Electric Vehicle 101

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming an increasingly popular option for drivers looking to reduce fuel costs, lower emissions, and enjoy a quieter, smoother driving experience. Whether you are just beginning to explore EVs or are ready to plug in, this page provides a helpful overview of how electric vehicles work, how to charge them, and where to find trusted resources.

What Is an Electric Vehicle?

An electric vehicle runs on electricity instead of gasoline. EVs use rechargeable batteries to power an electric motor, eliminating tailpipe emissions and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Many models can be charged at home, at work, or at public charging stations.

Charging an Electric Vehicle

EV charging is simple and flexible, with options to fit different lifestyles and driving needs.

Public Charging

Wright-Hennepin offers publicly accessible EV charging stations at our headquarters:

6800 Electric Drive
Rockford, MN 55373

Public charging stations are also available throughout Minnesota and across the country, making longer trips more convenient than ever.

Find Charging Stations Near You

Use online tools and mobile apps to locate public EV charging stations wherever you travel.

Electric Vehicle Charging Programs

Learn about Wright-Hennepin programs that support electric vehicle charging at home or work that help make EV ownership easier.

Explore EV Programs

Five Fast Facts About Electric Vehicles

Watch our short video to learn five quick facts about EVs, including charging basics, driving range, and everyday benefits.

EV Models, Incentives, and Savings

Current EV Model Information
Explore available electric vehicle models from major manufacturers.

Gas and Carbon Savings Calculator
Use this calculator from the Environmental Protection Agency to estimate how much gasoline and carbon emissions you could save by switching to an EV.

Incentives and Rebates
Learn about incentives and EV-related programs available through the U.S. Department of Energy.

Is an Electric Vehicle Right for You?

Curious about costs and savings? Our EV savings calculators can help you compare options and understand potential benefits before you make a decision.

Get Started

Learn More or Talk With Us

For a deeper dive into EV ownership, review the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Handbook for Consumers from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Have questions or want help choosing the right rate or program? Our team is happy to discuss electric vehicle options, charging considerations, and available incentives in greater detail. Contact us by calling (763) 477-3000 or email us below.

Email Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Many BEVs have a range of 250+ miles on a single charge. Research shows the majority of charging is done at home and BEV owners do not need to charge every day.

PHEVs run first on electric, and then switch to gas when the electric battery is used up. PHEVs typically run about 20-40 miles purely on electric.

Checking your charge range before you leave is the easiest way to ensure you have an adequate charge to reach your destination. Charging at home is convenient and helps you make sure there is enough charge to go to work, run errands or attend your kids extracurriculars.

If you’re planning a road-trip then you’ll need to put in a little extra work and map out where charging stations are located en route and the distance you can go between charges. There are many apps that can help with this planning process, the most commonly used include Google Maps, Plugshare, Chargehub, and Tesla (only for Tesla owners).

Yes, your electric bill will increase. Charging at home is convenient and recommended to ensure you have an adequate charge, so you will see electric bills rise. But, this will be offset plus more, through the savings you’ll gain as your gas station stops decrease or are eliminated altogether. Many consumers who charge during Off-Peak hours (overnight) find they spend the equivalent electric cost of one tank of gas per month to charge their EV.

Wright-Hennepin (WH) offers two reduced-rate options through our Energy-Saving Programs (ESPs) for EV owners: a storage charge program and a time-of-use program. The storage program has a very low rate, but charging is restricted to certain times. The time-of-use program has more flexibility with charging at any time, but the price varies depending on day and time.

WH understands member-consumers have choices when it comes to transportation. As an electricity provider, electric vehicles (EVs) directly impact our business more than other vehicles or fuels. Therefore, we have a responsibility to be prepared and adapt our business accordingly, which may mean providing additional education and resources on a specific technology.

As consumers increasingly consider and choose EVs – and national projections show triple-digit growth in the coming years, Wright-Hennepin seeks to provide education on resources that are available to our members. Education is a cornerstone of the cooperative business model. If a Wright-Hennepin member-consumer chooses to purchase an EV, there are significant benefits to participating in a program or rate that will help our member-owned cooperative be as efficient as possible while also saving members money.

Six major automobile manufacturers, from Ford to GM, have announced they won’t produce internal combustion engines after 2040. If this transportation shift comes to fruition, it means more Wright-Hennepin members will have EVs, thus increasing the amount of electricity consumers use. Wright-Hennepin must be prepared to meet the increased electricity needs of its consumers.

Co-op members participating in an EV program doubled from 2021 to 2022. Wright-Hennepin must provide member-consumers who purchase EVs with reliable charging methods that don’t impact the reliability or cost for other co-op members. With approximately 80% of EV charging taking place at home, Wright-Hennepin must be prudent in planning for and supporting grid improvements and infrastructure needs.

Across the country, electric cooperatives are working with state and federal agencies to address infrastructure needs and ensure that their communities’ needs are met. Addressing the needs for electric transportation is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Some communities will benefit from public charging at parks, others need DC fast chargers on highways, and others won’t have either need but could benefit from electric school buses.

The bottom line is that Wright-Hennepin is seeing increased EV adoption among its member-consumer base. With approximately 80% of EV charging taking place at home, Wright-Hennepin must be prudent in planning for and supporting grid improvements and infrastructure needs. Our decisions are always rooted in our guiding cooperative values, which are centered on operating in our community’s best interests today and in the future.

Wright-Hennepin believes public policy decisions on EVs should be based on careful and thoughtful assessment of both costs and benefits. As always, Wright-Hennepin will advocate for policies we believe produce significantly more benefits than costs. Wright-Hennepin wants to ensure that if EVs become mainstream, electricity remains as reliable and affordable as it is today.

If a Wright-Hennepin member-consumer chooses to purchase an EV, there are significant benefits to participating in a program or rate that will help our member-owned cooperative be as efficient as possible while also saving the member money.

We offer the following:

Wright-Hennepin offers rebates up to $500 to members that are installing a new hardwired, 240-volt, level 2 wall-mounted charging station.
Members can save about half price on their electric cost vs. general service if they charge overnight.

Charging EVs overnight can reduce the need to build additional infrastructure. If member-consumers who own EVs charge overnight, it is good for the member (lower cost rate options), the utility (avoids demand spikes) and the environment (reduces the need to build new power plants). WH encourages all members with an EV to participate in a program where charging occurs during non-peak times.

According to an analysis by the Great Plains Institute, EV drivers contribute more to the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund than drivers of equivalent gasoline-powered vehicles. This is because the higher upfront cost of EVs results in higher motor vehicle sales tax and tab fees.

Furthermore, any EV tax should reflect the higher fuel efficiency of EVs. Over-taxing EVs today discourages adoption and slows market development. Wright-Hennepin supports comprehensive solutions to roadway funding challenges and the calculation of fair vehicle taxes that consider the higher fuel efficiencies of EVs.

As a vast array of additional products and technology that use electricity come online, the grid will need to be improved. Since our founding 85 years ago, we have consistently made investments into the grid to accommodate members’ evolving needs and technology changes that have become mainstream. Wright-Hennepin is proud of its proven track record of successfully and proactively adapting to increased consumer needs.

While Wright-Hennepin can make local decisions to benefit our members as a whole, the grid is a massive, interconnected system. Policymakers also play a significant role in ensuring infrastructure is available to meet consumers’ dynamic energy needs fairly and responsibly. Wright-Hennepin invites and encourages our members to actively participate in public discussions about grid infrastructure improvements.

It is worth noting that additional electricity usage provides more revenue to the cooperative, supporting infrastructure enhancements to ensure reliable service.

Some of the technologies involved in EVs are outside of the scope of our business. We rely on the respective experts to make decisions aligned with established policies or protocols. For example, mineral mining is outside the scope of WH’s business. WH does not sell EVs or batteries. Our mission is solely to deliver the power, products and competitive pricing essential for improving the quality of life of the members and communities we serve.

New Look!:

What Is an Electric Vehicle?

Charging an Electric Vehicle

Electric Vehicle Charging Programs

Five Fast Facts About Electric Vehicles

EV Models, Incentives, and Savings

Is an Electric Vehicle Right for You?

Learn More or Talk With Us

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a BEV and a PHEV?

How much does an electric vehicle cost?

Will I run out of charge on the road?

Will my electric bill increase?

How can I reduce the cost of charging?

How do I find rebates and tax credits?

Does Wright-Hennepin (WH) favor electric vehicles (EVs) instead of ethanol-fueled vehicles?

How does Wright-Hennepin support members interested in EVs?

What does the future of EV adoption look like across our co-op membership?

How are electric co-ops addressing EV charging infrastructure needs?

Is Wright-Hennepin in favor of public policy benefiting EVs?

What EV incentives does Wright-Hennepin offer member-consumers?

Why is it beneficial to charge EVs overnight?

How are EV owners taxed in Minnesota?

How is the power grid being updated to accommodate EVs and other new electric technologies?

How does Wright-Hennepin address potential issues (i.e., batteries, mineral mining) with EVs?