What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?
The prevalence of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is expanding nationwide, and shoppers have various options to choose from when seeking an EV type. Here, we have summarized some of the most prevalent ones.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Battery Electric Vehicles are what people usually refer to when discussing EVs. These fully electric vehicles do not rely on gasoline engines; rather, they use energy from a rechargeable battery pack to power the vehicle. BEVs are classified as zero-emission vehicles because they do not produce harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution hazards typically associated with gasoline-powered vehicles.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. The battery can gain energy through regenerative braking, which is typically lost as heat in the brake pads and rotors of traditional gas-powered engines but repurposed to support the gasoline engine's acceleration in a hybrid.
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, similar to traditional hybrids. However, PHEVs typically have a larger battery and the ability to plug into a grid for recharging. A PHEV can travel several dozen miles before the gas engine kicks in. After the all-electric range is depleted, a PHEV operates like a traditional hybrid and can travel using gasoline.
