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Here’s more information about electric cars and fueling that may help as you get ready.

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Types of Electric Cars

Currently there are 2 classes of electric cars that you can charge at home: the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and the battery electric vehicle. If you choose a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, you’ll fuel your car both with electricity and gasoline. Plug-in hybrids typically have a range of over 300 miles — fueled by a combination of electricity and gasoline — comparable to your internal combustion engine car today. The battery electric car is powered 100% by electricity from the grid and has a range of about 100 miles or more on a single charge.

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Why Charge at Night: Off-Peak Charging

Electricity grids are designed to meet the highest, peak demand for electricity, which usually occurs during the day. At night, when off-peak demand is low, the grid is underutilized. When you charge your electric car at night, you can take advantage of off-peak excess capacity and lower rates. We offers customers with electric cars a choice of two electric car rate plans that encourage fueling during off-peak hours.

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Environmental Benefits

Driving a plug-in electric car has benefits for the environment. Cars fueled with electricity from the grid can help improve air quality and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. In fact, the electricity supply in California is already cleaner than in other parts of the country because of our higher use of wind, solar and other renewable energy sources, which currently account for 20% of the energy generated for our customers.