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Are electric cars powered by coal?
I’ve heard mixed things on how electric cars are powered and was wondering if electric cars were powered by coal?
Brad Marley · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The source of power behind
EVs (electric vehicles)
is a fascinating question. In short, yes, coal is partially used to power electric vehicles. So is nuclear, solar, and wind energy. Electric cars are charged up by connecting them to the electric grid through any outlet in your home. Depending on what country you live in, that larger electrical grid is powered by a variety of different sources.
Here’s the general breakdown of the power grid makeup in the USA:
- Natural gas is 31.8%
- Petroleum is 28%
- Coal is 17.8%
- Renewable energy is 12.7%
- Nuclear electric power is 9.6%
So while yes, your EV is still being partially powered by coal, it is still considered cleaner than a combustion engine because the car itself has zero emissions. Gas on the other hand has emissions when it is refined and then again when it is put through a combustion engine.
Whether you’ve made the leap to an electric whip or driving a gas-powered car, you’re going to want to make sure you have the best and most affordable insurance protection.
Jerry
is an insurance super app that can get you dozens of quotes in a matter of seconds. With Jerry, you’ll know exactly what insurance
is best for your lifestyle and comfort zone. Jerry customers save an average of $879 a year.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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