What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?
As the popularity of Electric Vehicles (EVs) grows across the country, consumers are faced with a variety of options. Here are some of the most common types of EVs available:
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are the type of EV that are typically referred to as fully electric vehicles. These vehicles are powered solely by a rechargeable battery pack and do not use a gasoline engine. As a result, they are considered zero-emission vehicles and do not produce harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) use both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. These vehicles can use regenerative braking to recharge their battery. In a traditional gas-powered car, the energy from braking is typically lost as heat, but in an HEV, the energy is repurposed to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) also use both an engine and an electric motor. Similar to HEVs, PHEVs can partially recharge their battery through regenerative braking. However, they differ from HEVs by having a larger battery and the ability to plug into a grid to recharge. A PHEV can travel for several dozen miles before the gas engine provides assistance. Once the all-electric range is depleted, the vehicle operates like a regular hybrid and can travel a distance on a tank of gasoline.
