Bar charts highlight differences between categories, trends and outliers, and reveal historical highs and lows at a glance. They are especially effective when you have data that can be split into multiple categories.

Line charts connect distinct data points, presenting them as one continuous evolution. They simplify visualizing changes in one value relative to another. 

Pie charts add detail to other visualizations. Use these in conjunction with other charts to add information, without distracting from the larger picture.  In the example shown below. the Pie Chart on the right provides additional information that would not otherwise be available on the Bar Chart alone.

Maps highlight geographic trends and easily visualize geolocation based data. They are a compelling way to show how location correlates with trends in data. 

A Dashboard is a collection of data relationships, displayed in multiple views and chart types in order to compare multiple data sets simultaneously and observe their interrelated trends. Dashboards are especially useful for data that you review every day, as it can display all the views for that data at once, rather than separate it into different worksheets.

Below is an example of a dashboard used by the NYSERDA Clean Transportation Team to collect Electric Vehicle Rebate Data: