What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?
Electric vehicle ownership is becoming more widespread across the country. For those in the market for an EV, there are several options to choose from. Below, we've provided a summary of some of the most common types.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
When people talk about electric vehicles, they are usually referring to Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles rely solely on a rechargeable battery pack for energy, and do not use a gasoline engine. BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles because they do not emit harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollutants like gas-powered vehicles.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. The battery can be recharged through regenerative braking, which recovers energy that is normally lost during braking in a gas-powered car. In a hybrid, this energy is repurposed to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also use both an engine and an electric motor. They can partially recharge their battery through regenerative braking, like a traditional hybrid. However, they differ in that they have a larger battery and can be plugged into an electric grid for recharging. A PHEV can travel several dozen miles solely on battery power before the gas engine takes over, acting like a traditional hybrid.
