What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular across the country, and there are several types available to choose from. We've provided a brief overview of the most common ones below.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When people talk about EVs, they're usually referring to Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles are fully electric and do not require a gasoline engine to operate. Instead, they use a rechargeable battery pack for power. BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles because they don't generate harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution hazards associated with gas-powered vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both an electric motor and a gas-powered engine to operate. During braking, regenerative energy is captured to charge the battery. In a traditional gas-powered vehicle, this energy is wasted as heat in the brake pads and rotors. However, in a hybrid, the energy is harnessed to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also have both an electric motor and a gas-powered engine. They can recharge their battery through regenerative braking, similar to traditional hybrids. However, PHEVs typically have larger batteries and can be plugged into the grid to recharge. A PHEV can run on electric power alone for several dozen miles before the gasoline engine takes over to provide assistance. After the all-electric range is depleted, a PHEV operates like a traditional hybrid and can continue to travel on gasoline power.