What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

As the number of Electric Vehicles (EVs) on the road increases, potential buyers may encounter various options to choose from. We have compiled a list of the most commonly found EVs.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When referring to EVs, people typically mean Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles are fully electric and do not rely on gasoline engines. The energy needed to power them comes from a rechargeable battery pack. BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles because they do not emit harmful tailpipe pollutants or contribute to air pollution like gasoline-powered vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. Regenerative braking can be used to recharge the battery. During braking, a traditional gasoline engine only generates heat in the brake pads and rotors, but in hybrids, this energy is converted to help the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles are also equipped with both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. Like regular hybrids, they can partially recharge their battery using regenerative braking. However, they have larger batteries and can be plugged into the grid for charging. PHEVs can travel several dozen miles before the gasoline engine is needed. After the electric range is depleted, PHEVs operate like regular hybrids and can travel a distance using gasoline.