Electric Vehicles

About Electric Vehicles

There are more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road every year, including in Alaska. There are two types of EVs that charge from the electric grid. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) run solely on electricity stored in batteries, commonly with a range of 200-350 miles or more. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) have a smaller battery and modest all-electric range (often 25-40 miles) as well as an internal combustion drivetrain.

EV charging is generally classified in three main categories

Level 1
Is slow charging usually at home from a standard 120-volt outlet. Typical power is 1-1.8 kW and can add 2-5 miles of range per hour.

Level 2
Is faster charging at home, commercial, or public sites with a 208/240-volt outlet or hardwired EV charger. Typical power is 5-19 kW and can add 10-30 miles of range per hour.

Level 3
Is DC fast charging at public sites or commercial sites. Typical power is 50-250 kW or more and can add 150-350+ miles of range per hour.

Check out the EV Terminology and Resources brochure for more information on EV terminology.

EV Incentives

Chugach offers electric vehicle (EV) charging incentive programs to promote the use of EVs in Alaska. The programs help individuals and businesses establish charging at home, at workplaces, for fleet vehicles, and for public use within the Chugach service area by providing a bill credit after installation. The programs are helping speed the transition to electric transportation, which benefits all members by reducing rates.

The bill credits amounts vary by program and are listed in the overview below.

Program Name	Incentive	Charging Level	Max per Account
Residential	$200	L2 (208-240 volt)	2
Commercial – Level 2	Up to $1,000	L2 (208-240 volt)	2
Commercial – DC Fast Charging	Up to $5,000	L3 DC Fast Charging	2

Residential EV Charging Program

Commercial - Level 2 Charging Program

Commercial - Level 3 DC Fast-Charging Program

EV Program Contacts:
Mark Henspeter at mark_henspeter@chugachelectric.com, (907)762-4210, or Sean Skaling at sean_skaling@chugachelectric.com, (907)762-4192.

Benefits of Electrification

Using electricity as a transportation fuel provides a number of benefits. First, “fueling” a vehicle with electricity is significantly less expensive than fueling with liquid fuels. Another is reduced transportation emissions such as carbon dioxide, which are 60-70 percent lower when powered by Chugach, compared to gasoline. A third benefit is that the use of electricity for EV charging helps spread the fixed costs of a utility like Chugach across greater sales, which puts downward pressure on members’ electric rates.

EV Trends

Every six months Chugach conducts a count of electric vehicles (both all-electric and plug-in hybrids) registered in Alaska. The number of registered EVs in Alaska and in the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) has risen steadily in recent years, as shown in the graphs.

There are now a wide variety of BEV and PHEVs registered in the MOA, and the total number of EVs is the fastest growing population in the state, at approximately 100 new EVs per month. At the beginning of 2024 there were over 1,500 plug-in electric vehicles registered within the MOA. The most common BEV brand is Tesla at nearly half of all BEVs, followed by Chevy. The most common PHEV brand in the MOA is BMW, followed by Ford. The most popular 2023 model year electric vehicles were the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, and Chevy Bolt.

Cost of Charging an EV

The cost* of charging an EV is less than half the cost of fueling an internal combustion vehicle when fuel cost is $3.75 per gallon and electricity is $0.20 per kWh, approximately Chugach’s residential rate.

Try Chugach’s EV Calculator to compare the cost of charging an EV to the cost of fueling a gasoline vehicle. It also calculates carbon dioxide emissions reduction based on Chugach’s generation mix of natural gas, hydro and wind.

EV Fuel and Carbon Savings Calculator

The Alaska Electric Vehicle Calculator developed by the Alaska Center for Energy and Power provides additional information on energy costs around Alaska and seasonal energy consumption.

*Assumes average electric vehicle efficiency of 2.9 miles per kWh and the average gasoline vehicle efficiency of 26.0 miles per gallon.

EV Emissions

The emissions from driving an EV are produced at the power plants where electricity is generated, rather than being emitted from the vehicle directly. Chugach has a generation portfolio comprised of natural gas, hydro, and wind. An electric vehicle powered by the Chugach system is responsible for approximately 66% less carbon dioxide than an average-efficiency gasoline-powered passenger vehicle. In addition, an EV emits no cold-start carbon monoxide or other pollutants. Chugach members who have rooftop solar panels can further reduce the carbon emissions of driving an EV.

Efficiency of EVs

The main reason for the low cost per mile is due to the efficiency of the electric drive system compared to an internal combustion engine drivetrain. According to the US Department of Energy, about 12 to 30% of the energy in the hydrocarbon fuel is converted to forward momentum in an internal combustion engine vehicle, compared to 60 to 73% of the electricity in an EV battery. An EV also recaptures energy while braking, which can increase total efficiency to over 90%.

Seasonal variation in temperature will affect the amount of energy consumed by an EV for heating and cooling. Efficiency during the winter is typically 20-30% lower for many modern EVs since electricity is used to maintain the battery temperature and heat the cabin. EVs are generally most efficient around town where speeds are lower and more energy is regenerated in stop-and-go traffic. During cold winter months efficiency may drop around town since extra energy is used to warm the cabin on frequent short trips. Parking in a garage helps to reduce the energy used for heat.

The US Department of Energy provides interactive graphics that provide energy requirements for different driving conditions.

Charging Your Electric Vehicle

EV charging can be flexible, cost-effective, and convenient. Planning for your charging needs when considering a new EV helps maximize the value and convenience of your charging experience. Your vehicle type, weekly mileage, schedule, and home electrical capacity can influence your charging solution.