What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

The ownership of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is increasing nationwide, and there are several options available to potential buyers. Below are 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 are fully electric and do not use a gasoline engine. Instead, they run on energy from a rechargeable battery pack. BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles because they do not emit harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution like gasoline-powered vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

A Hybrid Electric Vehicle uses both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. The battery can be recharged through regenerative braking, which captures energy that is normally lost as heat during braking and repurposes it to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle also has both an engine and an electric motor. Like a regular hybrid vehicle, it can partially recharge its battery through regenerative braking. However, PHEVs typically have a larger battery and can also be plugged into the grid to recharge. They can travel several dozen miles on electric power before the gas engine takes over, allowing them to travel further on a tank of gasoline.