What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

The ownership of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is on the rise across the country. When searching for an EV, shoppers may come across various options. Here, we have summarized some of the most common ones.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When discussing EVs, a Battery Electric Vehicle is typically what comes to mind. These fully electric vehicles do not use a gasoline engine and instead rely on a rechargeable battery pack to power the vehicle. Since they do not produce harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution like gasoline-powered vehicles, BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

A Hybrid Electric Vehicle combines a gas-powered engine with an electric motor. The battery can be recharged through regenerative braking, which recaptures energy that is normally lost as heat during braking in a traditional gas-powered engine. This energy is repurposed to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle also combines an engine and an electric motor. Similar to a traditional hybrid, PHEVs can recharge their battery through regenerative braking. However, they typically have a larger battery and can also be plugged into a grid to recharge. A PHEV can travel several dozen miles solely on electric power before the gas engine kicks in. Once the electric range is depleted, the vehicle functions like a regular hybrid and can travel on gasoline.