onward may qualify for a clean vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500 from the Internal Revenue Service. There are restrictions on who can qualify as well as what kinds of EVs are eligible for the tax credit. Visit the IRS clean vehicle credit webpage to learn more.

If you’re still driving a gas-powered car, you're probably familiar with conventional internal combustion engine car batteries, but there are big differences in the technology. As opposed to a single lead-acid battery, EVs use lithium-ion battery packs that are similar to the ones powering your smartphone and offer much greater capacity, efficiency, and longevity. Lithium-ion battery lifespans are variable due to different climate temperatures and charging habits, but every EV sold in the U.S. comes with a government-mandated battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles. You can extend your EV battery's life by following the manufacturer's charging best practices, and when they do lose their capacity, the battery pack can usually be repaired or replaced.

The length of time it takes to charge an EV depends on many factors. Full-size EVs can obviously fit a larger battery pack than a compact EV, which in turn will affect the charge time. In general, the most important factor — beyond the amount of charge remaining — is the type of charger you are using. Level 1 chargers use the common 120V AC outlets you have in your home or garage and could take up to 50 hours if you are charging a completely empty battery. Level 2 chargers in residential settings use a 240V outlet just like an electric clothes dryer and that extra voltage can top up an empty battery in just five to six hours. Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) technology is typically only found in public charging stations and plugging into a DCFC will bring you from 10% to 80% of your battery capacity in about 35 minutes.

While electricity costs vary by location, charging an electric vehicle should give you significant savings over buying gas for a traditional car over the same period of time. Some public charging networks even offer free charging. If you decide you want to install a Level 2 charger in your home, you need to factor in the cost of buying that charging equipment and paying an electrician for the installation. But many people find that their commuting and driving habits can be satisfied by plugging into a Level 1 charger that only needs a regular 120V outlet and letting their vehicle charge overnight.

Solterra owners can access over 46,000 public charging stations across the country through EVgo. EVgo is the first public EV fast-charging network in the U.S. to be powered by 100% renewable energy.

Find an EVgo Charging Station. Other resources for finding EV charging stations include ChargeHub and PlugShare.

With zero tailpipe emissions, electric cars generate much less of an impact on the environment compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. Studies looking at the entire lifetime of an EV have shown this environmentally friendly advantage persists even when accounting for the emissions generated by manufacturing and electricity generation. As more sources of renewable electricity production like wind and solar come online, this advantage could even grow larger.