What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

The popularity of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is on the rise across the country. If you're in the market for an EV, you'll come across various options. Here are the most common types.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

Battery Electric Vehicles are what people usually mean when they talk about EVs. These vehicles run entirely on electricity and don't have a gas engine. The energy to power the car comes from a rechargeable battery pack. BEVs are classified as zero-emission vehicles because they don't emit harmful pollutants from the tailpipe, which is common in gasoline-powered cars.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The battery can recharge through regenerative braking. In traditional gas-powered engines, this energy is usually wasted as heat in the brakes, but in hybrids, it's repurposed to help the gas engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also have both an engine and an electric motor. They can also recharge the battery through regenerative braking. Unlike regular hybrids, PHEVs have a larger battery and can plug into the grid for recharging. They can travel several dozen miles on electric power alone before the gas engine kicks in. Once the electric range is exhausted, PHEVs operate like regular hybrids and run on gasoline.