What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

The popularity of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is on the rise and potential buyers may have several options to choose from. Below, we've outlined some of the most common types.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When people talk about EVs, they are usually referring to Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles rely solely on electricity from a rechargeable battery pack and do not have a gasoline engine. BEVs are classified as zero-emission vehicles because they do not produce harmful emissions or pollutants like conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles combine a gasoline-powered engine with an electric motor. Regenerative braking can be used to charge the battery. Normally, this energy is wasted as heat during braking, but with a hybrid, it is reused to assist the gas engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also use both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. They can partially recharge their battery through regenerative braking, like HEVs. However, PHEVs typically have a larger battery and can be plugged in to recharge. PHEVs can operate solely on electric power for several dozen miles before the gas engine kicks in. Once the battery is depleted, the vehicle will operate like a regular hybrid and run on gasoline.