What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular throughout the country. When searching for an EV, there are several options to consider. Here, we have provided a summary of some of the most common types.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

Battery Electric Vehicles are the most common type of EV. These fully electric vehicles do not have a gasoline engine and instead use energy from a rechargeable battery pack. BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles since they do not produce harmful emissions or air pollution like gasoline-powered vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gasoline-powered engine and an electric motor. The battery can be recharged through regenerative braking, which captures energy that would typically be lost as heat during braking. This energy is then used to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also have both an engine and an electric motor. Like traditional hybrids, they can partially recharge their battery through regenerative braking. However, they typically have a larger battery and can be plugged into the grid to recharge. A PHEV can travel several dozen miles on electric power before the gas engine is needed, and then operates like a regular hybrid vehicle.